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Bottom Line

News from Seattle's Office of Economic Development

Entrepreneurs & small business owners: Upcoming SCORE workshops

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SCORE is located at:

4th and Battery Building
2401 4th Avenue, Suite 450
Seattle, WA 98121

You can also visit their website for more information.

Check out the list of workshops below, and register today to start or grow your business:

Starting a New Business – August 3, 2011 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Position yourself for success. Start your business with the right legal, insurance, and accounting advice. Learn how to finance your product or service, identify key customers, and develop a marketing plan. This workshop will help jump start any new business. Register Here 

Building a Business Plan – August 10, 2011 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Learn how to use the business planning process to analyze data and build a fact-based business plan. Successful businesses are built on well-researched plans developed by the owner. A strong plan is a great tool for involving investors and lenders. Register Here 

Capturing the Most Powerful Market – August 12, 2011 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.

Moms control 80% of household spending. They hold the biggest influence on where their children do their business. Moms have strong online networks and rely on referrals from other moms. Make a mom happy and you’ve got the whole family plus her friends as new customers. What is your company doing to capture this crucial market segment? Learn from a local business on how to harness the power of the mom market.  Register Here 

Marketing 101 – Marketing Plan Essentials – August 18, 2011 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.

Whether you’re putting together your business plan, or building a market plan for the first time, you need to know what to include, where to find information and how to analyze it to make good marketing decisions.  Register Here 

Internet Business Basics – August 24, 2011 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.

These days, every business needs a website (with few exceptions). Before you hire designers, coders or your nephew to build it for you, we’ll show you how to get a site up quickly and inexpensively on your own using low-cost tools. Even if you don’t want to do it all yourself, you’ll have the rudimentary knowledge you need to understand who to hire and how to manage them.  Register Here

Making Sense of Social Media Pt. I – August 31, 2011 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.

Marketing a small business is like trying to conquer a many-headed beast. And with Facebook pages, blogging and Tweeting, it’s even more difficult to know what to do. At this workshop, get a reality check on all the hype as you learn the true benefits of social media for building your reputation, driving website traffic and engaging your audience.  Register Here

Upcoming SCORE Workshops

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SCORE, Counselors to America’s Small Businesses, is a national non-profit association dedicated to entrepreneur education and the formation, growth and success of the nation’s small businesses. It is a resource partner of the United States Small Business Administration (SBA).

Seattle SCORE offices are located at 2401 4th Avenue, Suite 450, where a variety of workshops are offered that can help you start and grow your small business. For more information on upcoming workshops, please visit www.seattlescore.org.

Upcoming Workshops in April

Building a Business Plan – April 13 from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
www.seattlescore.org/catalog.aspx?cid=128&c=Building+a+Business+Plan

Quickbooks Lab – April 20 from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
www.seattlescore.org/catalog.aspx?cid=155&c=Quickbooks+Lab

Starting a Non-profit Organization – April 20 from 1 p.m. – 4 p.m.
www.seattlescore.org/catalog.aspx?cid=144&c=Starting+a+Non-profit+Organization

Marketing 101 – April 27 from 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.
www.seattlescore.org/catalog.aspx?cid=131&c=Marketing+101

Free local events to help you with your taxes

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IRS Holds Saturday Open House on March 26 to Help Taxpayers
http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=236526,00.html
Nearly 100 IRS offices will be open on Saturday, March 26, to help taxpayers. The location of participating offices is listed on IRS.gov.

 On Saturday, March 26, the IRS offices will be open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. local time. During the open-house hours, IRS personnel will be available to provide services such as tax return preparation, assist with account questions and help with a variety of other issues. IRS offices in 10 locations will also offer free seminars designed to provide information on new tax laws affecting federal tax returns and detail other services provided by the IRS.

StartZone Tax Preparation Workshop & Tax Center for Self-Employed Individuals
https://startzone.highline.edu/sz/seti.php
FREE Tax Prep Workshop:  Thursday, March 31 — 6-9pm
Highline Community College (2400 S. 240th St ~ Des Moines, WA 98198) , Building 21 Room 105

StartZone offers tax preparation workshops and filing assistance to self-employed individuals in King County with a total combined household income of less than $50,000 who are required to report self-employment income on Schedule C. 

The StartZone Business Tax Center is open every Tuesday and Thursday until April 15th, 4pm – 8pm at Highline Community College – please call for location (206) 878-3710 x3388 (map).  StartZone’s Business Tax Center offers FREE filing assistance to self-employed individuals in King County with total household income of less than $50,000. Eligible individuals will receive assistance from a trained and professionally supervised volunteer who will help complete and file 1040, Schedule C, applications for the Making Work Pay and Earned Income tax credits, and other forms. For more information or to schedule an appointment, contact Nigam Shah, StartZone’s Business Tax Center Manager, by phone at (206) 878-3710, ext. 6510 or by email at nshah@highline.edu

Financial Fitness Day – Saturday April 2
http://www.skcabc.org/fitness_fair/

StartZone will be at the event helping those who are self-employed the opportunity to meet with trained and supervised volunteers who can help you prepare your Schedule C, and help prepare and file your tax returns. Scheduling an appointment to file your taxes is STRONGLY encouraged. Please contact Nigam Shah, StartZone’s Business Tax Center Manager, by phone at (206) 878-3710, ext. 6510 or by email at nshah@highline.edu

Financial Fitness Day is a free event where you can have your tax return prepared; print and analyze a free credit report; consult with a certified financial planner; get advice about opening a small business; and more. Talk to the experts and get moving on improving your finances!  For more information visit: Financial Fitness Day. Registration is strongly encouraged if you need child care or interpretation services so you may be better served.
Saturday, April 2nd — 10am-3pm
Rainer Community Center
4600 38th Avenue S, Seattle

Small Business Taxes & Bookkeeping for the Small Business Owner – Seattle SBA Education and Training Center
2nd & 4th Thursday of each month – 10:00 am to 11:00 am
Upcoming workshop dates: Mar 24, April 14 & 28
4th & Battery Building – 2401 Fourth Avenue, Suite 450, Seattle

Learn about important information regarding your tax responsibilities as a small business owner, find out what taxes to pay and when they are due. Please pre-register by calling 206-553-2664 or e-mail workshops@sba.gov.

SBA and SCORE also offer a variety of other workshops for small business owners – find out more here: http://www.sba.gov/about-offices-content/2/3157

Seattle SCORE Workshops
http://www.seattlescore.org/ContentFiles/Workshops/ScoreWorkshops.aspx

SCORE offers workshops designed to give you the skills necessary to start your own successful business. 
Apr 6 — Starting a New Business
4th & Battery Building – 2401 Fourth Avenue, Suite 450, Seattle

Employer’s Introduction to L&I Workshops
http://www.lni.wa.gov/Safety/TrainTools/Workshops/Available/EmpOrien/default.asp
This workshop is designed for new businesses or businesses that plan to hire workers for the first time. It explains an employer’s rights and responsibilities and provides an overview of the services and resources available at Labor and Industries.

Mar 30 – Tumwater – 9am – 12 pm
Apr 6 – Tukwila – 9am – 12 pm
Apr 12 – Mt Vernon – 9am – 12 pm
Apr 12 – Spokane – 9am – 12 pm
Apr 19 – Yakima – 9am – 12 pm