“Our Stories” Monthly Small Business Round Table

“OUR STORIES” monthly small business round table


Trina L. Drotar will share her experience as a writer, editor, and artist. Her journey has been punctuated with twists, turns, and many surprises. She is the founder of Crossroads Reading Series, Amber Moon Press, and Trina L. Drotar – Editorial and Writing Services.

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So You Want To Become a Food Truck Owner?

So You Want To Become a food truck owner?


Description

Are you interested in entering the food truck industry?
Do you wonder what it will take to sell your delicious creations to the public?
Are you tired of the 9-5?

Food truck owners come from all types of backgrounds. In other words, you don’t need to be a professional chef to own a gourmet food truck!

What you do need is a solid business plan, lots of time, a desire to make your dream reality and plenty of motivation to make it happen.

Do you have what it takes to be a food truck owner and operator?

Across the nation, the food truck industry has been growing rapidly over the past 10 years. In Northern California, it has firmly established itself and continues to thrive, presenting viable opportunities to hardworking operators with a clear vision of the mark they want to make in this fast-paced industry.

Before you buy a truck and design a menu, you must consider if the food truck lifestyle is truly for you:

Are you prepared for the time commitment?
Do you have a proper business plan?
What type of truck will you need?
What will your staff and food costs be?
What type of state, county and city permits will you need?
Do you have a concept and menu that will work on a truck and in this market?
Where are your potential earning opportunities?
What are the latest laws and restrictions regarding the food truck industry?

If these questions interest you, join us at this very thorough food truck entrepreneurs workshop!

Take advantage of direct access to a full panel of industry representatives, including contacts you will need from:

– The health department
– The insurance world

As well as important insights from:

– A graphic design expert
– A successful, current food truck owner in the Sacramento market

Panelists will share practical knowledge and advice gained through years of relevant experience in their fields of expertise, saving you hours and hours of individual research in getting your specific start-up questions answered!

You will walk away from this workshop with a realistic understanding of what a “day-in-the-life” of a truck owner is really like, a breakdown of what is required to be compliant with the health department, insurance options and the importance of marketing, menu building, and branding, to name just a few of the subjects covered!

If this sounds like a lot of information, do not worry – the workshop includes a full workbook to take home as a guide on your journey to becoming a successful food truck entrepreneur! Written by Paul Somerhausen, the creator of SactoMoFo, the workbook contains a wealth of detailed information gained through over nearly a decade of experience in working directly with food truck owners, lawmakers, and other industry professionals in bringing increased access to food trucks and food truck events to the public.

 

 

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Marketing Your Business on a Shoestring Budget

Marketing Your Business on a Shoestring Budget


You will leave this workshop with a clear understanding of who is your ideal client or customer and how to attract them.

Understanding how to communicate your value to your Target Client is critical to your business success.

In this workshop you will pick up new ideas you can use to build your business.

The program is designed to help you find ways to grow your business whether you are in the startup phase, have an existing business or you are ready to expand your business.

This is a is a hands-on interactive workshop.

Topic to be covered:

  • Getting clear on your ideal or preferred customer or client.
  • How to attract your preferred client.
  • Make your business memorable.
  • Inexpensive methods to market your business.

Presented by: Gary McKinsey,Gary’s goal is to work with entrepreneurs and business owners who want to build their ideal business and make more money.

For over 40 years he has work with business owners to build their ideal business, increase their income and avoid expensive time-consuming mistakes.

His hands-on interactive workshops are designed to provide entrepreneurs and business owners with new business building insights and ideas.

He has earned the following designations:

  • Certified Guerrilla Marketing Coach.
  • Certified Speaking and Sales Presentation Coach.
  • Certified Business Planning Coach.

In addition to working with business owner to grow their business he is licensed by the United States Treasure to represent business owners (taxpayers) before the Internal Revenue Service.

 

SBA Logo“Funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration.”

 

 

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Certified Bookkeeping Orientation

Certified Bookkeeping Orientation


Would you like to improve your bookkeeping career by adding the Certification Bookkeeper Designation to your resume. There are a number of reasons you should become a CB. Attend the NO COST Informational meeting giving you all the information you need to begin your new career path.

