LSBDC at Southeastern Louisiana University: Main Office

Southeast Louisiana Business Center

*Hammond

Business owners and their key employees need to make sense of commonly used financial statements and discover what they really mean. This seminar is designed to show you, in a clear and concise way, how to read, understand, and use financial statements when making decisions in your small business.

Speaker: William Joubert - Southeastern Louisiana University

Who’s in control? Prospects are fond of taking control and don’t hesitate to seek “free consulting”, commodity pricing and extra time to “think it over”. You'll leave knowing how to: 1. Maintain control of the sales process while creating mutually beneficial relationships. 2. Identify "tire kickers" quickly saving you time and money. 3. Grow revenue with effective methods for cold calling, networking and referral marketing.

Speaker: Carl Herrick – a 30 year sales veteran and licensed Sandler Sales Training provider

Prospects buy for three main reasons; they're in trouble, they see trouble coming or they see an opportunity to gain an edge over the competition or improve their lives. When you meet a new prospect it's just like a chess match, your first moves are critical to your success. You'll take home the following key points from this session: 1. What to say and do in the critical first three minutes to gain their interest, respect and approval to take the next step. 2. Quickly identify which "pain" they have and if it's strong enough that they'll pay you to eliminate it. 3. How to ask the right questions at the right time to gain their trust and business.

Speaker: Carl Herrick – a 30 year sales veteran and licensed Sandler Sales Training provider

You can't succeed in sales if you can't ask for the money! At the close of this session you'll leave ready to: 1. Confidently ask budget questions in the right way and at the right time. 2. Justify your value proposition and pricing to avoid being "commoditized". 3. Identify who the real decision makers are and stop wasting time with people who can only say no!

Speaker: Carl Herrick – a 30 year sales veteran and licensed Sandler Sales Training provider

The SBA’s 8(a) Business Development Program, named for a section of the Small Business Act, is a business development program created to help small disadvantaged businesses compete in the American economy and access the federal market. The business must be at least 51% owned and controlled by a socially and economically disadvantaged individual(s). Anyone can apply for the program; but you must unequivocally prove, through a preponderance of evidence, disadvantage due to race, ethnicity, gender, physical handicap or residence in an environment isolated from the mainstream of American society. The individual’s net worth cannot exceed $250,000 (does not include owner equity in business or value of primary residence). The business must not exceed applicable size standards for small businesses, and must have two full years of business operations (however, a 2 year business waiver can be obtained). For more information on criteria, visit http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_06/13cfr124_06.html

Speaker: Jo Ann Lawrence, SBA District Office

The HUBZone Empowerment Contracting Program stimulates economic development and creates jobs in urban and rural communities by providing Federal contracting preferences to small businesses. These preferences go to small businesses that obtain HUBZone (Historically Underutilized Business Zone) certification in part by employing staff who live in a HUBZone. Thirty-five percent of your employees must reside in a HUBZone in order to qualify. The business must also be 51% owned and controlled by U.S. Citizens. The company must also maintain a "principal office" in one of these specially designated HUBZone areas. To find out if your business is located in a HUBZone go to http://map.sba.gov/hubzone/init.asp#address and enter your business location. You may use this same link to determine which of your employees reside in a HUBZone.

Speaker: Jo Ann Lawrence, SBA District Office