Maricopa SBDC

Angel Investing: Pandemic Disruption Creates New Opportunities
2021-04-15 09:00 - 10:30 (America/Phoenix) | Virtual
Have you heard the term Angel Investor? Looking for Investor Capital? Understanding who Angel Investors are and what makes them tick can be the difference between getting your startup funded or not. The current environment caused by the pandemic has provided some unique opportunities and challenges.
Topics include:

The sequence of equity investing
Insights into the impact of the Pandemic on early-stage investing
The difference between Angel and Venture Capital and when they each are applicable.
Profile Angel Investors and their mindset thus enabling smooth engagements.
Angel Investor’s ROI and time horizon expectations so that your venture’s “asks” align with their expectations.
How Startups are valued thereby increasing your chances of closing a deal with Angels
The Angel Group Investment Process

Speaker(s): Lou Farina, SBDC Business Analyst
Please note: prior to the webinar, you will receive an additional Zoom registration link. This registration will need to be completed in order to attend and access the webinar via Zoom.

Register Here

Fee: No Cost

Delivering Digitally - Conversations to Transform Your Online Marketing: Video and Image Geotagging
2021-04-28 14:00 - 14:30
Topic: Marketing and Sales

Staying current on the ever-changing digital marketing landscape can be challenging for any business. The Maricopa SBDS is now offering regular open-discussion sessions with our digital marketing enthusiast, Christopher Fill. Each 30-minute program will explore a specific tool, common challenge, best practice, or trend, with time to share your challenges and get input from the marketers. You will leave each session with at least one action step to explore for your business.
This week join us as we explore and discuss video and image geotagging to get your business the most attention possible
Speaker(s): Chris Fill, SBDC Business Analyst
Please note: prior to the webinar, you will receive an additional Zoom registration link. This registration will need to be completed in order to attend and access the webinar via Zoom.
Fee: No Cost

Register Now

The Great Marketing Turnaround Session 1: Target Market Update & Positioning Pivots for COVID
2021-04-29 10:00 - 12:00
Topic: Marketing and Sales

— Does your Marketing Plan need a Booster Shot to fight COVID?
Join a group of fellow entrepreneurs, small business owners, and SBDC Analysts in this 2-hour workshop about adapting and updating existing marketing planning for pandemic times. Identify your core customer in ways that will help you better reach and persuade them. Finding your unique selling proposition can enhance your customer messaging and expose new market segments. In the workshop you will complete ACTIVITIES FOR YOUR BUSINESS that will jumpstart your thinking around customer development and retention and better position you in the marketplace.
— This is the first of three hands-on sessions designed to adapt and update existing marketing planning for pandemic times. Each session includes guided marketing self-assessments for business leaders to apply to their own marketing challenges.
Speaker(s): Heidi Kirkland, Business Analyst
Please note: After you have complete registration, you will be provided with an additional Zoom registration link. This registration must be completed to obtain your unique access link to attend and access this webinar.

Fee: No Cost

Register Now

CANCELLED — Delivering Digitally - Influencer Marketing
2021-05-05 14:00 - 14:30
Topic: Marketing and Sales

Influencer marketing is a type of social media marketing that uses endorsements and product mentions from influencers–individuals who have a dedicated social following and are viewed as experts within their niche. Influencer marketing works because of the high amount of trust that social influencers have built up with their following, and recommendations from them serve as a form of social proof to your brand’s potential customers.
In this session we will discuss:

What is influencer marketing
The current landscape of influencer marketing
The value in which influencer marketing delivers
Creating an influencer marketing strategy
Tracking influencer campaigns

Speaker(s):
Please note: prior to the webinar, you will receive an additional Zoom registration link. This registration will need to be completed in order to attend and access the webinar via Zoom.
Fee: No Cost

Patent Basics
2021-05-06 09:00 - 10:30
This module will cover the basic facts about patents. We will explore the different types of patents, including utility, design, and plant. We will define the difference and use of both provisional patent applications and non-provisional patent applications. Further, we will discuss the process of patent prosecution, the role of the U.S. patent examiner and what to expect when working with the USPTO. Information regarding a number of patent prosecution programs and initiatives available to applicants will also be provided.
Topics include:

