QuickBooks Online, Session 2: Everyday Transactions & Financial Reports

Please register for "QuickBooks Online, Session 2: Everyday Transactions & Financial Reports" by visiting https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/8284441195509015824. As a business owner, having your financials in order is the most important step to running your business effectively and profitability. The start of the New Year brings a new opportunity to get your accounting system and processes set up the right way. Join the Urban League of Louisiana’s Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation for this special series to learn the foundations for setting up QuickBooks online, managing everyday transactions and financial reports, and the key concepts and tasks that you must know for ongoing maintenance. At the close of the series, participants attending all 3 sessions will receive 6 hours of customized, one-on-one QuickBooks Online training and maintenance support from a Financial Advisor. This program is sponsored by the United Way Worldwide and BET COVID-19 Relief Effort. During this session, participants will learn how to process transactions QuickBooks Online. As a business owner, this is imperative in understanding your sales and expenses, and managing your cash flow. Participants will learn how to customize invoices, create sales receipts, receive and pay money. For those that sell products, this session will also cover how to use […]

QuickBooks Online, Session 3: Ongoing Accounting Tasks & Maintenance

Please register for "QuickBooks Online, Session 3: Ongoing Accounting Tasks & Maintenance" by visiting https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/3985744356067636752. As a business owner, having your financials in order is the most important step to running your business effectively and profitability. The start of the New Year brings a new opportunity to get your accounting system and processes set up the right way. Join the Urban League of Louisiana’s Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation for this special series to learn the foundations for setting up QuickBooks online, managing everyday transactions and financial reports, and the key concepts and tasks that you must know for ongoing maintenance. At the close of the series, participants attending all 3 sessions will receive 6 hours of customized, one-on-one QuickBooks Online training and maintenance support from a Financial Advisor. During this session, participants will be guided through a deeper understanding of the reporting process in QuickBooks Online and how to set up your Chart of Accounts for optimal clarity into your business financials. Participants will learn how to run the three primary financial reports (income statement, balance sheet, statement of cash flows), how to read these reports, how to reconcile accounts and how to create custom fields to track income/expenses. […]

Getting Your House in Order, Session 1: Get Your Business Established the Right Way

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 […]

Getting Your House in Order, Session 2: Setting up Your Tax Accounts

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.

Getting Your House in Order, Session 3: Get Credit Ready

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.

Capital Growth Session I: Is Your Business Bankable?

Capital access and growth are long-standing pain points of minority-owned businesses across the nation and in the Greater New Orleans (GNO) region. Minority-owned businesses, consequentially, have been disproportionately affected during the current economic downturn. As such, Greater New Orleans, Inc. (GNO, Inc.) and the Urban League of Louisiana (ULLA) will co-host a series of virtual discussions to dissect opportunities for minority-owned small businesses to increase their ability to access capital and to create viable, sustainable ventures that create generational wealth. In order to build scalable, profitable, and sustainable businesses, minority entrepreneurs must be able to access the necessary funding to increase capacity, integrate technology into their operations, and to implement growth strategies that meet the changing needs of their existing and potential customers. However, based on data from the Brookings Institute, large banks approve around 60% of loans sought by white small-business owners, 50% of those sought by Hispanic or Latinx small-business owners, and just 29% of those sought by Black small-business owners. In addition, data from McKinsey & Co. shows that only 1% of Black business owners get a bank loan in their first year of business, compared with 7% of white business owners. During this session, representatives from […]

Virtual Schools Expo

Schools Expo provides families with an opportunity to engage with representatives from early childhood programs, public, private, and Catholic schools. It is a convenient and efficient method for families to access schools that meet their needs and values. Schools Expo has become a staple in the city and an event families look forward to every year. Because of COVID-19 and the state’s restrictions, this year a scaled down virtual Schools Expo has been created. It is our sincere hope to host an in-person Schools Expo in the near future. Register at urbanleaguela.org/schools-expo-2021

Understanding the Second Round of the Paycheck Protection Program

The U. S. Treasury Department has authorized another round of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), designed to assist businesses and nonprofit organizations that have faced financial challenges related to the Coronavirus pandemic. The Urban League of Louisiana has partnered with Hope Credit Union to assist clients in determining eligibility, completing the application process, and managing the loan forgiveness process. Hope is an experienced SBA-authorized lender and is ready to help small businesses and nonprofit organizations across the Deep South take advantage of this opportunity. By applying through Hope, your business may be able to tap into 100% federally guaranteed funding that will help cover up to 24 weeks of payroll expenses, including benefits, mortgage interest, rent, insurance, utilities, and other authorized expenses. Join the Urban League of Louisiana, Hope Credit Union, and the SBA Louisiana District Office on Thursday, January 28, 10:00am-11:30am for a special webinar to learn more about the second round of the Paycheck Protection Program. Attendees gain insight on eligibility requirements, required documentation and how to apply! There will also be time for Q&A. There is no cost to attend, however, registration is required. Register today!

Capital Growth Session II: Best Practices in Securing Government Contracts

Capital access and growth are long-standing pain points of minority-owned businesses across the nation and in the Greater New Orleans (GNO) region.  Minority-owned businesses, consequentially, have been disproportionately affected during the current economic downturn. As such, Greater New Orleans, Inc. (GNO, Inc.) and the Urban League of Louisiana (ULLA) are hosting a series of virtual discussions to dissect opportunities for minority-owned small businesses to increase their ability to access capital and to create viable, sustainable ventures that create generational wealth. Government contracts can yield long-term, high-dollar opportunities.  Gaining the skills and tools necessary to secure such contracts can be critical to expanding and scaling a business, particularly in the midst of a global pandemic. This discussion will detail opportunities for minority-owned small businesses to bid on available local, state and federal procurement contracts. Presenters Jo Ann Lawrence, Deputy Director, SBA – Louisiana District Office Paula Roddy, DOTD Program Director, Compliance and Program Section, LADOTD Christina Dayries, Assistant Deputy Director, Grants and Administration, GOHSEP Noel Williams, Owner, Legacy Restoration & Referral Moderator: Jasmine Brown, Public Policy Manager, GNO, Inc. There is no cost to attend this session, however registration is required.

Capital Growth Session III: Understanding Series Funding

Capital access and growth are long-standing pain points of minority-owned businesses across the nation and in the Greater New Orleans (GNO) region.  Minority-owned businesses, consequentially, have been disproportionately affected during the current economic downturn. As such, Greater New Orleans, Inc. (GNO, Inc.) and the Urban League of Louisiana (ULLA) are hosting a series of virtual discussions to dissect opportunities for minority-owned small businesses to increase their ability to access capital and to create viable, sustainable ventures that create generational wealth. For high growth ventures to successfully launch and scale, oftentimes, results lie in the ability of these firms to engage in multiple efforts to raise capital through rounds of external funding. However, many minority entrepreneurs of color are not aware of how series funding works and how it can becomes a potential funding source for their businesses. For those that are aware, lack of education, fear of the unknown, and being equity averse to external partners makes even exploring series funding a challenge. During this webinar, small businesses will gain insights from equity investment firms on the types of businesses they seek for investment, the funding process, and the expected outcomes. This session will serve to dispel the many myths […]

Magnify Your Marketing, Session 1: How to Elevate Your Marketing Strategy

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 […]

Magnify Your Marketing, Session 2: Using Technology to Improve Customer Reach and Engagement

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 […]