North Carolina Small Business Center
Network Programs
Mike Collins, president of The Perfect Workday Company, is the longest-tenured presenter for the North Carolina Small Business Center Network and one of the most frequently featured business seminar presenters in the Southeastern United States. He is the author of seven books, including The Best Small Business to Start Right Now!, and hundreds of business articles in publications such as Newsweek, American Banker, Business North Carolina magazine, and Triangle Business Journal.
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Mike says, “I’ve been delighted to present 2500+ seminars for the Small Business Center Network, and have spoken multiple times at every community college in North Carolina. Thanks to a wide range of Small Business Center directors, during the last 3 years I’ve presented 300+ webinars for 36 SBCs.”
SMALL BUSINESS START-UP SERIES
This series includes 5 core topic programs:
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ABCs of Starting a Small Business On a Limited Budget
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Finding Your Perfect Customer and Creating a Marketing Plan
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Dynamite Marketing On a Firecracker Budget for Small Businesses (Low-Cost Marketing)
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The Treasure Hunt: Finding the Funds to Finance Your Small Business
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Creating a Winning Business Plan
Each program is presented twice on presentation days (2–3 pm and 6:30–7:30 pm) for a total of 10 webinars per series.
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The series is scheduled over five consecutive weeks for a maximum of 5 centers. Schedule your series now while there are still dates available!
Remaining 2024 Series Dates
Thursdays April–May (FULL)
Thursdays May 23, 30, June 6, 13, 20
Thursdays July 11, 18, 25, August 1, 8
Thursdays August 22, 29, September 5, 12, 19
Thursdays September 26, October 3, 10, 17, 24
Tuesdays November 12, 19, 26, December 3, 10
After the second program on each presentation day, Mike will send the director an attendee list. Attendees can request a FREE e-copy of Mike’s book, The Best Small Business to Start Right Now!, and their email addresses will be deleted after they receive the book.
ABCs of Starting a Small Business On a Limited Budget
These are the ABCs of how to start a small business combined with winning strategies from low-cost startups. ABCs of Starting a Small Business On a Limited Budget is easier now than it has ever been. In these challenging times, everyone from the government to your local banker is trying to help you succeed.
Finding Your Perfect Customer and Creating a Marketing Plan
Just because you have an idea doesn’t mean anyone will buy it. In Finding Your Perfect Customer and Creating a Marketing Plan, you’ll learn 4 ways to describe your customer and sources to find out how many there are in your market area. The program features 5 ways to create a winning plan to target them.
Dynamite Marketing On a Firecracker Budget for Small Businesses
There has never been a time when it’s as easy and economical to do great marketing as it is today! In Dynamite Marketing On a Firecracker Budget for Small Businesses, you will discover 50+ successful ways to market your business and easily reach customers.
The Treasure Hunt: Finding the Funds to Finance Your Small Business
If you have a great idea, the money is out there somewhere. From coins-in-the-couch to loans, grants, and Go Fund Me pages, Finding the Funds to Finance Your Small Business shows the rainbow of funding sources.
Creating a Winning Business Plan
You can’t reach your goal — or get a loan — without the map that is your business plan. Creating a Winning Business Plan offers simple, easy-to-follow steps for creating a business plan that fits your small business.
Comments from SBC Directors
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I wanted to take a moment to express my sincere gratitude for your outstanding presentation, “The Perfect Workday for Small Business Owners,” during our small business celebration in honor of National Small Business Week. Your delivery was nothing short of phenomenal, and every aspect of your program was simply awesome! Your ability to be well-organized, thought-provoking, and to consistently deliver a high-quality program is truly commendable. The feedback I received afterward was overwhelmingly positive.”
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Suzanne Wallace, Mitchell Community College
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One big thing that I appreciate is that I don't have to spend 2–3 hours out of my day managing the webinar. I know I can trust you to be professional and to take care of everything, so I don't worry at all. Your webinars are running on autopilot for me. Your familiarity with SBC policy is a huge help.”
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Terri Brown, Central Carolina Community College
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> Well, well, well—what can I say??? You rock!
> Your presence and programming truly helped to make this year’s program one of our most successful.
> The initial feedback among attendees was that they walked away with some truly useful information they could share with their staff and implement immediately.
