An Introduction to the WBOS Illinois workNet Webinar Join the conversation on Twitter with #ILworkNet Meet our Guest Panelists and our Host Meg Herman, PCC Director of Entrepreneurial Services Women’s Business Development CenterChicago Meg Herman is Director of Entrepreneurial Services. In an effort to promote outreach and develop new learning opportunities, Meg connects clients with WBDC counseling and training services. Meg also works to maintain strong relationships with affiliate organizations to provide resources for start-up and established businesses. www.wbdc.org - website www.WBDCchicago.wordpress.com -blog Joanne Tica Steiger Director of Business Support and Alumni Services - Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Initiative - Chicago DeTonia Gooden, MBA Business Services Specialist Southern Illinois University Center for Workforce Development Throughout her professional career, Joanne TicaSteiger has provided professional consultation and mentoring for business owners related to the development of their professional ventures. DeTonia Gooden is the newest member of SIU’s Center for Workforce Development team and is based at the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) in Chicago. Joanne maintains a private consulting practice and focuses on teaching strategic leadership skills and organizational change management for a number of start-up and established businesses throughout the Chicago metro area. As the Business Services Specialist, DeTonia facilitates the implementation/integration of Illinois workNet and related websites, applications, and mobile device apps in the daily processes of our workforce, education, and community organization partners. www.ccc.edu/smallbiz Illinois workNet WBOS Webinar Twitter - #ILworkNet www.illinoisworknet.com WOMEN BUSINESS OWNERS BEGINNING STEPS AND STRATEGIES FOR CREATING AND GROWING YOUR BUSINESS 3 Presented by Joanne Tica Steiger Director of Business Support & Alumni Services Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Initiative - Chicago WOMEN BUSINESS OWNERS A MAJOR FORCE IN THE US ECONOMY 7.8 million U.S. businesses are owned by women Women start businesses at twice the rate of men Women owned businesses represent 1/3 of all non-farm businesses in the US Generate revenues of $1.2 trillion annually and employ 7.7 million people 4 5 FIRST STEPS 6 AR •Women start and operate businesses in every US state. •The metropolitan areas of Chicago, Los Angeles and New York City have the highest number of women owned businesses. •The top five industries for women owned businesses are shown in the chart (left). 7 HOW DO I DECIDE WHICH BUSINESS IS RIGHT FOR ME? Ask yourself these questions: What am I passionate about? What inspires me? What do I know a lot about or what am I an expert in? What problem am I solving for others? 8 CREATING A BUSINESS PLAN 9 DO I NEED A BUSINESS PLAN? The simple answer is YES! Every business – small or large – needs a business plan. The business plan is your playbook. It tells you what needs to be done to meet your business goals. 10 HOW DO I WRITE A BUSINESS PLAN? Start with a short document and discuss how you will create and execute your business strategy. Answer the following questions to get started. 11 WHAT … will I produce and sell? Why am I qualified to provide this product or service? 12 WHO … are my potential clients and customers? How will my product fill a need for my ideal customer? 13 HOW MUCH … will it cost me to deliver my product to the market? How much will I charge for my product? Can I make a profit? 14 HOW … will I sell and market my product or service to the clients that I want to reach? How large is my potential market? 15 USE YOUR BUSINESS PLAN TO COMMUNICATE YOUR VISION Share your strategy, priorities, and specific action points with: o your spouse, o your business partner, o your significant other, o and your stakeholders to build momentum for the future success of your business. 16 Thank you for participating in this webinar. As your business grows and you begin to hire employees and grow your annual revenues to $150,000 or more, the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Initiative would love to speak with you about applying for our free leadership training program in Chicago. 10,000 Small Businesses Chicago www.ccc.edu/smallbiz 17 Your go to gal: Meg Herman, PCC Director of Entrepreneurial Services mherman@wbdc.org 1 WBDC The mission of the Women’s Business Development Center is to provide services and programs that support and accelerate women’s business ownership and strengthen their impact on the economy. 2 How does the WBDC serve? WBDC helps to address issues facing women business owners: • • • • • Access to markets Access to capital Access to information & resources Access to advocacy to affect change Building skills of business ownership 3 Advocacy • Advocating for women’s economic and business development, both locally and nationally. • Creating public policy and systems changes for women’s economic empowerment. 4 Entrepreneurial Services • • • • • • • • • For Start-Ups and Established Businesses Workshops, webinars, and online on demand Group Counseling Individualized Business Counseling & Coaching Access to Capital and Microloans Certification as WBE Government contract ins and outs Support for Women Vets as Entrepreneurs English and Spanish 5 The Business Seat Product/Service Market Money 6 Mission/Purpose What’s the purpose of your business? Build on this statement: – We provide (services/product) for (target) through (what you do), – because (why it meets the needs of your clients, solves a problem, fills a gap). 6 Getting started Spend time thinking about what you know already about your business: • Purpose and Vision • Product/Service • Client/Industry • Money Review our website: www.WBDC.org 7 How do you want your business to serve you? • Hobby? • Lifestyle? • Growth? 8 How do I find clients? • How do you identify the best fit clients? • Where do their eyes go? • How do you reach them? 9 What do you know… • about the industry of the business you are in/want to develop? – Who buys this kind of thing now? • about their demographics and lifestyle preferences? – How can you find out if you don’t know (local/university library)? • Who’s competition? – Who meets the same need/solves a similar problem, but in a different way? • How will you be different from either what or how 10 they offer it? The Reach • How do people get to your website? • How targeted is your networking? 11 • You have to learn who will be your best clients so you know how to reach them with marketing strategies and collateral. • What’s collateral? • What are strategies? • What’s most likely going to be the best strategies for starting a small business? 12 Show me da $$! • Do you know where your money goes? • How do you project cash flow and sales? • For tools and learning, visit our website – www.wbdc.org/startups/financials 13 Your Growth is Our Business! WBDC 8 South Michigan Ave., 4th Floor Chicago, IL 60603 www.WBDC.org 312.853.3477 Facebook.com/WBDC.chicago WBDCchicago.wordpress.com Twitter: @WBDC 15 Thank You for Attending! • Register for the symposium here: – http://www.ildceo.net/WBOS/ • Watch for the post of this webinar on – www.illinoisworknet.com • Watch for information on our upcoming webinars on our social media links: Illinois workNet WBOS Webinar Twitter - #ILworkNet
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