Discussion relating to all aspects of the patenting process:
Types of patents
The parts of a patent application
The examination process
Claims analysis with respect to novelty and obviousness
Office action

Speaker(s): Lou Farina SBDC
Stephen Koziol, Assistant Director of the Western Regional United States Patent and Trademark Office
Stephen (Steve) Koziol is the Assistant Regional Director of the Western Regional United States Patent and Trademark Office. Mr. Koziol joined the USPTO in 2007 as a patent examiner, and has managed teams of examiners in the computer graphics and digital imaging fields. Prior to his move to the West Coast, Mr. Koziol worked in the Rocky Mountain regional office of the USPTO in Denver, CO, where he led the design and implementation of various intellectual property outreach and education programs. He has also focused on the development of patent-specific programs within the USPTO, including the Post-Grant Outcomes program, AIA First Inventor to File implementation, AIPLA Partnering in Patents, and patent operations cost and fee modeling.
Mr. Koziol received his Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois.
Please note: prior to the webinar, you will receive an additional Zoom registration link. This registration will need to be completed in order to attend and access the webinar via Zoom.
Register Here

Fee: No Cost

Hearing All Voices Small Business Workshop & Listening Session
2021-05-06 11:00 - 13:00
Small Business Essentials: Hear from IRS on estimated taxes, self-employment tax, withholding tools for employers and more.

Interacting with IRS: Hear about examination and collection processes.

Being an Employer 101: Get an overview of employment taxes (employee vs. independent contractor rules and the Trust Fund Recovery Penalty.

Appeals: Hear about appeals fast track settlement program, collection due process and much more.

Taxpayer First Act: Give your input on how the IRS can improve service to small business owners.

Speaker(s): Nancy Sanders, Maricopa SBDC Regional Center Director
Please note: prior to the webinar, you will receive an additional Zoom registration link. This registration will need to be completed in order to attend and access the webinar via Zoom.
Register Here
Fee: No Cost

POSTPONED -- Navigating International Waters During COVID: Export Considerations
2021-05-10 09:00 - 10:00
Are you struggling to stay up-to-date on the changing import and export policies? You are not alone. With changes happening frequently, sometimes daily, making adjustments to your businesses is a challenge. In this webinar we will update you on changing import and export policies, and share a powerful tool that you can use to monitor the policy changes that can impact your business.
Topics include:

Update on U.S. import & export restrictions in response to the COVID-19
Update on the import and export policies for both origin and destination countries – ITC Market Access Map – Introduction and overview of use for your business

Speaker(s): Carol Laisure-Pool, SBDC Business Analyst Tom Fulcher, SBDC Business Analyst
Please note: prior to the webinar, you will receive an additional Zoom registration link. This registration will need to be completed in order to attend and access the webinar via Zoom.

Fee: No Cost

Venture Madness is Coming -- Are You Ready?
2021-05-11 09:30 - 10:30
Venture Madness, presented by Invest Southwest in partnership with the Arizona Commerce Authority, pits the most promising startups against one another in a live pitch, head-to-head competition. Firms selected for the competition also benefit from valuable mentoring with Arizona leaders in the startup community. The competition is open to early-stage firms demonstrating proven market traction. The Venture Madness application window opened April 8 and closes June 3 for the October event.
Are you ready to compete and share your story? Tom Fulcher, Business Analyst and Venture Madness Mentor Chair/Selection committee member will share insights and tips with you. He will also provide an overview of the application process.
He will be joined by Lou Farina. Lou is the Maricopa SBDC Technology program coordinator and a long-term veteran of startup and emerging businesses. He has worked in this ecosystem for years before joining the SBDC. Tom and Lou have worked with multiple Venture Madness winners over the years.
The program will begin with a presentation on the application and process before switching to a conversation style. Questions will be taken from the audience.
Topics include:
– Better understanding of application and application process
– Review eligibility requirements
– Insights on how applications are evaluated
– Learn more about the event and benefits of participation
– Pick up additional knowledge on investors
– Determine if the timing is right for your company
Speaker(s): Tom Fulcher, SBDC Business Analyst
Lou Farina, SBDC Business Analyst
Please note: prior to the webinar, you will receive an additional Zoom registration link. This registration will need to be completed in order to attend and access the webinar via Zoom.
Register Here

