This workshop is targeted to individuals who are interested in starting their own business or have recently started a business operation. The program addresses describing your business, legal forms of ownership, developing financial projections, and the importance of industry and market research.






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Numbers Demystified

All too often small business owners receive a set of financial statements from an accountant or bookkeeping service, an untrained employee or directly from an accounting software package without the benefit of any analysis of what the numbers actually mean. Later, they are surprised by events that could have been foreseen if they knew how to look at their own financials.

This two-hour presentation demonstrates some basic analysis techniques using meaningful comparisons and financial ratios.

The intended audience is small business owners who have been in operation for a year or more, but all are welcome!

Please join us for this workshop on one or more of the following dates:

April 9, July 9, and October 8
Workshop runs from 4 pm to 6:30 pm

Presented by: Jim Griggy, Business Advisor

Workshops to be held at :
Akron Global Business Accelerator
Mezzanine Floor (9th floor)
526 S. Main St.,
Akron, OH 44311

Please RSVP by phone to 330.375.2111, or by email at info@akronsbdc.org

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NOTE CHANGE IN DATE
Save the Date

Cleveland Matchmaker 2008
May 20 & 21, 8:30-4:30
Progressive Field, Cleveland, OH

Sponsored by:

The Urban League of Greater Cleveland Small Business Development Center, and the
Cleveland District Office of the
U.S. Small Business Administration

Matchmaker 2008
Small Business Contracting Opportunities

This event follows the first three successful Matchmaker events in Cleveland. Come and meet the following organizations to fulfill your procurement needs:

• Small Businesses
• Small Disadvantaged and 8(a) Certified Companies
• HubZone Certified Companies
• Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Businesses
• Women-Owned Businesses

• Featuring buyers from Federal agencies, city, state, local governments, and prime private-sector contractors.
• 1,400 one-on-one meetings between buyers and sellers of products and services anticipated. Buyers and suppliers register ahead of the event, and matches will be scheduled in advance, based on NAICS codes.
• Workshops on selling to corporations and local government entities, obtaining financing, plus networking oportunities!

Space is limited, and this event sells out!

Supplier registration can be accessed at:
www.clevelandb2bmatchmaker.com/bmp

Cost: $159.00 for both days includes continental breakfast, lunch, and materials

Sponsers: Dominion East Ohio, First Energy, FirstMerit, and Wal-Mart

Contact SBA at 216.522.4180 with any questions.



(To reserve your spot as a buyer, please e-mail James Duffy at james.duffy@sba.gov or phone him at 216-522-4169
by February 27, 2008.)
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For more information on other events in Summit and Medina Counties, please visit http://MedinaCountyEvents.com, and http://SummitCountyEvents.com







EXPLORING EXPORTING OPPORTUNITIES?

ITAC invites you to meet with the Managing Directors of Ohio’s international trade offices in:

Australia ● Argentina ● Brazil ● Chile ● China ● Europe ● Hong Kong ● India ● Israel ● Japan ● South Africa

Managing Directors Forum

Tuesday, May 6, 2008

1:00 – 8:00 P.M.

Embassy Suites Hotel, 5800 Rockside Woods Blvd., Independence, OH 44131

AGENDA:

1:00 – 1:30 p.m. Registration

1:30 – 2:30 p.m. Panel discussion with the managing directors of the Ohio Department of Development’s overseas offices

2:30 – 6:00 p.m. Individual appointments scheduled with the director or directors of interest to your company (see the attached invitation for details on scheduling your appointments)

6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Hors d’oeuvres reception

COST: $30 per person

HOW TO REGISTER:

Register and pay online by following this link: www.neotec.org/mdforum2008.htm
This event is hosted by the International Trade Assistance Center of Northeast Ohio, a division of NEOTEC, Ohio Department of Development and Ohio Small Business Development Centers

? QUESTIONS ? Contact ITAC at 866-253-4358 or itac@itacneotec.org.

