The LA SBDC Network offers no-cost virtual business workshops for small businesses in Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, and Ventura Counties.

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July 2025
WEBINAR Taking Charge of Your Career through Franchise & Business Ownership
Are you looking to get into business ownership but don’t know where to start? Discover what type of business could leverage your professional acumen and have a team to support you build a successful company. During our webinar learn what type of businesses excelled through Covid and are Recession Resistant. Additional topics we will be covering: Buying into a Franchise & Running your New Business The Surprisingly low upfront cost The different types of Franchise Models Whether franchising is a…
Find out more »Webinar – Business Model #2
REGISTER NOW Come ready to work on your business in this two-part training. Business planning is a tool to help your business! It’s an opportunity to create a road map and tell the story of the business with a focus on key elements. Highlighted Topics: Creating a Business Plan Goal Development Business Development Marketing Plans Advertising Strategies Financials – Overview
Find out more »Webinar – Explore Starting Your Home Based Business
This informational Webinar, will give you a good overview of what it takes to Start Your Own Home-Based Business. Having this knowledge will nurture your dream of being self-employed and doing what you want to do in life. From selecting a business and getting it registered to how to balance your home life with our work life, this introduction will help you move forward towards entrepreneurship! REGISTER NOW
Find out more »Webinar – Entrepreneur/Business Owner Tools
REGISTER NOW Lots to do and not enough time? Come ready to explore tools and resources to help improve your business and maximize your time.
Find out more »Webinar – Tax Considerations for Home-based Small Businesses
Instructor: Charles Yacoobian Operating a home-based small business and need some tax related tips/guidelines? This webinar covers tax considerations for a sole proprietorship, LLC and S-Corporation. Highlighted topics will include: Special Business Expense Deductions Self-employment Taxes Quarterly Estimated Taxes and More Come ready with your questions. REGISTER NOW
Find out more »WEBINAR Double Your Leads, Halve Your Effort: AI Automation for Smart Growth
What if you could grow your business without working longer hours? In this hands-on workshop, you’ll learn how to build a powerful, automated marketing system—supercharged with AI—that works for you 24/7. Whether you’re a solopreneur or managing a growing team, this session will show you how to leverage cutting-edge tools to attract more leads, convert them into loyal customers, and boost your revenue with less stress and more consistency. In this workshop, you’ll discover: How to attract and capture high-quality…
Find out more »Live Q&A: All About Marketing Your Small Business
Join the Long Beach SBDC for our Live Marketing Q&A addressing questions on how to effectively market and grow your business. SBDC advisor and Business Growth Strategist David Mitroff Ph.D. and Brad Pollak, Director of the Long Beach SBDC, will interact live with the audience via Zoom and answer questions covering a broad range of marketing topics including cutting-edge marketing ideas, business development strategies, how to leverage online platforms to grow your brand, mind-set, and professional growth, ways to develop…
Find out more »Webinar – Customer Journey Mapping for Ecommerce: Stop Losing Shoppers Midway
Where are shoppers dropping off? Map out your customer’s buying path and plug the leaks that cost you sales. Learn free tools, heatmaps, and simple tweaks that keep shoppers moving all the way to Buy Now. Instructor: Ramin Ramhormozi REGISTER NOW
Find out more »WEBINAR Mastering Storytelling for Community Building and Sales: Facebook vs. LinkedIn
Optimize storytelling for community building and sales on two prominent social media platforms: Facebook and LinkedIn. In this user-friendly overview, we’ll explore the unique features of both platforms, compare the benefits of sharing text and image updates, and explore real-life examples of personalities, brands, and companies leveraging these platforms to foster engagement and drive sales. Instructor: Chérmelle Edwards (SBDC Advisor) and writer, photographer, and cultural strategist working across social media platforms. She specializes in creating brand-aligned content for businesses and…
Find out more »WEBINAR Improve Your Personal Credit for Lending Opportunities
The “Improve Your Personal Credit for Lending Opportunities” workshop is designed to help individuals and business owners understand the factors that affect their credit scores and learn strategies to improve them. Whether you are looking to apply for a personal loan, business loan, or credit line, having a strong credit score can significantly increase your chances of approval and favorable terms. During this workshop, participants will learn about the different credit bureaus and how they calculate credit scores, the common…
Find out more »Webinar – QuickBooks Online – Transacciones Comunes (español)
REGISTER NOW Este seminario web está diseñado para aquellos que no tienen experiencia financiera pero han asistido a nuestro seminario web introductorio. Utilizaremos ejemplos sencillos para demostrar cómo gestionar transacciones comerciales básicas, como facturación, compras, importación y conciliación de transacciones bancarias. Nuestro principal objetivo es ayudarle a sentirse más cómodo y seguro al utilizar la herramienta generando confianza.
Find out more »August 2025
Accounting, Financial Management and Tax Overview
How to handle accounting and financial record-keeping is one of the most difficult decisions company owners make. They ask questions such as: “Should we use Quickbooks Online, Quickbooks Desktop or some other program?” “What records do we need to keep for tax reporting?” “Should we hire someone to do our bookkeeping?” “What is the difference between a bookkeeper, accountant and CPA?” “How do we know we are hiring the right person?” Unfortunately, too many small business owners do not properly…
Find out more »WEBINAR Money Matters: How to Finance Your Business
This workshop will provide an overview of available options for financing your business. Equity and debt options as well as crowd funding and the process for raising capital from friends and family will be discussed. Details on what you need to know to apply for a business loan, as well the required documents and paperwork needed for the application process will be provided. The various types of financial institutions and which institutions are currently loaning money and what you will…
Find out more »WEBINAR Orientation: What the SBDC Can Do for You!