> You greatly exceeded expectations.
> The excitement level was contagious and the requests for your return staggering.
STAND ALONE SEMINARS / WEBINARS
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Getting It All Done: Time Management for Small Business Owners
If you own or a starting a small business you know the reality: There never seems to be enough time. Getting It All Done: Time Management for Small Business Owners can show you how to get it all done and still have time for a life!
The keys—believe it or not—are using time/people/stuff management skills that allow you to be flexible and meet long-term challenges while dealing with this-minute changes.
You’ll get over 50 tips, tactics and strategies to get it all done!
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NOTE—Attendees can get a FREE e-copy of The Best Small Business to Start Right Now!
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Never Too Late: Starting a Small Business at 50+
Unleash your entrepreneurial dreams! Mike Collins' new seminar, Never Too Late: Starting a Small Business at 50+, is designed specifically for those ready to write their next chapter. Learn how to turn your lifetime of experience into a fulfilling and profitable business venture.
Discover:
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Basics of starting a small business
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The best legal structures
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Funding options
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Low-cost marketing strategies
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Where to find help
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Tips for a nonprofit
Your time to shine as a business owner is now! Never Too Late: Starting a Small Business at 50+ will guide you through the essential steps, empowering you with the confidence to succeed. Register today and embark on an exciting new journey!
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NOTE—Attendees can get a FREE e-copy of The Best Small Business to Start Right Now!
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Money for Fun: How to Turn Your Talent/Hobby into a Small Business
Would a little — or a lot of — money be helpful right now? If you have a hobby or a talent, there has never been a better time to turn your skills into a small business!
Can you help others enjoy your hobby? Could you market the supplies they need? Could you guide them to the best places to enjoy the hobby? There are businesses in all of those ideas.
In Money for Fun, you will discover:
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Who might want to “hire” your talent or buy your creation
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How to start a business selling supplies for your hobby business
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How to teach your hobby/talent
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Where to find resources to get started (easy ways to get a little bit of money)
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How to plan your small business like a big business
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The Five Resources everyone has to work with
Presenter Mike Collins is the creator of 9 small businesses, 3 of which were hobby/talent businesses.
NOTE—Attendees can get a FREE e-copy of The Best Small Business to Start Right Now!
The Best Small Business to Start Right Now!
What would be the best small business for YOU to start right now? This might be the best time in decades to start a business. Competitors are hard-hit, resources are cheaper, and good people aren’t hard to find.
Mike Collins, author of The Best Small Business to Start Right Now!, can help you answer questions such as:
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What are some of the hottest business ideas?
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How can you create a business idea that fits you and where you are?
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What are the different business areas that need assistance?
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What businesses could you start for under $100?
The program will list over 30 types of businesses with growth potential. If you think the time is right for you to start a business — you’re right! This program will help you get started in the right way.
NOTE—Attendees can get a FREE e-copy of The Best Small Business to Start Right Now!
Dynamite Marketing on a Firecracker Budget
How about low-cost, easy-to-use ideas for growing your business? 50 ways to grab new customers, reinforce relationships with current customers, and pique the interest of customers you don't even know about?
Let Dynamite Marketing on a Firecracker Budget help you create a low-cost marketing plan for your business. Program presenter Mike Collins, president of The Perfect Workday Company, is an expert in low-cost marketing and one of the most frequently featured seminar presenters in the United States.
NOTE—Attendees can get a FREE e-copy of The Best Small Business to Start Right Now!
Feedback from Attendees
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> Thank you for the seminar today. It was mind blowing. I have been procrastinating too long to find out how to start a business. Today is the day.
Hannah F.
> Hello Mike! Hope you are well, it is always great attending your webinars, I always walk away with some information. Thank you!
Vaishali A.
> The class today was just the right information for a small business startup introduction seminar without overwhelming ... thanks so much!
Madonna W.
> Hey Mike. Thank you for sharing your knowledge. I have attended other presentations and this was by far the most engaging and helpful.
Nikki S.
> Thank you for the excellent information today, I'm looking forward to learning a lot more and taking my business to the next level in the near future.
Oscar C.
> Thank you for another excellent webinar filled with valuable information.
Michael K.