Marilyn Morgan

Director of Marketing

NEOTEC / Northeast Ohio Trade & Economic Consortium

ITAC / International Trade Assistance Center

P.O. Box 5190, Kent OH 44242

Ph: 330-672-4080 Fax: 330-672-2259

www.neotec.org






Ohio State Treasurer Richard Cordray has recently launched a new financial website, http://www.yourmoneynowonline.org/. The Your Money Now website has the latest personal finance tips, tools and breaking financial news in one easy to access place. It is a resource for those looking for information on budgeting, saving, getting out of debt. We encourage all of you to take some time on the website and give us your feedback. We also are constantly looking for individuals to contribute financial articles to the website. Please feel free to contact me or the Columbus office with any questions or suggestions.

I look forward to working with you all in the future as The State Treasurer’s Office looks to provide and share valuable resources to those in the community.

Thank you,

George Elliott, Regional Outreach Greater Cleveland
State Treasurer of Ohio
615 W. Superior Ave., #1210
Cleveland, Oh 44113
C: 216.470.4484
Email: George.elliott@tos.ohio.gov







Boost Your Business 2008
How To Get Started
Brett Nelson, 03.13.08, 2:00 PM ET


SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS

We will accept submissions for the first round of the contest starting April 2 and continuing through May 31. Contestants who survive the first round will be required to submit more detailed information, including a 30-second "elevator pitch" video recording.

Each contestant will submit a brief write-up--500 words max--about their small business. The write-ups must include the following elements:

Description Of The Business
Specifically, what product or service is being sold and to what type of customer? What is the estimated size of the addressable market?

Discussion Of The Business Model
How, specifically, does the company earn a profit? (Examples: retail sales, consulting fees, advertising.)

Capitalization
How is the business funded? (Examples: loans from family and friends, venture capital, bank loans, cash flow from operations.)

Differentiators
How is the business different from--or better than--the competition? Why do people want or need this product or service? What is the company's sustainable competitive advantage? If the business is technology-based, has a relevant patent or license been secured?

Years Of Relevant Experience
For how long, and in what capacity, have you and your management team been involved in the industry?

Your Plan For Using The $100,000 Prize Money
This is critical! Briefly but specifically describe how you would invest the largesse to take your business to the next level. (Examples: new equipment, new people, more marketing, etc.)

Contestants will also fill out a brief questionnaire, to which they will attach (electronically) their 500-word write-ups.

Remember: 500 words is not a lot of space, so be as clear and direct as possible. Get your points across with numbers and facts, not airy assertions.

Stay tuned to Forbes.com for further instructions on how to enter and what to expect in the coming months. Good luck!






SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER

Akron, Ohio June 1, 2006

The City of Akron and Summit County have joined with The Summit Medina Business Alliance (SMBA) to improve the environment for Akron's small business community.

The Summit Medina Business Alliance, Inc. (SMBA) has been incorporated to support the economic development of the region by drawing upon academic, government, private and public resources to help the region grow and improve. The SMBA will also serve as a central resource facility to foster innovation and continuous improvement of business and the development of the region through consulting, training, technology transfer and resource exchange between business, higher education and government.

This new non profit corporation will be the host for the Akron Small Business Development Center (SBDC) in their delivery of business consulting services. The City of Akron and Summit County have provided funding for the SBDC currently housed in the Akron Global Business Accelerator (formerly known as the Akron Industrial Incubator). The Akron SBDC is also supported by grants from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the Ohio Department of Development (ODOD). The SBA reports that small businesses generate 60% to 80% of net new jobs in the nation annually.

This cooperative effort between the City of Akron, Summit County, and The Summit Medina Business Alliance is a significant milestone towards expanding the region's ability to support the growth of small businesses and increase jobs, says Director, Mary Ann Jasionowski.

Our highly professional staff will initiate and maintain contact with Summit and Medina county start-up and existing businesses to provide management assistance and educational programs to aid in the identification and solution of business problems.
Our full-time counselors, Brian Walters and Jim Griggy, are available to consult and train entrepreneurs and small business owners.

The Akron SBDC is located at 526 S. Main St., Suite 813, Akron, OH and can be contacted at 330-375-2111 or by email at info@akronsbdc.org.