The City of Chicago Department of Business Affairs & Consumer Protection (BACP) offers free business workshops every Wednesday and Friday at City Hall, 8th Floor. To register for a workshop call 312-744-2086. You also can register by emailing: [email protected]. Here is March Calendar:
3/2 City Inspections - Ask Questions, Get Answers
3:00 to 4:30 p.m.
Presented by the City of Chicago
To operate a successful business in Chicago you must know what it takes to maintain compliance. Officials from several City departments will provide insight to operate safely, stay compliant, help prepare for inspections and highlight the do's and don'ts of operating a healthy business.
3/4 An Important Cash Flow Conversation - Understanding Working Capital
9:30 to 11:00 a.m.
Presented by Craig Feldman, Managing Partner - Bloom Lending
Let's have a critical conversation about the importance of cash flow, learn the key indicators of why working capital is crucial in all areas of your business and discuss when short term debt is the best decision for you. Attending this workshop will provide you with the confidence to make the important decisions to manage your cash flow and to secure the best financing needed to achieve your goals.
3/9 Protect Yourself From Fraud
3:00 to 4:30 p.m.
Presented by The Department of Business Affairs & Consumer Protection (BACP)
For the many years, the most common consumer fraud complaints to the city involve home repair contractors and motor vehicle repair shops. How can you protect your most valuable assets, your home and car, from unqualified or dishonest businesses?
3/11 Credit and You: The Basics Of Credit And The Important Role It Plays In Your Life
9:30 to 11:00 a.m.
Presented by Eileen Kelly and Pat Gentzen from The Private Bank
What is credit? Why is credit important? What is a credit score? Attend this great workshop and you will get the answers to these questions and many more including the implications of good and bad credit scores and ways to build and repair your credit history. You will also learn about SMART Banking, business checking options, and how your credit can affect your business.
3/16 Insurance Terminology Deconstructed
3:00 to 4:30 p.m.
Presented by Glenn Keefer, Heil & Kay Insurance Agency, Inc
Learn how to avoid costly coverage limitations in your commercial property and casualty policies. Insurance policies often include language that can be misleading and downright counterintuitive. Business interruption and property loss coverages usually include coinsurance provisions that can result in severely limited claims payments when you need them most. We will demonstrate some common misconceptions in coverage design that will give you the tools to make your insurance protect you better.
3/18 Keep Your Ideas Yours - Protecting Yourself with an IP Strategy
9:30 to 11:00 a.m.
Presented by Lema Khorshid, Fuksa Khorshid, LLC
This presentation will teach you how to protect and capitalize on your company's intellectual property. As you start your business and it grows, you must capitalize on and protect your IP assets to remain competitive in the marketplace.
3/23 How to Obtain a Mobile Prepared Food Vendor License
3:00 to 4:30 p.m.
Presented by the City of Chicago Department of Business Affairs & Consumer Protection (BACP) and Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH)
This workshop will give you all the information you need to become a Mobile Prepared Food Vendor. We will walk you through the licensing process including inspections, the application, cart and operational requirements.
3/25 Tax Issues for Self-Employed Individuals & Businesses
9:30 to 11:00 a.m.
Presented by Eric Sternberg of the Center for Economic Progress & Yolanda Ruiz of the Internal Revenue Service
This workshop will give an introductory understanding of common tax issues that self-employed individuals often encounter. Participants will learn when they must file a tax return, how to identify worker classifications, how to prepare for an IRS audit, how to make quarterly estimated payments, and how to navigate the IRS website. Participants will benefit from the perspectives of both the individual taxpayer and the Internal Revenue Service.
3/30 5 Steps to Blog for Business
3:00 to 4:30 p.m.
Presented by Andy Nathan, Smart at the Start
Blogging can be one of the best methods for driving inbound leads into your business. Yet, the biggest challenge many small business owners face is not whether they need a blog, but how to build a blog that brings in business.
Click to view full monthly calendar: http://www.cityofchicago.org/city/en/depts/bacp/sbc/business_educationworkshopcalendar.html
All workshops are free and are located at the City of Chicago Department of Business Affairs & Consumer Protection - City Hall, 121 N. LaSalle St., Chicago, Room 805.
(City of Chicago Department of BACP)
Alicja Otap
