All great businesses were once small startups with little more in mind than a driving passion and a goal to accomplish something great. How did they do it? Undoubtedly, certain key elements and tactics can either lead a small business down a difficult road or guide the business toward a long and fruitful future.

On May 16, National Small Business Week kicks off in Seattle with an eye to helping local people to “jump start” their small businesses, while also recognizing the contributions small businesses have made to the economic well-being of America. While the majority of workshops are happening in Washington D.C., many will be available right here in Seattle, hosted by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and other local institutions.

SBA Workshops

Take advantage of the expertise shared by savvy business professionals and small business owners who will teach workshops on a variety of topics, like basic startup ideas, finance and loan needs, and website and social media uses. Learn to command these tools and necessary components of a small business to promote your own work. Space is limited to the first 40 attendees for each session.

All SBA workshops are free and will be held at:

SBA Education and Training Center
Fourth and Battery Building
2401 Fourth Avenue, Ste 450
Seattle, WA 98121

Click here to view the schedule of workshops, held from May 16 to May 20, and to register online.

Questions? E-mail workshops@sba.gov and put “Jump Start” in the subject line.

Free Construction Contractor Training Day @ Renton Technical College – May 20, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm

Choose from 25 different classes taught by various experts on everything from marketing and safety: saving money on Workers Compensation premiums, updating Accident Prevention plans, writing better contracts, and effective bidding and estimating guides.

Click here for more details and to register.

Online Marketing Secrets for your Small Business…Dominating your Competitors Online Webinar Series offered by the Northwest Washington Business Center – Starting May 20

A full day seminar will be broken down into six one-hour webinars, covering website traffic optimization, secrets on how to leverage blog leads, tips on identifying search prospects, and ways to leverage social media.

This six webinar series costs $50 for all six webinars or $10 for each session.
Click here for more details and to register.