Curriculum
Business Coaching in the classroom setting prepares and empowers small business owners to function at maximum potential in their “back of the house”. Classes focus on the five fundamentals essential to the success of every small business: Plans, Finances, Marketing, Human Resources, and Legal. Our model is to recruit community leaders to share their experience and expertise alongside our staff coaches. Classes are available in both the in-person and online settings.
Class DescriPTIONs
BUSINESS PLANNING
Getting started in your small business journey can be daunting…let us help you make the process and little easier as we outline some basic steps to Getting Ready, including: first steps to business ownership; business plans and why they are necessary; various types of legal business entities; business registration.
Offered the first Tuesday of the month.
Always Ready Financials is a working session for you to learn how to financially prepare your small business for the next step in your journey from applying for a loan, filing for taxes, to buying or selling goods and real estate. This class is especially for you if you’ve ever been denied a loan or need a helping hand to get your financials on track.
Offered the second Tuesday of the month.
Did you know that when you apply for a small business loan odds are that you will have to apply using your personal credit? This information is used by lenders and creditors to assess your creditworthiness and determine whether to lend you money or extend credit. Understanding your personal credit is an essential part of managing your finances and achieving your financial goals. We will also discuss everything you need to know about building personal credit for your business, including why it’s important, how to get started, and best practices for maintaining good credit!
Offered the 2nd Wednesday of the month.
Turn your dream into a plan with this small group, one-hour business planning class. The Iowa Center staff will help you kickstart your business plan by providing you a road map on completing your plan and taking the next steps towards business ownership. Also connect with other aspiring small business owners to refine your business ideas as you put them into real plans. This class is for aspiring small business owners who need a business plan to start moving forward with their idea now.
Offered the 3rd Tuesday of the month.
As a small business owner, you won’t ever really know the unexpected challenges or opportunities that await you in life and business. Always Ready: Lending is a working session for you to learn how to financially prepare your small business for the next step in your journey. The Iowa Center staff will show you what you need to do to always be ready to make financial moves in your business, including applying for a loan or buying/selling new goods. This class is especially for you if you’ve ever been denied a loan or need a helping hand to get your financials on track.
Offered the 1st Wednesday of the month.
Are you an aspiring entrepreneur or small business owner looking to make a big impact with a limited marketing budget? Look no further than “Marketing for Startups with a Small Budget – A Blueprint for Small Business Marketing.” This course is designed to empower you with the knowledge and strategies needed to effectively market your startup or small business without breaking the bank. In today’s competitive business landscape, creativity and resourcefulness can be your greatest assets, and this course will show you how to leverage them to achieve remarkable marketing results.
Offered the 3rd Wednesday of the month.
Do you have a small business but unsure of how to grow it, or are you unsure of how to get your business up and running? DreamMaker is the course for you. Join us for a 10-week course to learn everything you need to create a business plan, deliver the story of your business, and craft an outreach strategy.
ACCOUNTING AND FINANCE
Bookkeeping basics (Alex Polzin, CPA)
Tax basics 1.0 – business structure (CLA)
QuickBooks basics
Payroll issues (CLA)
Tax Basics 2.0 – ownership issues (Max Miller, McGowen & Associates)
Tax Basics 3.0 – expenses, recordkeeping, entity level tax, and more (CLA)
Establishing business credit (Teleza Daniels)
Repairing and rebuilding credit (Teleza Daniels)
Small Business loan programs (Jose Venales)
Grant writing (Erin Strawn)
MARKETING
Branding (David Tracy)
Website and SEO (David Tracy)
Funnel Strategies (David Tracy)
Community Engagement (David Tracy)
Bricks and Mortar (David Tracy)
Client Retention Strategies for Small Businesses (David Tracy)
Social Media Strategy Workshops (Various industry professionals)
LEGAL AND COMPLIANCE
Trademarks and branding (Nyemaster Goode Law Firm)
Copyright issues that relate to websites and domain names (Nyemaster Goode Law Firm)
Legal issues for HR and employment (Nyemaster Goode Law Firm)
Legal issues for real estate
(Nyemaster Goode Law Firm)
Physical Location for Small Business (Bill Wright, CBRE)
Understanding a Business Lease (Bill Wright, CBRE)
Lease versus Owning Real Estate (Bill Wright, CBRE)
Human Resources
Insurance basics (Middendorf Insurance)
Employee benefits (Marty Jones, Middendorf Insurance)
mISCELLANEOUS
IT security
Scaling your business
Co-owner v. Co-investor v. Co-signers
Increasing the valuation of your business
