The First Steps

First Steps... to Starting a Business Every month, the SBDC offers a two-and-a-half hour informational seminar on starting a business. "The First Steps" is a solid introduction to the issues associated with a small business. The single session event looks at:

Clients will be able to assess their own strengths and weaknesses as a potential business owner. The seminar discusses the basics of starting a company, including:

Finally, the seminar introduces the business plan. Clients are made aware of the basic theory behind creating this important document as well as its major uses. This seminar is a crucial first step for potential business owners! (It is also a prerequiste for more advanced Entrepreneurial Training Programs.)

Class participants are provided with a simple outline of a business plan, and an explanation of the information necessary to get started on creating their own plan. They are also given a packet containing numerous materials to help them find resources, begin a basic business plan and familiarize them with frequently used business forms. All classes are held from 6:00-8:30 pm and cost only $25.00 per person, ($40.00 for two+ business related individuals).

Fees are non-refundable and due before the day of the workshop. Checks or money orders should be made payable to SBDC and mailed to the SBDC office, 402 McCutchan, UW-Whitewater, 800 W. Main Street, Whitewater, WI 53190. Credit or debit MasterCard or VISA payments can be made by calling the SBDC office at 262-472-3217. After attending the First Steps workshop, you may then apply the same $25.00/$40.00 toward the registration fee of any of our Entrepreneurial Training Program seminars. Since completion of the First Steps class is a pre-requisite for enrolling in our more comprehensive programs, your fee will actually be applied to two separate classes, (First Steps and an ETP training program)!

First Steps classes are currently held at two different and convenient locations.

Choose the date & location that works best for you and register with our easy online form! You may also register by phone at (262) 472-3217 or email: ask-sbdc@uww.edu. After registering online use our online payment option titled First Steps Payment. This option is located rigth next to the online registration form in top menu of that web page.