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Start and Operate Your Own Home Business

Home-based businesses are the hottest business trend of the decade! Learn how to be your own boss and eliminate the stress of having a job. The benefits of working from home are endless! Earn what you deserve, be independent, have tax deductions, do away with traffic, office politics and more! Learn how to develop the entrepreneurial qualities - motivation, discipline, and creativity - that you will need to succeed! This class is a great way to start your own business or enhance the one you already have.

Creating a Business Plan

Turn your business ideas into a solid plan for financing and long-term success. Committing your idea to paper in the form of a business plan not only increases your chances of obtaining financing, but also in keeping your business strategically focused. With the support of your instructor and a network of like-minded students, you'll work through all of the major components of a business plan and emerge with your first draft in hand. And most importantly, you will have completed the first--and most difficult--step on the path to small business success.

Business Planning For The Retired

Do you dream of owning your own business? After spending the majority of your life in a job, you may feel you lack the creativity and knowledge necessary to succeed. This course will help you discover your creativity, learn how to develop and research a business idea, and show you how to get your business started. You are never too old to achieve your dreams!

Accounting Fundamentals

Demand for accounting professionals currently exceeds supply. If you're interested in increasing your financial awareness and accountability while also gaining a marketable skill, this course is for you. You'll learn the basics of double-entry bookkeeping, while also learning how to analyze and record financial transactions, as well as prepare various financial reports at the end of the fiscal period. Accounts receivable, accounts payable, payroll procedures, sales taxes, and various common banking activities will be discussed. We'll cover all the bases, from writing checks to preparing an income statement and closing out accounts at the end of each fiscal period.

Requirements: Internet access, E-mail, Netscape or Internet Explorer Web browser, Acrobat Reader, and access to a calculator or adding machine.

Introduction to QuickBooks

Learn how QuickBooks makes it easy to set up a chart of accounts, reconcile your checking account, create and print invoices, receipts, and statements, track your payables, inventory, and receivables, create estimates and generate reports.

Requirements: Internet access, E-mail, Netscape or Internet Explorer Web browser, QuickBooks 99, 2000, 2001, 2002, or 2003; or QuickBooks Pro 99, 2000, 2001, 2002, or 2003.

Performing Payroll in QuickBooks

QuickBooks software can be used to process payroll quickly and easily. This course details all the steps needed for proper set-up and even includes troubleshooting tips and solutions for common problems and mistakes.

Requirements: QuickBooks Pro software versions 2000, 2001, 2002 or 2003. Although the course attempts to point out significant differences between the versions, the examples used illustrate the QuickBooks Pro 2002 version. Also, it is recommended (but not required) that you sign up for one of the Intuit Payroll Services to update the tax tables in the program. You may qualify for a free, no obligation trial subscription for one of these services. More information will be provided at the start of the course. Students wishing not to sign-up for one of these services can still complete the course by manually calculating payroll taxes.

Introduction to Peachtree First Accounting

Learn how to implement a comprehensive accounting program for your business using Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). Your instructor will guide you step-by-step through all of the basic features of Peachtree First Accounting. You'll learn how to set up customers, vendors, inventory, and jobs. You'll learn how to establish a chart of accounts and a general ledger, invoice customers, pay vendors, track inventory, cost jobs, and prepare and analyze accounting reports. By the time you finish this course, you'll have no trouble completing the bookkeeping cycle with confidence.

Requirements: Peachtree First Accounting, proficiency with Microsoft Windows, Internet access, e-mail, and Netscape or Internet Explorer Web browser.

Quicken for Windows
Get a handle on all your personal finances with Quicken! learn how to deal with investments, loans, recurring payments, electronic transactions, budgets, and more.

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Creating A Small Home Office Network With XP

Completion of Introduction to Windows XP or equivalent experience, Internet access, e-mail, Two or more computers running Windows XP, and Netscape or Internet Explorer Web browser.

Create your own home office or small office network using Windows XP. Slash expenses and improve efficiency by learning how to share printers, Internet connections, drives, and documents. You'll learn what hardware you will need, how to configure Windows XP to run your small network, how to configure printers and other peripherals, and how to manage and maintain your network and keep it secure.

Computer Skills for the Workplace
Learn the fundamental computer skills you need to succeed in today's workplace. You'll discover practical applications for email, word processors, spreadsheets, and databases, gaining a working foundation for the critical computer skills you need to survive in the modern job market.

Requirements: Internet access, e-mail, Netscape or Internet Explorer Web browser, and a computer equipped with Microsoft Windows 95 or newer.

Managing Technology in the Workplace

How can you realize your technology goals and objectives? Using project-based management techniques, you will learn how to specify the scope of work for a developmental project and how to develop processes to meet your objectives. You will learn how to develop a project plan and how to monitor and control the project so it delivers the expected quality results.

