ASU's Small Business Development Center offers variety of training seminars

April 29, 2008 -- The Arkansas State University Small Business Development Center (ASU SBDC) offers affordable training seminars to small business owners in Northeast Arkansas. Training seminars focus on current, practical information covering a wide variety of business topics important to any entrepreneur. Some subjects include: business and financial planning, financing, marketing, government contracting, and computer/Internet technology.

Below is a complete list of the training seminars that will be offered throughout the end of May.

Understanding Financial Statements
Tuesday, May 20, 9 a.m.-12 noon
East Arkansas Planning and Development Center, 2905 King Street, Jonesboro
This is a hands-on course focused on the balance sheet, income statement and statement of cash flow. This course is designed to introduce financial statements to existing and potential business owners to increase understanding of the information that is generated from internal accounting software or by an accountant. Attendees will be introduced to the uses of financial statements, basic principles, the types of statements, how basic principles and statements are interrelated, and analyzing statements using industry ratios. Speaker is Herb Lawrence, center director, ASU SBDC. The registration fee is $30.

Web Page Design – Basic
Tuesday, May 20, 6- 9 p.m.
ASU Technical Center, 5504 Krueger Drive, Jonesboro
This seminar provides “hands-on” instruction for the developing of a basic small business website with professional quality pages using hypertext markup language (HTML). Participants should have worked previously with word processing and Internet browsers. A comprehensive workbook is included in the fee. The speaker will be Deanna Beshears, project coordinator, Rural Sourcing.  The registration fee is $49.

Starting a Business in Arkansas
Thursday, May 29, 1-4 p.m.
ASU Technical Center, 5504 Krueger Drive, Jonesboro
Many questions entrepreneurs have about starting a business are answered in this workshop. The program prepares participants for the intensive business planning process. Find out the major steps crucial to starting a business, identify key issues that will impact business success, and discuss common pitfalls to avoid as an entrepreneur. Susan Glasgow, ASU SBDC training coordinator, will be the speaker. The registration fee is $30.

Business Financing Options
Thursday, May 29, 6-9 p.m.
ASU Technical Center, 5504 Krueger Drive, Jonesboro
This seminar will explain how and where to get financing for prospective and existing businesses. Credit requirements, places to go for funding and the Small Business Administration's loan guaranty program will be presented. The speaker is Herb Lawrence, ASU SBDC center director. The registration fee is $35. T

The East Arkansas Planning and Development District and the Jonesboro Regional Chamber of Commerce are co-sponsors for all of the events. For more information on any of these programs, to register, or to see a complete training calendar, please call the ASU Small Business Development Center at (870) 972-3517, or visit http://sbdc.astate.edu/.

The ASU SBDC is funded by the U.S. Small Business Administration through a partnership with the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and Arkansas State University’s College of Business. The program is extended to the public on a non-discriminatory basis. SBA cannot endorse any products, opinions or services of any external parties or activities.

For more information, contact Susan Glasgow, training coordinator, Arkansas State University Small Business Development Center, at (870) 972-3517, or e-mail sglasgow@astate.edu.

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