eLearning Library: All Recorded Webinars

Early-stage companies to occasionally need capital assistance to stay afloat and finance their day-to-day operations. Despite this, many small businesses and startups find it difficult to get access to capital.
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Interested in applying for a grant for your small business, but unsure how to get started? Join us for an information session to answer your questions about the grant application process. In addition, participants will have access to a free resource guide compiled by Chelsea Groton Bank to regional and national grants that are available.
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Learn about opportunities for attaining the funds you need for your business.  Gain an understanding of traditional and non-traditional lenders, alternative loan sources, and the requirements you need to qualify. 
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Session 1 – Your relationship with Money- Budgeting
Examine how your thinking about money affects your relationship with money. Learn to set a budget that works for you!
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Learn common types and important considerations for financing a new business. This series of short videos, averaging five to 10 minutes each, covers topics such as Financing Options and Preparation, Accounting Applications, Revenue Models, Calculating Costs, Pricing and Profitability, Personal Credit, and QuickBooks Basics. Check back regularly for new additions.
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Pricing your products is a very important part of being a small business owner. Improper pricing can lead to no profits, fewer customers and lower potential for your business to succeed. 
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“Trabajar porque quiero y no porque tengo que hacerlo” es una de las razones más comunes por las que un emprendedor inicia su propio negocio. Pero las actividades cotidianas desvían el enfoque de la planificación para el futuro. Conozca las diferentes opciones y estrategias al planificar para la jubilación.
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The Covid-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) deferment periods are approacching an end. Business owners that received an EIDL need to start setting up and making payments on their loans. Learn what you need to know about the process.
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Accountants evaluate your financial statements and tax position to help further your company’s progress towards its goals. Explore how you can implement accounting practices for your business. This session will cover ways to build a relationship with your accounting professionals, provide the accountant’s view on working with your business, and engage tools for you to take action on improving your business story by the numbers
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Explore personal credit scores and the steps you can take to get your financial house in order. Whether you’re starting a business or already operating one, this session will help you understand the effects of personal finances on business finances, and give you practical tips for improving your credit score.
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Are you a manufacturer?  Learn about the different programs and the application process from Paul Lavoie, Chief Manufacturing Officer, DECD.
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Session 2 – Understanding Credit reports & scores
Credit score, debt and risk management
Learn how these topics connect and what you need to do to improve your finances.
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The “M” word doesn’t have to raise fears every time you hear it. While you may feel you have a good grasp on the basics, more refined skills are helpful in learning to build a secure financial future. Join us for an interactive discussion and leave with an action plan that will help guide your financial future.
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Learn to evaluate your pricing and set projections to help you grow your profits.
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It costs money to start a business. Funding your business is one of the first — and most important — financial choices most business owners make. How you choose to fund your business could affect how you structure and run your business. 
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Designed for aspiring entrepreneurs and early stage start-up businesses, this quick module delves into the top three considerations to evaluate as you set about determining your legal business structure.  Learn about the differences between a sole proprietorship, partnership, and corporation, and decide which is the best fit.
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International sales are not just for large manufacturers.  If you are an artist, jewelry designer, beauty care producer, candle maker, etc. then international expansion may be a great way for you to increase sales. If you are a service provider in the fields of website design, accounting, law, or travel services, just to name a few, you are a part of some of the fastest growing export industries!
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Starting a business involves planning, making key financial decisions, and completing a series of legal activities. Join WBDC and the SBA as we discuss how to get your business started in 10 Steps.
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Have you been approached about buying someone’s business? Considering purchasing a franchise? Exploring shifting from the role of employee to the role of owner?
This workshop is geared towards evaluating whether these opportunities are a good match and what considerations can help you gain confidence in your decisions.
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Learn how to fill in an existing Excel workbook, create a table, create basic formulas, adjust worksheet formatting, using forms and more. NOTE: this class is for beginners not very familiar with Excel.
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Explore business Plan writing and the benefits of having a business plan.