  • Add to your market value.
  • Increase your importance to company or clients
  • Put “CB” after your name to show your professional status

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Business Writing: Elements of Clear Writing for Small Business

Business Writing: Elements of Clear Writing for Small Business


Today’s business relies on written communication. Effective writing builds relationships with clients, colleagues, vendors, and other professionals. It helps you build goodwill and demonstrate your expertise.

In this workshop, you’ll learn how to:

– reach more people and be understood
– apply the elements of clear writing to correspondence
– write leaner and stronger
– identify and choose the correct word, phrase, or punctuation

Since 1990, Trina L. Drotar has written for corporate, nonprofit, government, and small business owners. She earned an MA in English and is an active member in ACES: The Society for Editing, Association of Writers and Writing Programs, Editorial Freelancers Association, Modern Language Association, and National Book Critics Circle.

 

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Video for Social Media

Video for Social Media


Create an engaged community around your business or organization with videos on social media! Learn how to attract an audience, the best tools to use when sharing live videos, and where to start when creating your video strategy.

About the presenters: Uptown Studios has been a creative source since 1992. We are a Sacramento-based visual communications firm specializing in website design, graphic design, video production and social media management, marketing and training. We do not outsource our work – it is done by our team in Sacramento, California. Visit our website to find out more about us at www.UptownStudios.net.

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USAspending as a “Market Research” Tool

USAspending as a “Market Research” Tool


In 2018, the government spent $4.11 trillion. On July 17, 2019 California Capital PTAC will offer a hands-on USAspending.gov workshop where the instructor will guide the participants through the functions and features of the USAspending.gov website and provide insight as to how to conduct market research on federal spending data that is specific to their business.

USAspending.gov is the official source for spending data for the U.S. Government. Its mission is to show the American public what the federal government spends every year and how it spends the money. You can follow the money from the Congressional appropriations to the federal agencies and down to local communities and businesses.

To participate in the hands-on section of this workshop, it is recommended that each participant brings their own internet connected device i.e.; laptop, tablet etc.

  • USAspending.gov provides a big-picture view of the federal spending landscape.
  • The Spending Explorer lets you explore the entire federal budget in increasing granularity, illustrating how awards derive from federal accounts.
  • USAspending.gov provides a targeted approach to finding federal award data.
  • Whether you’re a congressional staffer, agency employee, researcher, or data buff, the Award Search will help you answer your toughest questions about federal spending.
  • The Advanced Search option offers filters that let you customize your data sets. Interactive visualizations — including a spending map — complement downloadable files.

 

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Loan Readiness with the Small Business Administration

Loan Readiness with the Small Business Administration


What You Will Learn

  • How does a small business get money?
  • Bank loans-are they impossible?
  • Doing your homework before applying for a loan and who might be able to help
  • Why banks might not be able to lend to your business. How SBA might help.
  • SBA loan guarantee program overview 7(a) & 504 Loan Programs
  • Tips for dealing with lenders

 

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Marketing and Selling to the Federal Government

Marketing and Selling to the Federal Government


. Topics will include:

  • Overview of Program Eligibility and Contracting Eligibility
  • Details on the Most Current Steps to Getting Self-Certified as a Woman-Owned Small Business (WOSB) or an Economically Disadvantaged Woman-Owned Small Business (EDWOSB)
  • Where to Look for Federal Contracting Opportunities
  • How to Market to Federal Agencies

 

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Business Writing: Clear Writing is Fun and Flexible

Business Writing: Clear Writing is Fun and Flexible


You’re the expert in your business. Get noticed by your intended audience across diverse platforms. Set yourself apart from your competition with writing that is fun and flexible.

In this workshop, you’ll learn how to:

– adapt your message for different audiences
– identify and adjust bias-free language
– engage readers through story and active voice
– apply techniques of clear writing to social media, marketing, and more

Since 1990, Trina L. Drotar has written for corporate, nonprofit, government, and small business owners. She earned an MA in English and is an active member in ACES: The Society for Editing, Association of Writers and Writing Programs, Editorial Freelancers Association, Modern Language Association, and National Book Critics Circle.

 

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Register Here!