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April 2025
How To Value A Business (What Is My Business Worth?)
Join our informative webinar on how to value your business, presented by financial expert and business advisor Michael DeDonato J.D., M.B.A. Why Attend: Learn the 10 essential reasons to value your business, including exit strategy planning, buy/sell agreements, and securing funding Discover the 11-step process for accurately valuing your business Understand key financial metrics like Seller's Discretionary Earnings (SDE) and EBITDA, and when to use each Get insights from an experienced investment banker who has helped numerous business owners sell at…
Find out more »How Can AI Help You Grow Your Business? Get Your Burning Questions Answered!
Join Deborah Deras, AI Educator & Social Media Strategist, for an interactive Q&A session designed specifically for small business owners who want to leverage AI for growth, efficiency, and success—with ease and grace. Deborah is currently pursuing her doctorate in Organizational Leadership, focusing on the impact of AI in the workforce. She is also developing an AI training program for Santa Barbara City College and is at the forefront of AI advancements for business applications. Whether you're curious about how AI can automate…
Find out more »May 2025
Business Finance Literacy Series [Session 1 of 3] What You Need To Know About Accounting And Financial Record Keeping
How to handle the accounting and financial record keeping is one of the most difficult decisions company owners make. They ask questions such as: Should we use QuickBooks online, QuickBooks desktop or some other program? What records do we need to keep for tax reporting? Should we hire someone to do our bookkeeping? What is the difference between a bookkeeper, accountant and CPA? How do we know we are hiring the right person? Unfortunately, too many small business owners do…
Find out more »A Practical Guide To Smarter Business Choices Part 1: Foundations Of Effective Business Decision-Making
Overview of the Series This two-part interactive workshop series is designed for business owners and decision-makers eager to sharpen their strategic thinking and master proven frameworks for making high-impact business decisions. Led by Michael DeDonato, J.D., M.B.A., an experienced business advisor, participants will gain hands-on skills to confidently address real-world business challenges using structured, actionable methodologies. Summary: Explore the essential steps and resources that drive effective business decisions. Through practical examples and group activities, learn to clarify business goals, leverage…
Find out more »Business Finance Literacy Series [Session 2 of 3] Using an Excel Document for Financial Modeling and Forecasting
A simple Excel financial model can be created using your company's financial data (historical and/or forecasted). CFOs and financial analysts use Excel models to determine if/when a company will be profitable, what is the correct selling price, how many "widgets" need to be sold to be cover cost, and how much money is available to pay expenses. Financial models are used for start-ups and for on-going analysis to make sure the company is operating at an optimal financial performance. This…
Find out more »How To Sell When You’re Not A Salesperson
Business owners and entrepreneurs must promote their business or products to investors, customers or clients. Often, this is something they have never done before, and they lack training to approach the challenge. To address this situation, this workshop has been built to help you learn much of what you need to know. Topics covered include: • The psychological barriers that could be holding you back and the tools required to overcome them. • Understanding the components of an effective sales…
Find out more »Turning Your Dream Into A Business
This class will help you take the first steps to become a new business owner or legitimize a side hustle or hobby. In this class we will help you: • Figure out what you don’t know • Define your basic business model • Outline the basic steps of setting up your entity and bank account • Figure out the appropriate licenses, permits and insurances • Understand available funding strategies • Begin to form your basic business plan REGISTER NOW
Find out more »Business Finance Literacy Series [Session 3 of 3] How to Analyze your Company’s Financials for Better Decision Making
Business owners struggle with business decisions that affect the financial health of the company. Are we selling at the right price? Are we making money? Can we afford to hire someone? Many times, these decisions are made without a thorough understanding of the financial implications. This does not need to be the case. There are simple mathematical calculations that can be used to answer key business questions. Performance Measurements are simple mathematical calculations that can be used to monitor sales,…
