Workshop series covers basics of starting, expanding a business
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - People who dream of starting their own businesses or expanding the one they have will be better prepared for taking that step after attending a workshop series sponsored in part by the Purdue Extension.
Starting Your Own Business takes place 6:30-8:30 p.m. EDT (5:30-6:30 p.m. CDT) Sept. 14 and 21, and Oct. 5, at 14 county offices of Purdue Extension. Workshop sessions will be presented via webinar with on-site Purdue facilitators.
The workshop, also sponsored by the Indiana Small Business Development Center, will help attendees determine if they have what it takes to establish a business, identify the market for their product or service and develop a business plan.
Those issues, and others covered during the workshop, are critical to new business success, said Roy Ballard, an Extension educator in Hancock County and a workshop coordinator.
"Despite the best intentions, more than 50 percent of all new businesses fail in the first five years of existence," Ballard said. "Why the high failure rate? Most businessmen and bankers agree that the main reasons are lack of experience, business and financial planning, and management skills. This workshop provides tested and proven methods to enhance the chances of business start-up success."
The Sept. 14 "So You Want to be an Entrepreneur?" session will cover personal business objectives, success/failure factors and business idea development. Marketing is the focus on Sept. 21, with presentations including product/service positioning and promotions. "Bringing it All Together" on Oct. 5 delves into business planning and resource acquisition. A guest entrepreneur will speak about their experiences during the final session.
Starting Your Own Business also is geared toward entrepreneurs who would like to expand an existing business, said Joan Fulton, a Purdue agricultural economist and workshop coordinator.
"This workshop will provide you with a framework to evaluate the potential for the new business area," Fulton said.
Registration is $50 per person and $25 for each additional person from the same business, if completed by Sept. 3. Registration fees increase $10 per person on Sept. 4. Fees include refreshments and a workbook, "Sound and Proven Path Towards Starting Your Own Business." Those completing the workshop and workbook also will receive one-on-one business consultation.
A workshop brochure and registration form is available at the Purdue Extension Hancock County website at https://www.ag.purdue.edu/counties/hancock/pages/default.aspx and then clicking on the "Starting Your Own Business workshop" link.
Registration also can be completed by calling the Purdue contacts at each of the workshop viewing sites. Those sites and contacts include:
* Allen County -- Vickie Hadley, 260-481-6826
* Fountain County -- Amanda Smith, 765-793-2297
* Hancock County -- Roy Ballard, 317-462-1113
* Hendricks County -- Jon Cain, 317-745-9260
* Knox County -- Stacye Johnson, 812-882-3509
* Kosciusko County -- Kelly Heckaman, 574-372-2340
* Lake County -- Walt Sell, 219-755-3240
* LaPorte County -- Allison Goshorn, 219-324-9407
* Lawrence County -- Bethany Six, 812-275-4623
* Scott County -- J.W. Fansler, 812-752-8450
* Steuben County -- Tom Eickholtz, 260-668-1000, ext. 1400
* Tipton County -- Mary Day, 765-675-1177
* Vigo County -- Jim Luzar, 812-462-3371
* Warrick/Perry counties -- Margie Zolgleman, 812-547-7084
Writer: Steve Leer, 765-4949-8415, sleer@purdue.edu
Sources: Roy Ballard, 317-462-1113, rballard@purdue.edu
Joan Fulton, 765-494-0594, fultonj@purdue.edu
Ag Communications: (765) 494-2722;
Keith Robinson, robins89@purdue.edu
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