When you start a new business, or if you need to restructure your business, understanding the processes and requirements of setting up your small business and effectively applying the correct information is essential to a profitable and sustainable business.  During this session, participants will learn Federal, State and Parish compliance requirements for starting a business. This session will guide participants through the processes and agency portals with "how to" steps. Topics covered include: *Federal: Employer Identification Number, SAM Registration *State: Registration, Name Reserved, Industry Insurance, Payroll, Louisiana Taxpayer Access Point (LaTAP) *Parish: Assumed Name Certificate, Business Licenses, Parish Taxes, Banking Rules *Other: NAICS Code, DUNS Number, etc. This session can serve as a refresher course for those who may have already started or completed the steps required to establish a business. This will be a “second look” to check for any inaccuracies or missing elements. If you have not started the process, this will be a time saver for you, a way to start your business the right way! Course Facilitator and Financial Business Advisor Leontine "Candy" Guimont-Martin is the owner of Martin Business Solution, based in Slidell, Louisiana. Leontine is a Business Developer, Tax Strategist, CFO, Financial Coach and […]

Every business has tax liabilities. It is critical that small business owners understand which taxes are required, how often, and how to maintain compliance. This will avoid inaccurate payments or failing to file or pay the necessary taxes for your business. During this session, participants will learn which tax accounts to set up for various types of businesses, including payroll, sales, and excise taxes. Course Facilitator and Financial Business Advisor Leontine "Candy" Guimont-Martin is the owner of Martin Business Solution, based in Slidell, Louisiana. Leontine is a Business Developer, Tax Strategist, CFO, Financial Coach and Credit Restoration Expert. There is no cost to attend this session, however registration is required. Register today! Funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration.

For small business owners, gaining access to funding to start and grow a business is essential. In order to prepare to access credit, owners must prepare and position themselves to meet the funding requirements of lenders. During this session, participants will learn how business credit differs from personal credit and how this is a key component of putting together a bankable business credit profile.  Participants will also learn basic business credit terminology, best practices in becoming bankable, and how to become credit compliant through the life of a loan. Course Facilitator and Financial Business Advisor Leontine "Candy" Guimont-Martin is the owner of Martin Business Solution, based in Slidell, Louisiana. Leontine is a Business Developer, Tax Strategist, CFO, Financial Coach and Credit Restoration Expert. There is no cost to attend this session, however registration is required. Register today! Funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration.

There are various marketing tactics that small business owners can use to reach and influence their target markets – events, direct mail, email, social media, content strategy, street teams, couponing, webinars, seminars, partnerships, and other activities that will help you gain access to customers. However, deploying marketing tactics without a targeted strategy can yield minimal results that do not produce a return on your marketing investment. To ensure that marketing tactics target the potential customers that you want and drive sales, entrepreneurs should develop a marketing strategy based on customer needs and buying behaviors. During this session, participants will learn how to elevate their marketing strategies by exploring the following: • Establishing your sales goals • Defining your target customer • Understanding the competitive environment • Positioning your brand for success • Developing a marketing budget • Developing a tracking system for results and ROI This session is suitable for start-up businesses, as well as existing businesses that need to revamp their marketing strategies for better results. There is no cost to attend this informational webinar; however, you must be registered for the webinar to participate. Please secure your spot today by visiting https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/regi.../8739504869876576527. After registering, you will receive a confirmation […]

Growth-oriented entrepreneurs are always exploring new and innovate ways to increase customer reach and convert potential clients to actual customers. With increased competition and a surge in the need for digital marketing, entrepreneurs must understand the importance of utilizing the latest, most effective technologies to increase the number and effectiveness of its interactions with existing and potential clients. During this session, participants will learn how to determine what key processes must be improved within their marketing plans and what technologies can be leveraged to yield optimal results. This session will also address the following questions: •Why is it so important to use technology when marketing my business? •What are some of the best technologies available? •How do I go about assessing which technologies are best for my business? The following technologies will be discussed: SEO, Customer Relationship Management, Social Media Management, Email Marketing, Communications, Content Management, Advertising, Analytics, etc. There is no cost to attend this webinar; however, you must be registered for the webinar to participate. Please secure your spot today by visiting https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/330477324041307151. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. In order to attend, all participants must be a Certified Small and […]

E-commerce has become the rule, rather than the exception, in conducting business. Most entrepreneurs now find it imperative to in selling products, and even many services. During this session, entrepreneurs will learn several ways to sell products and/or services online. Attendees will learn how they can sell items through Etsy, eBay, Shopify, and more. This session will also provide attendees with information on payment and shipping choices so those who want to sell online can select the option that works best for their business. Topics discussed include: • Where and how to sell your product online • Hosted vs self-hosted ecommerce solutions • 10 Easy, Hosted Storefronts and Shopping Carts • Online Auction Sites and General Marketplaces • Free-to-List Classified-Ad Sites There is no cost to attend this informational webinar; however, you must be registered for the webinar to participate. Please secure your spot today by visiting https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/regi.../5217297435622094095. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. In order to attend, all participants must be a Certified Small and Emerging Business via Louisiana Economic Development’s Small and Emerging Business Development (SEBD) Program. Please note that there is no cost associated with SEBD certification, and most startups […]