Fee: No Cost

The Great Marketing Turnaround - Session 2 - Customer Messaging and Sales Promo in COVID
2021-05-13 10:00 - 12:00
Topic: Marketing and Sales

— What does it take to inspire customers to act as we move out of COVID times?
Find out how to incentivize action in this 2-hour workshop about creating the stories that matter to your customers aligned to your business’s Unique Selling Proposition. Use what you know about your Target Market to rejuvenate the power of Sales Promotion in a strategic organized way to build synergy in your marketing mix.
Set aside this time to work on YOUR marketing plan. In the workshop you will complete ACTIVITIES FOR YOUR BUSINESS that will jumpstart your thinking around customer development and retention and better position you in the marketplace.
— This is the second of three hands-on sessions designed to adapt and update existing marketing planning for pandemic times. Business leaders use each session’s guided marketing self-assessments to apply new ideas and techniques to their own marketing challenges. (Attend one or attend them all!)
Speaker(s): Heidi Kirkland, Business Analyst
Please note: After you have complete registration, you will be provided with an additional Zoom registration link. This registration must be completed to obtain your unique access link to attend and access this webinar.

Fee: No Cost

Register Now

RESCHEDULED FROM 6/3/2021 -- The Great Marketing Turnaround Session 3 – Pandemic Promotional Strategies and Measuring Success
2021-05-27 10:00 - 12:00
Topic: Marketing and Sales

— Do you need help reformulating your marketing mix during COVID?
Work on your own business marketing plan during this 2-hour workshop designed to help you update your marketing media and tactical options to better reach and influence customers. Prepared with well-defined market segments, key buyer messages and sales promotion ideas, business leaders can get right to work evaluating the best media and tactical options for current times.
Set aside this time to focus on YOUR businesses’ marketing strategy for 2021. Use this workshop to organize and plan using the 4 M’s: Message, Media, Mechanism and Management, for greater synergy in your future marketing.
— This is the final session of the Great Marketing Turnaround series. Each hands-on session is designed to adapt and update existing marketing planning for pandemic times. Participants use guided marketing activities during the sessions to plan their own marketing efforts. (Businesses do not have to have attended previous sessions to participate.)
Speaker(s): Heidi Kirkland, Business Analyst
Please note: After you have complete registration, you will be provided with an additional Zoom registration link. This registration must be completed to obtain your unique access link to attend and access this webinar.

Fee: No Cost

Register Now

Use YouTube to Grow Your Business (Grow with Google Series)
2021-06-15 09:00 - 10:00
Topic: Marketing and Sales

Get best practices for creating a YouTube Channel and compelling video content that promotes your products and services and drives engagement with your brand.
In this workshop we’ll discuss best practices for:
● Understanding different video formats
● How to set up a YouTube channel
● Making good creative videos, and how to target and measure the results
Speaker(s): Israel Serna
Register Here:
Fee: No Cost

SBIR Overview: How to Leverage America’s Seed Fund During COVID
2021-06-17 09:00 - 10:30
Topic: Business Basics

Fundraising can be extremely challenging in the current pandemic environment. The SBIR program is the nation’s largest source of early-stage/high-risk funding for start-ups and small businesses. The highly competitive SBIR program encourages domestic small businesses to engage in federal research and research development (R&D) that has the potential for commercialization. SBIR enables small businesses to explore technological potential and provides the incentive to profit from its commercialization. Join us and learn how to fund your innovation-based startup using non-dilutive seed capital provided by the federal government
Speaker(s): Lou Farina, SBDC Business Analyst
Please note: prior to the webinar, you will receive an additional Zoom registration link. This registration will need to be completed in order to attend and access the webinar via Zoom.
Register Here:
Fee: No Cost

Business Income and How it is Taxed
2021-06-30 09:00 - 11:00
Topic: Business Taxes

