The Farmingdale Small Business Development Center (SBDC) is located on the campus of Farmingdale State College and provides free, one-on-one business advising. This free technical assistance is available to anyone who wants to start a business or who already owns a business. Services range from answering startup and business structure questions to assisting with business plans, cash flow projections, marketing plans, and loan information.
The mission of the SBDC is to provide professional business advisement, education, network resources and to advocate for small business and entrepreneurs.
The SBDC at Farmingdale State College plays a key role in economic development by providing free, high-quality, technical and management assistance to start-up and existing small businesses. Certified SBDC business advisors are ready to counsel and train you to make your business succeed.
Through direct, one-on-one counseling, the SBDC provides a range of management and technical assistance services and information, including: small business, start-up, business plan development, organizational structures, financial planning, cost analyis, loan information, and marketing assistance.
What Customers Want: Its Not What You Think! on Wednesday, March 19 from 9 to 11 a.m. What do customers want? Here’s a hint: It’s not (just) price, quality, timing, taste or color—or any of those attributes of your product or service. Its the experience you deliver. Come learn how to identify what your customers want and expect, build a relationship, walk in your customers’ shoes, personalize your customer’s experience, and deliver the Wow! Factor. Workshop cost is $12.
Social Media Marketing Made Simple on Tuesday, March 25 from 9 to 11 a.m. Keeping in touch is the most important element to building relationships that sustain and grow a business. The internet has evolved into an amazing, low-cost, “right
now” tool to communicate with your customers, clients, and prospects. Come learn how to grow your business through social media marketing. Workshop cost is $12.
How to Write a Business Plan on Wednesday, March 26 from 9 a.m.
to noon. An in depth, interactive experience designed to help you develop an effective business plan. Workshop cost is $17.
The Case for Mobile on Tuesday, April 8 from 9 to 11 a.m. Today, lots of consumers are using mobile devices to find what they need, to assess their options, to make decisions, and to make purchases Small businesses who start embracing mobile now will be the ones best able to compete. Understand this mobile transition so you don’t get left behind. Workshop cost is $12.
What Does the Affordable Care Act Mean for You and Your Small Business? on Wednesday, April 9 from 6 to 8 p.m. An overview of the Affordable Care Act that will explain in understandable language the basics of the law, the Employer Mandate, Tax Credits, options for Small Businesses and the Marketplace and how it
works. The goal will be to understand the facts and benefits of the program. Workshop cost is $10.
Business Basics: How to Successfully Start a Small Business on Thursday, April 10 from 9 to 11 a.m. What you need to know when starting a small business. Topics will include business types, government regulations, writing a business plan, basic tax information, and financing your business. Workshop cost is $12.
Creating a Culture of Ownership in your Company on Wednesday, April 16 from 9 to 11 a.m. Does the expression, “You can’t get good help these days” come to mind when you think about your own employees? Are you worried about what your employees are doing and saying to customers when you’re away? It’s possible to get your employees to think and act like owners of the business without giving them stock or paying them more than market rates. Come learn how to demonstrate the behaviors you want your employees to emulate to customers plus much more. Workshop cost is $12.
Grow Your Business with Email and Social Media on Tuesday, May 1 from 9 to 11 a.m. This workshop is designed to give small businesses some simple ideas for growing their organizations using email marketing and social media. This workshop is best suited for beginners in online marketing, cost is $12.
QuickBooks for Beginners: A 4-Part Series on Tuesdays in May from 6 to 9:30 p.m. A certified QuickBooks advisor will teach you basic uses and features
of QuickBooks lists and bank accounts, entering sales, invoices, and receiving payments, creating reports, and analyzing financial data in a computer lab setting. Registration discounted before April 29. Regular cost is $200.
Take advantage of the SBDC’s free, one-on one counseling with a certified business advisor. Call 631-420-2765 to setup an appointment. The listed workshops require preregistration and a campus parking permit. Visit www.farmingdale.edu/ sbdc for more information.