September 20, 2011 > SCORE's simple steps SCORE's simple steps Series of five workshops to put aspiring entrepreneurs on the right path to opening their own business Submitted By Jack Opet East Bay SCORE's "Simple Steps for Starting Your Business - Successfully!" program (formerly called SmartSTART) for aspiring small business owners will begin on September 29 in Oakland. Strongly endorsed by the Small Business Association (SBA) as the first, best step for any entrepreneur, this program will help clients reach a "go or no-go" decision for starting a new business. The program allows attendees to understand all aspects of starting a business; define and evaluate their ideas; develop marketing and financial plans; identify the best ways to fund their startup; turn their idea into action with tools and templates; receive one-on-one mentoring; and connect with other entrepreneurs. The Simple Steps series includes five, four-hour long workshops topics - Business Start-Up Basics (FREE); Setting Up Your Business; Finding Customers - Marketing Your Idea; Planning for Profit; and Finding Money. Participants in the initial free workshop wishing to continue with the program will be assigned a SCORE counselor who will mentor them through the remaining four sessions. Each subsequent workshop uses a case study to form a learning pathway that will allow the client to determine whether or not their business idea is feasible. The cost for all four sessions and related material is only $195. Individual sessions can be taken for $60 each. For more information, visit www.eastbayscore.org Three FREE Business Start-up Basics sessions are available: Thursday, September 29 1 - 5 p.m. Cal State East Bay Oakland 1000 Broadway, Oakland (510) 208-7001 www.eastbayscore.org Saturday, October 8 8.30 a.m. - 12.30 p.m. Fremont Chamber of Commerce 39488 Stevenson Place, Ste. 100, Fremont (510) 795-2244 www.eastbayscore.org Saturday, October 8 8.30 a.m. - 12.30 p.m. Walnut Creek Library 1644 North Broadway Avenue, Walnut Creek (925) 646-6773 www.eastbayscore.org