Business taxes can be confusing and complex. In our next tax webinar, Tanya Luken, Luken CPA, will help to demystify business taxes and help you increase your understanding of how business income is taxed based on your legal entity type. She will also share related tax forms, an overview of where, when and how to pay your business taxes, provide tips on avoiding tax penalties, and other important topics to know as a small business owner.
Speaker(s): Tanya Luken, CPA
Please note: prior to the webinar, you will receive an additional Zoom registration link. This registration will need to be completed in order to attend and access the webinar via Zoom.
Register Here:
Fee: No Cost

Social Media Success for Small Business - 2021 Guide to Winning with Social Media
2021-07-13 09:00 - 10:00
Topic: Social Media

Everyone knows that social media can make or break a business, but sometimes social media seems more like a “nice-to-have” and not a priority. Join our webinar to learn practical advice on how to use social media to grow your business. With a focus on Facebook and Instagram, you will walk away with the knowledge necessary to get started as soon as the webinar is over. You will also learn how Maricopa SBDC, a no-fee counseling resource, can help your business navigate out of COVID and set a stronger foundation for future growth.
Speaker(s): Samantha Soffici, Thryv Enterprise Business Consultant
Please note: prior to the webinar, you will receive an additional Zoom registration link. This registration will need to be completed in order to attend and access the webinar via Zoom.
Register Here:
Fee: No Cost

Buying a Business - What You Need to Know Before You Buy
2021-07-15 10:00 - 11:00
Topic: Managing a Business

With the changing economy, opportunities to buy businesses are on the increase. Whether you are considering the path of new business ownership, or perhaps looking to expand your existing business through an acquisition, it is important to make an informed decision. In this webinar, we overview buying a business process essentials that include knowing the pros and cons and what you can afford, how to research and vet options, funding strategies, experts to involve throughout the deal, and tips for a smooth transition from buyer to owner.

Topics will include:

How to determine whether a business is right for you, exploring the pros and cons, and how much you can afford
Overview of how to research and vet the options
The acquisition process from start to finish
Funding strategies and requirements to qualify for a loan
Professional experts to involve during the purchase
How to make a smooth transition from buyer to owner

Speaker(s): Nancy Hon, SBDC Business Analyst
Please note: prior to the webinar, you will receive an additional Zoom registration link. This registration will need to be completed in order to attend and access the webinar via Zoom.
Register Here:
Fee: No Cost

Grow with Google -- Learn the Basics of Google Ads
2021-07-20 09:00 - 10:00
Topic: Marketing and Sales

In this workshop, you will learn how to reach more customers and grow your business with Google Ads.
In this session we’ll talk about:
● How to create an account and set up an ad campaign
● How to write great ads, refine keywords, and include ad extensions
● How to measure success

Speaker(s): Israel Serna, Grow with Google
Register Here:
Fee: No Cost

Employee Retention Tax Credit
2021-07-27 09:00 - 10:30
Topic: Tax Planning
The Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC) program launched with the CARES Act in March 2020 and was then modified and extended as part of the Taxpayer Certainty and Disaster Relief Act in December 2020.
The Employee Retention Credit is a fully refundable payroll tax credit for employers equal to 50 percent (or 70 percent) of qualified wages (up to a $10,000 cap) that Eligible Employers pay their employees.
Our expert speaker will take you through the program basics to help you understand its potential value to you and prepare you to pursue it.
Topics include:

The history of the program
Qualified wages and calculations
Interaction with other disaster relief programs
Steps in the evaluation process
Process and steps to apply

Speaker(s): CariAnn J. Todd, CPA
Accounting & Assurance Senior Manager
Beach Fleischman®
Tom Fulcher, SBDC Business Analyst
Please note: prior to the webinar, you will receive an additional Zoom registration link. This registration will need to be completed in order to attend and access the webinar via Zoom.
Register Here
Fee: No Cost

Reviews Matter- How to Manage and Optimize your Reputation
2021-08-05 10:00 - 11:00
Like it or not, reviews matter! In fact, 84% of people trust online reviews as much as a personal recommendation. So how do you get more ratings and reviews, and how can you boost your online reputation to do more business? Join our webinar to learn practical tips and tricks about managing your online reputation. You will also learn how Maricopa SBDC, a no-fee counseling resource, can help your business navigate out of COVID and set a stronger foundation for future growth.
Speaker(s): Samantha Soffici, Thryv Partnership and Business Development Lead
Please note: prior to the webinar, you will receive an additional Zoom registration link. This registration will need to be completed in order to attend and access the webinar via Zoom.
Register Here
Fee: No Cost