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Refine your ideas for side projects and passions, explore how to monetize these ventures and grow passion to profit and professional aims.
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Have you ever thought about turning your hobby into a business, but have come up with all the reasons why it wouldn’t work? With a little business education, the question, instead, becomes, why wouldn’t it work? Join WBDC and the SBA to learn how you CAN turn a hobby you love into a business.
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Looking to start a cottage business, food truck, restaurant, brewery, catering or other retail food business but don’t know where to start? Learn what you will need to have a successful food business. Start here to learn the basics on becoming a food entrepreneur.Sign-up >>

Have you ever struggled with using Adobe Acrobat, saving documents to PDF, combining multiple documents into one PDF, or signing documents? Or perhaps you need a refresher on how to attach those documents to an email.  Then join us for this session to go over all these features, ask your questions, and walk away feeling more confident about how you engage in business.
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Únase a Zayed Rodríguez, asesor de negocios de WBDC para una sesión práctica para aprender a administrar las finanzas de su empresa con QuickBooks Self-Employed. Esta versión de QuickBooks funciona mejor para empresas muy pequeñas que no tienen empleados, y procesan todos los ingresos y gastos a través de sus cuentas comerciales o de tarjetas de crédito. Viene con una aplicación móvil para un fácil acceso.
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Fundamentos financieros: Introducción a las finanzas personales (curso de 3 partes)
Parte 1: Presupuesto 101
Tu relación con el dinero, el presupuesto
     Examine cómo lo que piensa sobre el dinero afecta su relación con el dinero. ¡Aprenda a establecer un presupuesto que funcione para usted!
En esta grabación, Monica Martinez Hess repasa la importancia de tener un presupuesto y cómo crearlo. Esta grabación también incluye preguntas y respuestas de personas que asistieron a la sesión.
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“Trabajar porque quiero y no porque tengo que hacerlo” es una de las razones más comunes por las que un emprendedor inicia su propio negocio. Pero las actividades cotidianas desvían el enfoque de la planificación para el futuro. Conozca las diferentes opciones y estrategias al planificar para la jubilación.
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¿Alguna vez ha tenido problemas para usar Adobe Acrobat, guardar documentos en PDF, combinar varios documentos en un PDF o firmar documentos? O quizás necesite un repaso sobre cómo adjuntar esos documentos a un correo electrónico. Luego, únase a nosotros en esta sesión para repasar todas estas funciones, hacer sus preguntas y salir sintiéndose más seguro de cómo se involucra en los negocios.
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     Vea la grabacion de esta sesión de una hora para explorar cómo puede implementar las mejores prácticas bancarias para su negocio.
     Los banqueros brindan administración de efectivo, procesamiento comercial y otros servicios valiosos, no solo a alguien con quien habla cuando necesita financiamiento.
     Esta sesión cubrirá formas de construir una relación con su banquero, brindará la visión del banquero sobre cómo trabajar con su empresa y utilizará herramientas para que pueda tomar medidas para mejorar su banca comercial. Obtenga información sobre cómo puede prepararse para implementar su mejor estrategia comercial.
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Fundamentos financieros: Introducción a las finanzas personales (curso de 3 partes)
Parte 2: Crédito y deuda
Puntaje de crédito, deudas y gestión de riesgos
Aprenda cómo se conectan estos temas y qué debe hacer para mejorar sus finanzas.
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Vea esta sesión informativa para conocer las oportunidades de subvenciones para empresas de cuidado infantil del Consejo de Desarrollo Empresarial de Mujeres. Este programa ofrece cuatro (4) subvenciones de hasta $ 25,000 a empresas de cuidado infantil aspirantes y con licencia OEC en el estado de Connecticut. La sesión de información cubrirá los requisitos de elegibilidad, para qué se puede utilizar la subvención y el proceso de solicitud y el cronograma. Compartiremos las preguntas de la solicitud y la documentación de respaldo requerida. También habrá tiempo para preguntas.