Find out more »A Practical Guide To Smarter Business Choices Part 2: Applying Decision Frameworks To Real Business Challenges
Overview This is Part 2 of the interactive workshop series designed for business owners and decision-makers eager to sharpen their strategic thinking and master proven frameworks for making high-impact business decisions. Summary: Dive deeper into practical decision-making methodologies. Participants will apply tools such as Pro/Con analysis, Risk/Reward matrices, Decision Trees, and Economic Analysis to real or hypothetical business scenarios. The session emphasizes hands-on exercises, peer discussion, and actionable takeaways for immediate implementation. Key Topics: Pro/Con and Risk/Reward analysis for evaluating…
Find out more »Social Media Marketing 101: From Likes To Sales With Deborah Deras’s 5C System
Are you posting on social media but not seeing the results in your bank account? You’re not alone—and you’re not doing anything wrong, you just need a strategy that connects the dots from visibility to profitability. In this engaging, no-fluff workshop, international speaker, digital marketing strategist, and AI educator Deborah Deras shares her signature 5C System to help you turn likes into leads and content into conversions. You’ll learn: How to position your brand for maximum online visibility (without doing all…
Find out more »Developing An Actionable Business Plan
You can’t get there if you don’t know what or where “there” is. This class is intended to assist both startups and expanding or scaling businesses in developing an actionable and measurable plan for the next steps in growing a profitable business. In this class we will actively work on: • Defining your business model • Identifying your place in the market • Identifying your customers and revenue channels • Identifying expansion opportunities • Costing and pricing • Revenue and…
Find out more »Sole Prop, LLC, S Corp, — Which One And Why?
Many entrepreneurs do not fully understand the differences between a Sole Proprietorship, LLC and S Corporation. This causes many to form a corporation when they may be better operating as a sole prop. Additionally, they are confused about the tax differences for each structure. They often choose a legal structure based on a perceived tax advantage that is incorrect. This webinar provides an overview of: The various tax structures The required documentation for the original filing and annual filings The…
Find out more »Live Q&A: All About Marketing Your Small Business
Join the Long Beach SBDC for our Live Marketing Q&A addressing questions on how to effectively market and grow your business. SBDC advisor and Business Growth Strategist David Mitroff Ph.D. and Brad Pollak, Director of the Long Beach SBDC, will interact live with the audience via Zoom and answer questions covering a broad range of marketing topics including cutting-edge marketing ideas, business development strategies, how to leverage online platforms to grow your brand, mind-set, and professional growth, ways to develop…
Find out more »June 2025
Turning Your Dream Into A Business
This class will help you take the first steps to become a new business owner or legitimize a side hustle or hobby. In this class we will help you: • Figure out what you don’t know • Define your basic business model • Outline the basic steps of setting up your entity and bank account • Figure out the appropriate licenses, permits and insurances • Understand available funding strategies • Begin to form your basic business plan REGISTER NOW
Find out more »Simplify Your Content Creation With AI
Are you ready to finally show up online with consistency, clarity, and confidence in 2025? Creating social media content doesn’t have to be overwhelming or time-consuming—especially with AI tools at your fingertips. Join us for this hands-on webinar led by Deborah Deras, AI trainer to Fortune 100 brands like Netflix, Google, and Verizon. She’ll walk you step-by-step through creating your 2025 Social Media Content Calendar using AI tools that sound like YOU and sell for YOU. What You’ll Learn: How to use…
Find out more »Business Finance Literacy Series [Session 1 of 3] What You Need To Know About Accounting And Financial Record Keeping
How to handle the accounting and financial record keeping is one of the most difficult decisions company owners make. They ask questions such as: Should we use QuickBooks online, QuickBooks desktop or some other program? What records do we need to keep for tax reporting? Should we hire someone to do our bookkeeping? What is the difference between a bookkeeper, accountant and CPA? How do we know we are hiring the right person? Unfortunately, too many small business owners do…
Find out more »Developing An Actionable Business Plan
You can’t get there if you don’t know what or where “there” is. This class is intended to assist both startups and expanding or scaling businesses in developing an actionable and measurable plan for the next steps in growing a profitable business. In this class we will actively work on: • Defining your business model • Identifying your place in the market • Identifying your customers and revenue channels • Identifying expansion opportunities • Costing and pricing • Revenue and…