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Writing Skills for Business and Marketing

This course will teach you to write or identify copy that achieves business and marketing goals. Improve your work, your knowledge, your company's image, and your chances of getting hired, promoted or applauded! Designed for writers, marketers and anyone interested in these exciting fields.

Creating Web Pages

Learn how to design, create, and post your very own site on the Internet's World Wide Web. Discover low-cost marketing techniques and serch engine strategies.

Designing Effective Websites

This course will teach you powerful graphic design techinques that will help you build Web sites that are attractive and highly effective. You'll learn what attracts visitors to a site, and how you can create the most satisfying experience for those visitors. You'll learn to use typography, aestetics, color,graphics, and page layout to create the most compelling user interface possible, and you'll understand how users read on the Web and the characteristics of effective Web writing.

Learn to Buy and Sell on Ebay

Auction pros teach you how to work from home or earn extra income by buying and selling goods online.

Online auctions match buyers with sellers in a global marketplace for almost any item. If you've ever dreamed of working from home or just earning extra income by buying and selling goods online, our experienced instructors will guide you every step of the way. You'll learn how to create titles that get noticed, how to craft advertising copy that sells items quickly and for top dollar, and how to create and upload photos of the items you are selling. You'll also learn how to safely conduct financial transactions, how to accept credit card payments, and how to pack and ship any item hassle-free. If you're a buyer, you'll learn how to value almost any item up for auction, how to get the best possible price, how to protect yourself against fraud, and how to compete effectively against other bidders.

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Become a Grant Writing Consultant
Increase your income while working from home by starting a grant writing consulting business. A basic understanding of the grant writing process, Internet access, e-mail, and Netscape or Internet Explorer Web browser.

Good grant writing consultants are always in demand. Learn how you can use a basic knowledge of grant or proposal writing to become an expert in the red-hot grant consulting field. This is one field where your creative writing skills can touch thousands of people and literally make a difference in their quality of life.

Caring For Children
If you're a parent or child care professional (or want to become one), this course will teach you how to care for the children in your life with confidence and ease. You'll learn how to keep children safe, how to create an effective learning environment in your home, how to encourage healthy habits, and how to promote physical activity. You will discover techniques to help children communicate, solve problems, develop social skills, and build self-esteem. You'll also learn quick and easy ways to give yourself time to re-connect and meet your own needs.

Start Your Own Consulting Business

The student must have Internet Access, e-mail, and a Netscape, AOL, or Internet Explorer Web browser.

Do you have training or knowledge that could be useful to others? Have you ever considered becoming a consultant? This course is designed to help those who wish to set up a consulting practice get started. Topics will include skills assessments, pricing policies, contracting, marketing, and more.

Growing Plants for Fun and Profit

This course is your practical guide to licensing, site preparation, equipment, how and where to find supplies, how to select and produce plants appropriate to your climate zone, how to produce quality material and, most importantly, how to market your product.

Successful Construction Business Management

Your contracting business can gain a powerful and permanent advantage over the competition by practicing expert business management. You and each person on your management staff can reap the business rewards from this complete, hands-on approach to expert management practices. This course can help you design and construct a superior business operation that serves your customers better and keeps them coming back. Better business operations usually keep talented employees happy and loyal too. Learn business skills the same way you learned your trade: one step at a time and with an eye on how the pieces go together successfully.

Publish It Yourself: How to Start and Operate Your Own Publishing Business
Convert manuscripts into extra income by starting your own publishing company. Avoid common pitfalls that can slow the growth of your publishing enterprise. Learn how to format your works in a way that will save you hundreds of dollars. Find out everything you need to know to profit from your own publishing company; how to plan and design a cover, select paper, register your works, choose a printer, price products, acquire barcodes, market your books, establish distribution channels, fulfill orders, and more

Secrets of the Caterer

Do you love to cook and plan parties? Then start your own catering business and make money doing what you love! You will learn how to become and effective and reputable caterer. Learn the business and ther rricks of the trade, including many delicious recipes.

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Laws of the Business Jungle

The survival of your business depends on your ability to negotiate a wide variety of laws, contracts, leases, and other legal entanglements. This course will teach you strategies and tactics that will not only help save you legal fees, but will also help your business survive and thrive.

Introduction to Business Analysis
Learn powerful techniques to improve your decision making skills at work.

Mastery of Business Fundamentals
Learn practical business experience in strategic planning, management, and finance. Learn about various organizational structures and determine how to use leadership, motivation, and control for maximum impact.  Master fundamentals of accounting and increase your knowledge about key financial terms, cash flow management, financial statements, and cost control. Discover various financial investment models and financial planning and budgeting methods.

Employment Law Fundamentals

Learn the basics of employment law so you can legally hire, evaluate, and manage employees. Learn the difference between an employee and an independent contractor; the basic types of employee benefits; effective hiring, evaluation, and termination procedures; methods to resolve employment disputes in and out of court; discrimination and union laws; and workplace safety rules. This course is a must for anyone who is (or aspires to be) a supervisor, manager, or human resources professional.

