TAMIU SBDC Offers October Business Workshops

The Texas A&M International University Small Business Development Center (TAMIU-SBDC) will sponsor several workshops during the month of October.

Thursday, October 18: the Art of Starting a Business: Basic Business Essentials, free of charge workshop from 9:30 to 12:00 noon, at the Laredo Public Library 1120 E. Calton Road, HEB Multi Purpose Room.  Instructor Tina Rodríguez, SBDC-certified business advisor, will present this practical workshop that helps businesses to avoid common pitfalls, evaluate strengths and weaknesses, and the skills needed to succeed. Participants will also explore initial paperwork, assessment process, legal structures and importance of the business plan.

Thursday, October 18: Anatomy of a Business Plan Workshop is from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.; at the TAMIU Western Hemispheric Trade Center room 126.  Fee for the Workshop is $20, and each participant receives Linda Pinzon’s “Anatomy of a Business Plan: a Step-by-Step Guide to Building a Business and Securing your Company’s Future,” a $50 value. Instructor Angelo Piccirillo explains that planning is the map to success in the business world.  One needs to write a business plan when:  starting or buying a business, financing or refinancing a business, or raising debt or equity capital.

Thursday, October 25: Managing Cash - the Small Business Owner's Guide to Financial Control Workshop is scheduled from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.; at the TAMIU Western Hemispheric Trade Center room 126; $20 fee includes Workbook. Cash flow is what comes into and goes out of a business. Gaining financial control by understanding cash flow is crucial to business success. Angelo Piccirillo, SBDC-certified business advisor, will review cash – the fuel that runs your business, maximizing your cash flow, tools for speeding up cash collections, overdue invoices, three tools for helping with accounts receivable, cash flow statements and four short-term financing solutions.

Tuesday, October 30: The Art of Customer Service: How to provide continuous and improved customer satisfaction will be offered from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.; at the TAMIU Student Center room 231. Fee is $20. The Workshop’s purpose is to learn the Art of Customer Service using the “CIVIL” framework. It will help your business and organizations experience employee empowerment, repeat business, loyal customers, and an overall satisfactory customer service strategy.  Join instructor Tina Rodríguez for an interactive two-hour presentation.

Wednesday, October 31: Small Business Tax Workshop: Maximizing Your Schedule "C", free of charge workshop from 9:00 to 12:00 noon, at the Laredo Public Library 1120 E. Calton Road, HEB Multi Purpose Room.  The workshop will cover the basics of taxes and how to file reports.  Luís Medellín, Liberty Tax Service instructor, will go into details of the preparation of a schedule “C” and will guide you through the process.  Topics to be discussed include: Schedule C; Depreciation; Section 179 Deduction; Business Use of Home; Business Use of Car; Business and Entertainment Expenses; Health Insurance Deductions; Estimated Tax; and Recordkeeping.

For more information or to register for any of these Workshops, call the TAMIU-SBDC office at 956.326.2827 or e-mail:sbdc@tamiu.edu  Register online at http://sbdc.tamiu.edu

Journalists who need additional information or help with media requests and interviews should contact the Office of Public Relations, Marketing and Information Services at prmis@tamiu.edu