Grow with Google -- Get Your Local Business on Google Search
2021-08-17 09:00 - 10:00
Showing up when customers are searching online is more important than ever. Ensure customers can find accurate, updated information about your local business on Google Search and Google Maps, no matter which device they use. In this workshop, you will learn how to create and manage a Google business profile from start to finish.
In this session we’ll show you how to:
● Create or claim your Business Profile on Google
● Manage your business info across Google Search and Maps
● Use Google My Business to connect with potential customers

Speaker(s): Israel Serna, Grow with Google
Please note: prior to the webinar, you will receive an additional GoToWebinar registration link. This registration will need to be completed in order to attend and access the webinar via GoToWebinar.
Register Here
Fee: No Cost

Manage Your Customers Effectively and Efficiently
2021-09-08 10:00 - 11:00
The most powerful tool for a business is its contacts. If you use your Customer Relationship Management (CRM) tool to its fullest capabilities, it can make your marketing, sales, and client success efforts a breeze. Join our webinar to learn how to optimize a tool you are already using to help you grow your business.
Speaker(s): Samantha Soffici, Thryv Partnership and Business Development Lead
Please note: prior to the webinar, you will receive an additional Zoom registration link. This registration will need to be completed in order to attend and access the webinar via Zoom.
Register Here
Fee: No Cost

Trademark Basics - What Every Small Business Should Know Now, Not Later
2021-09-09 09:00 - 10:30
Are you a small business owner or entrepreneur interested in learning about trademarks and how to apply for a federal registration? Join USPTO trademark advising attorney Jason Lott for a discussion about what all entrepreneurs, small businesses, and start-ups should know about trademarks.

Speaker(s): Lou Farina, Maricopa SBDC Business Analyst
Jason Lott, Attorney Advisor for Trademark Educational Outreach, United States Patent and Trademark Office

Please note: prior to the webinar, you will receive an additional Zoom registration link. This registration will need to be completed in order to attend and access the webinar via Zoom.
Register Here
Fee: No Cost

Smart Credit Strategies for Small Business Owners
2021-09-14 10:00 - 11:00
When you’re a business owner, strong personal credit scores can be an asset by helping you qualify for a business credit card, an SBA loan, or other types of funding that take the owner’s personal credit into account. But if you’re not careful, your business can hurt your credit scores. Nav’s Credit and Small Business Expert Gerri Detweiler has been answering credit questions for more than twenty years and has answered over 10,000 credit questions online. You’ll learn:

The big credit score mistake many small business owners make
How to protect your credit from your business
How small business lenders view personal credit scores
And much more!

This webinar will focus on personal credit scores. You’ll receive a checklist you can use to create your own strategy for implementing the strategies in this workshop.
Speaker(s): Gerri Detweiler, Nav Education Director
Please note: prior to the webinar, you will receive an additional Zoom registration link. This registration will need to be completed in order to attend and access the webinar via Zoom.
Register Here
Fee: No Cost

Grow with Google -- Make Your Website Work for You
2021-09-28 09:00 - 10:00
In this presentation, learners will discover how to create a search-friendly website that drives user action and supports their goals. Whether launching a new website or sprucing up an old one, this workshop will help.
Speaker(s): Israel Serna, Grow with Google
Please note: prior to the webinar, you will receive an additional GoToWebinar registration link. This registration will need to be completed in order to attend and access the webinar via GoToWebinar.
Register Here
Fee: No Cost

Build Small Business Value - Strategies for a Successful Sale or Succession of Your Small Business
2021-09-30 09:00 - 10:00
In the ever-changing business landscape, small business owners have had to consider the long-term goals for their business and possible exit strategies. Waiting for a sudden change in a business situation is not the ideal time to begin planning your business exit. As a business owner, you need to know what value your business will have to a prospective buyer or successor, and the elements that add value to your business. In this webinar, we will overview the basics of planning your exit strategy and help you begin to identify potential gaps and opportunities that you can use to begin to put a plan in place.
Topics:

Exit strategy options
Factors that impact the value of your business
When and how to plan for your exit
Assess your gaps and opportunities
Resources to assist

Speaker(s): Nancy Hon, Maricopa SBDC Business Analyst
Register Here
Fee: No Cost

SBIR Overview: How to Leverage America’s Seed Fund During COVID
2021-10-07 10:00 - 11:30
Fundraising can be extremely challenging in the current pandemic environment. The SBIR program is the nation’s largest source of early-stage/high-risk funding for start-ups and small businesses. The highly competitive SBIR program encourages domestic small businesses to engage in federal research and research development (R&D) that has the potential for commercialization. SBIR enables small businesses to explore technological potential and provides the incentive to profit from its commercialization.
Join us and learn how to fund your innovation-based startup using non-dilutive seed capital provided by the federal government

Speaker(s): Lou Farina, SBDC Business Analyst
Robert Mucci, PTAC Procurement Specialist

Please note: prior to the webinar, you will receive an additional Zoom registration link. This registration will need to be completed in order to attend and access the webinar via Zoom.
Register Here
Fee: No Cost

Small Business Payroll
2021-10-13 09:00 - 11:00
Overwhelmed by setting up payroll for your small business? In our Small Business Payroll webinar, our guest speaker, Tanya Luken, CPA, will simplify and explain the tasks related to new hires including the required paperwork, record keeping, eVerify, and exempt vs. non-exempt employees. She will also discuss payroll taxes, workers compensation, and suggestions for how to work with a payroll company.
Speaker(s): Tanya Luken, Luken CPA
Please note: prior to the webinar, you will receive an additional Zoom registration link. This registration will need to be completed in order to attend and access the webinar via Zoom.
Register Here
Fee: No Cost

Angel Investing: Disruption Creates New Opportunities
2021-10-14 09:00 - 10:30

Grow with Google - Reach More Customers Online
2021-10-26 09:00 - 10:00
Learn how your business can be found online with Google. This workshop explains how Google Search works and how you can improve a website’s visibility with Search Engine Optimization (SEO). The session also introduces products like Google My Business, Google Trends, Search Console, Google Analytics, Google Ads, and more.
In this workshop we’ll discuss best practices for:
● Improving your website’s visibility in Google’s organic search results, on all devices
● Creating a free Google My Business listing
● Advertising your business on Google
Speaker(s): Israel Serna, Grow with Google
Please note: prior to the webinar, you will receive an additional GoToWebinar registration link. This registration will need to be completed in order to attend and access the webinar via GoToWebinar.
Register Here
Fee: No Cost

Grow with Google -- Sell Online with E-Commerce Tools
2021-11-16 09:00 - 10:00
Learn how to sell your products online. We’ll walk through listing your products for free with Google My Business and Merchant Center. And we’ll show you one way to sell on your website, using an E-Commerce store built with Shopify. Plus, learn about more helpful tools to stand out online, such as Local Opportunity Finder and Grow My Store.
In this workshop, we’ll:
● Discuss the Products tab in Google My Business
● Introduce Google Merchant Center and the basics of creating a free account and a product feed
● Show you set up an E-Commerce website using Shopify
Speaker(s): Israel Serna, Grow with Google

Please note: prior to the webinar, you will receive an additional GoToWebinar registration link. This registration will need to be completed in order to attend and access the webinar via GoToWebinar.
Register Here
Fee: No Cost

International Logistics Strategies
2021-11-17 09:00 - 10:00
The International Logistics industry has dealt with many challenges and changes since the SARS2-COVID-19 pandemic began. Are you one of the companies facing dramatically increasing prices, equipment unavailability, and unpredictable delivery timelines? Even the companies that have replaced manual labor with technology are still suffering from many problems, such as: lack of effective coordination, poor communication with end-users and customers, and overall logistical volatility. Join our webinar, and we will address the current logistical problems and issues. We will also share tips on how to procure and secure your ocean containers at lower rates.
Speaker(s): Carol Laisure Pool, Maricopa SBDC Business Analyst

Please note: prior to the webinar, you will receive an additional Zoom registration link. This registration will need to be completed in order to attend and access the webinar via Zoom.
Register Here
Fee: No Cost