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Understanding the Human Resource Function

This course is designed to help people without experience in human resources to understand this very vital link in the organizational chain. It will prepare both managers and business owners to handle basic human resource functions in a way that will ensure the best possible result.

Fundamentals of Supervision and Management

Learn how to be an effective manager or supervisor. Master the basics of business and organizations, learn the people skills required to motivate and delegate, and learn tools for solving problems and resolving conflicts.

Fundamentals of Supervision and Management Part 2
Learn how to be an effective manager or supervisor. Master the basics of communicating effectively, and learn tools for developing your own interpersonal skills

Managing Technical Professionals
Learn the vital leadership skills you'll need to attract, retain, and inspire top-notch technical professionals

Building an Ethical Business
Master the knowledge and skills needed to build an ethical business and give your company tremendous competitive advantages. Learn how to solve everyday ethical dilemmas in hiring, firing, working conditions, job discrimination and sexual harassment. Explore the social responsibility of companies and their employees for product safety, truthful advertising, and the natural environment. Discover how ethical behavior creates goodwill, enhances reputations, and expands opportunities for new and increased business.

Mastery of Business Applications

Organizational Structure, Strategic Planning, and Principles of Supervision and General Management

This course focuses on the two key activities (Strategic Planning and Organizing) that bring an enterprise into existence. Once the firm is up and running, General Management and Supervision enters the picture to keep the organization viable. Asking the fundamental questions 'Who are our customers?' and 'What value do we provide?' guides the Strategic Planning process. Defining the proper organization should be done based upon the strategy that is chosen. The primary General Management and Supervision activities discussed are Planning, Motivation, Leadership and Control.

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Principles of Sales Management
Learn the art of managing sales teams from a sales management professional. Learn the essential roles and responsibilities of a sales manager and develop leadership, motivational an team-building skills. Learn proven techniques and strategies for communication, conflict resolution, and sales planning to deliver superior sales-team results.

Developing Professional Sales Skills

Today, there are no shortages of opportunities for skilled salespeople. In good times or bad, companies never stop looking for sales representatives that can help them meet their financial goals. If you've always dreamed of becoming successful in sales, this course is exactly what you need. You'll learn how to turn prospects into buyers, how to provide proper customer service, how to develop a sales plan, and more!

Effective Selling
The goal of "Effective Selling" is not to teach you how to make a sale today, but to help you discover how you can easily convert a potential customer into a longer term asset. Effective Selling will help you lay the groundwork for repeat business and your future success. In sales, there are no quick fixes. However, with the knowledge, planning skills, communication techniques, and the understanding of human nature that you will gain from this course, your sales will grow as if by magic.

Customer Service Fundamentals
Develop new skills in identifying and satisfying customer needs. An experienced instructor will help you discover the best methods for measuring customer service and for applying the principles of consumer behavior to your business. You'll become proficient with key customer service concepts including target maketing, market segmentation, the marketing mix, and quality function deployment.

Hire Smart
The ultimate success of your business depends almost entirely on your ability to find the right people to accomplish your business objectives. This course will provide you with useful techniques that you can put to immediate use to hire the best people for your company.

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Supply Chain Management Fundamentals (1)

his course will help you succeed as a supply chain management professional. You'll master the fundamentals of supply chain management, including customer demand forecasting, master production scheduling (MPS), material requirements planning (MRP), capacity planning, and production activity control (PAC). The course also includes essential information to help you prepare for internationally recognized supply chain and materials management certification examinations.

Purchasing Fundamentals
Improve your company's bottom line profitability by mastering the fundamentals of purchasing. Become an indispensable member of your organization by learning key strategic concepts such as supplier partnerships, capital budgeting and green buying. Enhance day to day tactical effectiveness by learning about negotiation, supplier sourcing, recordkeeping, purchase requisitions, and purchase orders. Learn the basics of business law, leasing, make or buy analysis, outsourcing and supplier visits.

Six Sigma: Total Quality Fundamentals

Learn how to effectively apply the fundamentals of Six Sigma: Total Quality. Understand what quality is and learn about the histories of the quality movement and Six Sigma. Master key concepts such as the cost of nonquality, variation, and total employee involvement. Determine how to effectively apply quality standards by creating and implementing internal and external auditing activities.

Six Sigma: Total Quality Applications

Learn how to effectively apply the elements and methods of Six Sigma. Understand how more than 25 tools and methods relat to the DMAIC(define, measure, analyze, improve, and control) model. Discover how to use brainstorming, Pareto charts, and critical to quality to help define processes, problems, and opportunities.

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To Register for SBDC online courses: call 940-668-4220 or 800-351-7232