Find out more »Business Finance Literacy Series [Session 2 of 3] Using an Excel Document for Financial Modeling and Forecasting
A simple Excel financial model can be created using your company's financial data (historical and/or forecasted). CFOs and financial analysts use Excel models to determine if/when a company will be profitable, what is the correct selling price, how many "widgets" need to be sold to be cover cost, and how much money is available to pay expenses. Financial models are used for start-ups and for on-going analysis to make sure the company is operating at an optimal financial performance. This…
Find out more »How To Use LinkedIn To Grow Your Brand Or Get Invited On Private Yachts
LinkedIn and other online professional and social media sites are powerful tools if used correctly. What if you could leverage the power of these platforms to create new opportunities for both business and personal growth. Learning Points: Make your online profiles and presence stand out! Becoming a REAL influencer Hacks to be invited to exclusive events Systematic approach to growing your network of contacts Create a competitive advantage through social marketing Generate new leads and create opportunities for “luck” REGISTER…
Find out more »Business Finance Literacy Series [Session 3 of 3] How to Analyze your Company’s Financials for Better Decision Making
Business owners struggle with business decisions that affect the financial health of the company. Are we selling at the right price? Are we making money? Can we afford to hire someone? Many times, these decisions are made without a thorough understanding of the financial implications. This does not need to be the case. There are simple mathematical calculations that can be used to answer key business questions. Performance Measurements are simple mathematical calculations that can be used to monitor sales,…
Find out more »Sole Prop, LLC, S Corp, — Which One And Why?
Many entrepreneurs do not fully understand the differences between a Sole Proprietorship, LLC and S Corporation. This causes many to form a corporation when they may be better operating as a sole prop. Additionally, they are confused about the tax differences for each structure. They often choose a legal structure based on a perceived tax advantage that is incorrect. This webinar provides an overview of: The various tax structures The required documentation for the original filing and annual filings The…
Find out more »Should You Be Charging Your Customers Sales Tax? What You Need To Know.
Should you charge sales tax? What if you are selling out of state or on an online platform? These are the type of questions that many business owners are asking. Addressing sales tax requirements has been even more confusing. On June 21, 2018, The United States Supreme Court ruled 5-4 in South Dakota v. Wayfair that states can mandate that businesses without a physical presence in a state with more than 200 transactions or $100,000 in-state sales collect and remit…
Find out more »3 Proven Paths to More Revenue in 2025
Uncertainty is in the air, but you are not alone. Are you struggling to see consistent revenue growth in your business? Many business owners face frustration when traditional marketing tactics don’t deliver the expected results or when growth stalls despite hard work. But imagine if there were clear, timely marketing methods that could immediately boost your revenue, no matter your business type. Join seasoned marketing expert DW Ferrell, CEO of Localight, for an engaging and insightful workshop designed specifically to help businesses…
Find out more »July 2025
Accounting, Financial Management, and Tax Overview
How to handle accounting and financial record-keeping is one of the most difficult decisions company owners make. They ask questions such as: “Should we use Quickbooks Online, Quickbooks Desktop or some other program?” “What records do we need to keep for tax reporting?” “Should we hire someone to do our bookkeeping?” “What is the difference between a bookkeeper, accountant and CPA?” “How do we know we are hiring the right person?” Unfortunately, too many small business owners do not properly…
Find out more »Marketing Essentials for Business Growth: Build Your Visibility & Drive Results
Are you a business owner or entrepreneur ready to take control of your marketing but not sure where to start? This hands-on workshop is designed to help you understand and implement the core marketing strategies every business needs to grow. In this session, we’ll break down the essentials and help you build a solid foundation to boost your visibility, attract customers, and stay consistent with your outreach. Whether you’re just getting started or need to tighten up your marketing game, this workshop…
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