A few months ago I wrote about some cool entrepreneurial events coming to Charlotte. I also try to write a post every now and then that can help budding entrepreneurs get off the ground. I have started quite a few businesses over the years, and I know how hard it can be to get the information you need to start a business, and to also figure out to to grow once you have started.
Getting involved with the local community wherever you’re located can be a great resource. You never know who you might meet at a networking event, what advice you might get or what you can learn at a seminar. I was looking around this morning at the Charlotte Business Resources website, and noticed a lot of great events coming up in the near future. I will highlight some of the key events here, but be sure to check out their calender for a full list.
Webinars for Entrepreneurs
One of the great things I love about the Charlotte Business Resources is that they have a bunch of webinars. All entrepreneurs find out sooner or later that time is precious, and there never seems to be enough of it throughout the day. Attending a webinar can cut down on commute time, and oftentimes when webinars are finished they have a transcript or a link so you can read/watch them at a later time.
A great upcoming webinar is the Affordable Care Act series. It takes place every Thursday in August at 2, and it’s completely free. No matter how you feel about the Affordable Care Act politically, if you are a small business it will effect you in some way. These webinars can be a great way to learn about how your business will need to adjust.
If you haven’t yet started a business and are still just looking for ideas, there is another fantastic webinar coming up; it’s the Best New Business Ideas and its on August 8th at 2pm. This can help you brainstorm some ideas you’ve had, and point you in the right direction.
If you are a contractor or service business that is looking to grow by bidding on state contracts you’ll want to check out the webinar on Wednesday August 21st at 10 am. Each year the states spends millions, if not billions on contracts, and landing the right one for your business could be huge.
Events for Charlotte Entrepreneurs
As I said before, there are a lot of events on their calender so be sure to check them all out. I am going to list a few that I think are a wonderful opportunity for entrepreneurs in the Charlotte area, and a few I may attend myself.
The first event is being held by the Charlotte Business Journal on August 8th. I have seen different times listed so be sure to call and confirm the time if you want to attend. Anyway, the event is called Smart Leads Generation. As almost every business owner finds out it’s not necessarily hard to get leads, but it is hard to generate quality leads. Find out how by attending this free seminar.
Another great event coming to the area is the Queen City Entrepreneurs Conference on Saturday August 10th from 8am-3pm. The cost is $40 dollars but the wealth of information can be infinite. They will cover a broad range of entrepreneurial topics, and the guest list includes a UPS store owner, B of A, Ursula Dudley Oglesby, President of Dudley Beauty Corp, LLC. and a variety of other small business owners and agencies. This can be a great chance to not only learn but to network as well.
The last event I want to point out can be a great resource for businesses looking to grow. It is actually much more than an event, and more like a class. It is a little pricey at $595 but it runs August-December. It’s the Getting to the Core of Business: Strategic Development Program at CPCC. It’s a 4 month course but its great because it runs from 6pm-8:30pm so even the busiest entrepreneurs can fit in if they schedule and plan accordingly. Be sure to look into it for more information but here is a quick snippet of how they described the course:
“Surpassed the challenges of startup? Ready to grow your business? Or is your company in the process of expanding and you’re facing new challenges of building processes, hiring people, and creating an effective strategy for growth? Efficio’s Getting to the CORE of Business Strategic Development Program is a systematic process that will teach you how to integrate, implement, and execute a focused growth strategy, the 11 CORE systems of a small business, and a strategic blueprint that will drive results in your business immediately!”
 I absolutely love being an entrepreneur and wouldn’t change it for the world. Even the most seasoned pros can struggle from time to time, and starting a business can seem like a large mountain to climb for the newbie. Having the right network of people and resources at your disposal can be a tremendous advantage. Take advantage of all the different resources available in Charlotte.
These are just a few of the events listed so check out their website for a full list. Whether you are looking to start a business, looking to grow, want to network, or you’re an entrepreneur looking for motivation, these can be great for you.