El período de solicitud de subvención será del 1 al 21 de noviembre, y alentamos a todos los solicitantes interesados a que asistan a una sesión informativa para comprender qué se requiere para la solicitud. La sesión de información está diseñada para ayudarlo a preparar su solicitud. Solo necesita asistir a una sesión, aunque puede asistir a las dos si lo desea.
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Does your website really reflect who you are and what you do? Is it communicating the right message? Take advantage of this discussion led by Michelle Blais to learn how your website can help you grow your business.
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Take a close look at what branding means for small businesses and how you can create a brand strategy that will set you apart from the competition.
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Forever stuck on subject lines? Don’t know how to grow or segment your audience? Missing calls to action?
Learn the best practices you need for your email marketing strategy to succeed.
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Do you understand the difference between public relations, marketing, and advertising? Wonder how you can use public relations to grow your small business?
Join us to learn exactly what public relations is and how it can help your business.
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The perception of your brand exists whether you control it or not. Learn tips on how to create a brand strategy, learn what brand is, what factors to consider when creating visual and verbal communications, and how to write a positioning statement.
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LinkedIn – the world’s largest professional network – is an incredibly  powerful tool for networking and career development. Learn how to showcase your personal brand on LinkedIn. Follow along and update your profile!
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Learn how to optimize your social media accounts to maximize your success with an easy formula to communicate your brand’s message across multiple platforms.
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Thinking of creating a website for your business and wondering if you should do it yourself or hire a professional? Explore the pros and cons of both options.
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Learn from a marketing strategy expert, certified copywriter, and content creator 21 easy and different types of content you can create to reach the right clients for your business.
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As a small business owner, having a unique brand that differentiates you from your competition is very important, but how do you develop yours into one that tells the story of your company?  Learn the difference between a logo and a brand, and how taglines can help you communicate your promise to your customers.
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Learn how to reach your customers more effectively. Guidance on defining your target market, identifying your ideal client, and building marketing and segmentation strategies to attract and retain these customers.
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Communicating your product or service is a key skill for every entrepreneur. You have to be able to talk about what you do or sell, concisely, clearly, and with confidence to capture the attention and interest of potential buyers or recommenders.
This one-hour session will cover best practices and techniques for pitching.
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Learn tips on how regular scheduling, concepts, templates, and posting can lead to a major increase in people noticing your business across different social media platforms.
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Dive into the foundational aspects of developing a successful marketing approach for your business. Explore the importance of understanding your market, competitive analysis, telling your unique story and how to reach your target market. This series of short videos, averaging five to 10 minutes each, will lay the foundation for your marketing plan.
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This session will provide an overview of what Intagram reels are and how you can use them as a marketing tool to promote your business.
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Are you up on the ever-changing landscape of labor and employment laws? Join us as we chat with Employment and Labor Attorney, Jennie Woltz to discuss the 5 areas of labor and employment law that you need to know about.
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Lawyers/Legal Experts provide vital assistance in almost every aspect of your business – including regulatory compliance, contracts and trademark advice, plus formal business incorporation and risk assessment.
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Understanding intellectual property (IP) is an important skill for anyone starting or growing a business. Discuss IP protection for the various parts of your business and how IP helps you create and maintain a competitive advantage over your competition, which is essential for your long-term success.  
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Understanding how to become certified as a women-owned small business can be confusing. Learn how to understand the process.
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Have you thought about your business becoming Small and Minority Business (SBE/MBE) certified? Join Meg Yetishefsky, the Program Manager for the Procurement Services/Supplier Diversity Unit as she explains the certification process. This webinar will walk you thru the certification application process and guide you to resources available to you for state procurement opportunities. 
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Are you considering insuring your business, but don’t know where to start? Join Operations and Risk Management Consultant Meredith Messenger to talk about how to minimize risk to your business by choosing the right insurance program. 