This workshop will provide attendees with information about the program requirements and the different services and training offered by the SBDC. The key fundamentals essential for starting and maintaining a successful business will be reviewed. As capital is the life blood of any business, your questions concerning capital and how the SBDC can assist in this effort will be addressed. And as a special bonus, the critical reasons why products/services sell will also be discussed. Attendance is required for existing,…
Find out more »WEBINAR HR Do’s and Don’ts of Hiring
This training is designed to assist California small business owners create a realistic and compliant strategy to legally hire employees. Instructor: Sara Nicholson (SBDC Advisor) who brings over 25 years of HR experience, helping small business owners find solutions to their human resources needs. She has worked across Southern California and Mexico, guiding business owners with a focus on education, organization, and fairness. REGISTER NOW
Find out more »Special Event: Top 10 Myths People have about Franchises
Often when people think about franchises, they think of McDonalds, The UPS Store or Subway. Most people are surprised there are over 4000 franchise companies covering over 100 different industries. In this presentation we will discover er more about what a franchise is and what it isn’t. How to choose the right franchise, and what pitfalls to avoid. Also we will discuss the importance of research and hiring the right professionals during the discovery process. REGISTER NOW
Find out more »Webinar – Digital Marketing #1
The three-part series allows participants to learn about Digital Marketing including tips on how to develop a strong, low-to-no-cost marketing plan and Internet strategy. Collaborative marketing strategies that can help develop QUALIFIED social media followers, and funnel traffic to your website will be featured. Do it yourself tips on Content, Web Design, and Search Engine Optimization will be shared. REGISTER NOW
Find out more »WEBINAR Biz Basics: Accounting: The Basics of the Language of Business
Accounting is the system of tracking the income, expenses, assets and liabilities of business. Owners, managers, bankers, investors – use accounting terms and concepts to describe the events that make up the “story”. This workshop will explain the basics of how to make journal entries including debits and credits, the structure of financial statements, important financial ratios, and, more importantly, how to “account” for the transactions in your business. Instructor: Andrew Strachan (SBDC Advisor) has many years of financial analysis expertise. He…
Find out more »Commercial Leasing Checklist For Businesses
Commercial Lease checklist will point out provisions to which a prospective small business tenant should pay particular attention. The terms lessor and landlord will be used interchangeably. Commercial leases come in many sizes and shapes, from the three- or four-page mom and pop simple lease to the 40 to 50-page complicated lease with multiple addendum and attachments that are usually attendant to high rises, malls, or popular upscale areas. The small business owner will frequently be presented with a form lease…
Find out more »WEBINAR Marketing Trends & Best Practice
The past five years have been chaotic and unforgiving to brands that didn’t or were unable to adapt to drastic changes in the way they do business. And, although we’re past COVID and its immediate impact we are still dealing with uncertain economic times, disrupted supply chains and labor shortages. Despite all of this—businesses have survived, and many have thrived among this challenging environment. Join us to learn more about the key economic and marketing trends/challenges that we are facing in 2025. In addition…
Find out more »Webinar – Say What? Product Advertising and Labeling Laws
Presenter: Erica Bristol This webinar will introduce small business owners to the basics of California and federal advertising and labeling law. Attendees will learn the difference between truthful vs. fraudulent and misleading advertising; business “puffery”; lawful product comparisons; requirements when using terms such as “organic” and “fat free”; required disclosures for certain ingredients such as nuts and other allergens; state and federal product label requirements; and liability for violating advertising and labeling laws. REGISTER NOW
Find out more »WEBINAR Legal Corner: How to Check if a Name is Available & Not Serious Trouble for Your Business?
Products, Services, Businesses… all need names. The trick is finding and using a name that won’t get you sued or be a marketing nightmare!!! Imagine being in court when the Judge says the names you use belong to another business. You must pay $$$$$ You can’t use the name customers know you by!!! Now all the time and money spent on All ads, websites, URLs, Logos, Signage, Flyers, on the products you haven’t sold yet etc. All wasted –– you have to start from step one to launch your…
Find out more »Webinar – QuickBooks Online – Common Transactions
REGISTER NOW This webinar is designed for those who do not have a financial background but have attended our introductory webinar. We will use simple examples to demonstrate how to manage basic business transactions such as invoicing, purchasing, importing, and reconciling bank transactions. Our main goal is to help you feel more comfortable and confident when using the tool by building trust.
Find out more »How To Set Up & Register Your Business
This in-depth webinar addresses a multitude of important topics regarding legal entities and other important decisions you will need to make as a business owner. One of the first decisions will include how the company will be structured. Because of this, we will cover the basics of regulatory filings that permit new owners to properly set up entities in California. Our discussion will cover legal formation for startups, including: • LLC’s, S-Corporations, C-Corporations • DBA’s • Business permits • Resale…
Find out more »WEBINAR Orientation: What the SBDC Can Do for You!
This workshop will provide attendees with information about the program requirements and the different services and training offered by the SBDC. The key fundamentals essential for starting and maintaining a successful business will be reviewed. As capital is the life blood of any business, your questions concerning capital and how the SBDC can assist in this effort will be addressed. And as a special bonus, the critical reasons why products/services sell will also be discussed. Attendance is required for existing,…
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