SCORE and Capital One Bank present this workshop designed to help small businesses not only survive but thrive in the current economy. Participants will have the opportunity to meet with representatives from the different lending institutions to discuss your unique situation and network with other small business owners who are facing similar challenges.

 Part 1 – Funding Sources: Simple Steps

Where can I learn about business funding tips?

Financing your business is one of the most important issues facing small businesses today.  Learn about the various sources of funds in the marketplace, the best place to start, what lenders look for when reviewing a lending application and the key ingredients for success when borrowing money.

The workshop will also cover sources of equity and how to use equity as an alternative to borrowing funds.

Part 2 - Grow Your Business Online

Discover the tools and techniques of marketing professionals that are also available to you as a small business owner. Avoid common mistakes and learn some tips and tricks. This workshop is designed for small business owners and managers who are responsible for marketing for small and medium sized businesses.

Learn about the basics of website design and management as well as how to get free business listings and paid advertising solutions. Social marketing and modern search engine optimization techniques will also be discussed. You’ll leave with a better understanding of which options and features are right for your business.

Session topics include:

• Setting goals
• Website basics
• Online advertising
• Search engine optimization
• Website analytics
• Business listings
• Social network marketing

Panel Discussion: A bankers’ panel will introduce the different services and programs available to small business owners and start-up entrepreneurs. They will answer questions and give business advice on how to avail such programs.

• Capital One Bank
• Small Business Administration
• HBDI
• People Fund
• LiftFund

At the end of this workshop, participants will have the opportunity to meet SCORE certified mentors who are readily available to provide FREE and CONFIDENTIAL mentoring.

Presented by: Lalitha Raman, SCORE Counselor and Certified Mentor

Lalitha has a PhD. from Michigan State University in Biopysics with over 15 years research experience.  She has numerous papers to her credits.  She changed careers and received MS in Accounting from University of Houston and is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) with 20+ years in Accounting.

She worked for City of Houston for 26 years in various departments of Health, Parks and Public Works and Engineering and was in charge of Revenues, Budget, Information Systems and fixed assets.

She was an adjunct professor at the University of Houston teaching Accounting and has been honored by the Business Women of Houston, Federation of Professional Women.

Presented by: Doug Mansfield

Doug Mansfield is a Google Certified Partner™, Forbes Agency Council Member™, and Bing Ads Accredited Professional™. Doug has served as the Marketing Manager for a major Houston contractor and as the Director of Marketing for a Texas law firm. In 2010 he founded Mansfield Marketing which serves clients nationwide from their downtown Houston office and specializes in B2B marketing services for small and medium sized businesses.

Volunteering to teach workshops for small business owners started in 2011 when Doug became a Google Certified Small Business Trainer. A curriculum of business marketing workshops was created and presented at The University of Houston Small Business Development Center (SBDC) by Doug which continues today.

Register Now!
FREE event, registraion required