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Explore how you can position your company for business-to-government contracts. This session will cover searching for opportunities, strategy for pursuing the right projects, and best practices for the process of contract success. Invest time to consider how you and your team might build your client portfolio to include local government and the role it has in your business development. 
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The Government works to make sure small businesses get at least 23% of all federal contracting dollars. But, do you know how to get one? Learn tips and resources from this informationsal session led by WBDC and the SBA on how to get a federal contract.
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Designed for aspiring entrepreneurs and early stage start-up businesses, this quick module delves into the top three considerations to evaluate as you set about determining your legal business structure.  Learn about the differences between a sole proprietorship, partnership, and corporation, and decide which is the best fit.
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Sole Proprietors & Self-Employed individuals are not required to enroll in CT Paid Leave. However, it could provide many with peace of mind and financial security. Due to increased demand and newly approved policies, we now have more information to share surrounding the details of what it means to be a Sole Proprietor enrolled in the Paid Leave program.
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Learn best practices for hiring, retaining, and supervising staff.   
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MyCTSavings is a new retirement savings program, overseen by the Connecticut Office of the State Comptroller. Join WBDC and the State Comptroller’s office to learn how more about this program, how it works, and what employers need to do to sign up.
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Many business owners are looking for ways to have a smaller impact on the environment.  Silvina Skverer, of Thinking Beyond Business, delves into what it means to be a sustainable business, why it should matter to you, and other key points about sustainability.
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Your business is healthy, but there’s still not enough time in the day to get everything done. Does it feel like areas of your business are suffering? Learn how to pinpoint and fix the issue, allowing you to build a business with staying power.
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Are you considering a mask or vaccine mandate for your business? Wondering about what happens when an employee or customer refuses to comply?  Learn tips for implementing mandates and handling any human resources issues that result. You’ll receive expert advice and guidance from a seasoned HR professional.
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Think your business is too small to be concerned about cyber security? Think again! Typically, we only hear about data breaches at huge corporations, but the truth is most businesses that are hacked are small. Find out how you can tell if your business is vulnerable and get tips on how to make it more secure.
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Employee handbooks are key to ensuring compliance and reducing legal risk. Have you updated your company handbook recently? Or, is your company getting ready to create an employee handbook?
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Doing all your HR yourself and ready to onboard new hires?  Learn about state and federal requirements, employee contracts and policies, onboarding training, and more. Leave with the confidence to successfully onboard your next hire. 
This program is ideal for those looking to hire their first or second employee, or those that have employees and want to strengthen their best practices. 
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Employers with five or more employees in Connecticut are required by law to join MyCTSavings if they don’t already offer a retirement plan for their employees. MyCTSavings is a new retirement savings program, sponsored by the State of Connecticut’s Retirement Security Authority to help Connecticut employees save and plan for the future. Learn more about this program and how it affects your business.
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Discuss how to calculate your cost of care by examining your pricing, profit , and projections. Learn how to find your break-even point to better set prices and work towards increasing your profit. Leave with practical guidance to create your annual budget.
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Geared toward eligible child care providers with program staff that are planning to apply for OEC’s Childcare Stabilization Funding.
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¿Estás pensando en crecer desde una casa familiar a un centro? ¿O ha abierto recientemente un centro? Únase a WBDC Business Advisor y experta en la primera infancia, Linda Fecteau, para aprender sobre artículos importantes a considerar antes de dar el salto para expandirse. Obtenga consejos prácticos sobre presupuestar, ensamblar su equipo de la primera infancia, administrar la inscripción y más.
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Join this info session to learn more about the Start-up, Expansion, and Emergency Facilities grant programs, which offer grants of up to $25,000. We will cover what the grant can be used for and eligibility requirements and will have time for questions.
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Learn about important items to consider before taking the leap to expand.  Get practical tips on budgeting, assembling your early childhood team, managing enrollment, and more.
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Learn the best way to track your grant expenses, classify them correctly and have access to up-to-date financial information. 
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