Massachusetts Small Business Development Center Network

 

Statewide Training & Event Calendar

  

Preregistration is required for all events. If no link is listed on the registration page, online registration is not available or registration has closed. Please read important registration information by clicking here.


 
export
The Massachusetts Export Center organizes seminars, webinars and events throughout the year under Partners for Trade—the official export training initiative of the Commonwealth. Click here for the Fall 2023 Partners for Trade training booklet.
 
On the calendar below, globe indicates an exporting training event.

      
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

~~~ 2023 Training Calendar 

Training is held online unless otherwise noted              globe = export training
 DECEMBER
13 How to Open a Business in Massachusetts (Worcester)
 
 JANUARY 2024
10 How to Start a Successful Business (Worcester)
17 Mastering Small Business Taxes
25 Government Contracting
25-26 Export Expo globe
31 Search Engine Optimization (SEO) for Beginners
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

  
 

  

  

  

  

 
Program Descriptions


How to Start a Business 101: The Facts

The Starting a Business Series is a three-part series designed to provide new business owners with an overview of the information and tools needed to evaluate and develop a new business idea. In this first session, the workshop will focus on business fundamentals, including:

  • Start-up Considerations
  • Business Plan Development
  • Marketing Strategies
  • Funding Sources

The speaker will be an MSBDC regional director or business advisor.

Date: Held on the first Thursday of the month - click on your date selection below to register
Time: 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. EDT
Location: Online
Cost: No charge
Contact: Gavin Rocha at gavinrocha@umass.edu

How to Open a Business in Massachusetts

Preparing your business for success early on can help ensure your company joins the ranks of millions of small business owners who are living their version of the American Dream.

This two-hour workshop is designed to help business leaders and entrepreneurs unlock the secrets of success and discover what it really takes to launch and scale companies to million-dollar valuations. You’ll learn the key characteristics of entrepreneurs and how to recognize the challenges that come with starting and operating a small business in Massachusetts.

During this interactive training workshop, the speaker will present the Ten Essential Elements of a Successful Venture to help demystify the secrets behind owning and operating your own business. You will learn basics like accounting, marketing, branding, as well as some of the legal pitfalls facing business owners.

The speaker will be Tom Herald, regional director with the Massachusetts Small Business Development Center Network, Central Regional Office.

Date: Wednesday, December 13, 2023
Time: 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. EDT
Location: Clark University, Higgins University Center, Lurie Conference Room, Worcester
Cost:
No charge
Contact:
MSBDC Central Regional Office at sadoran@clarku.edu

How to Start a Successful Business

The DYME (Develop Your Model of Entrepreneurship) workshop will examine the process of developing ideas into successful business start-ups. Dr. John Dobson's award-winning program gives entrepreneurs the tools to validate their ideas. Understanding the behaviors of successful entrepreneurs will help you focus your time and efforts in the right areas to be successful.

The speaker will be John Dobson, Associate Professor of Entrepreneurship & Co-Director of L.A.R.C. (Liberal Arts for Returning Citizens) at Clark University.

Date: Wednesday, January 10, 2024
Time: 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. EDT
Location: Clark University, Higgins University Center, Grace Conference Room, Worcester
Cost: No charge
Contact: MSBDC Central Regional Office at sadoran@clarku.edu

Mastering Small Business Taxes

Are you a small business owner looking to navigate the intricacies of income tax filing?

This workshop will delve into the essentials of Schedule C (Profit & Loss), Schedule SE (Self- Employment Tax), and provide a brief introduction to Form 8829 (Expenses for Business Use of Your Home). Topics will include Understanding Schedule C, Navigating Schedule SE, and an Introduction to Form 8829.

The speaker will be Nancy Gerardi, regional director of the MSBDC Northeast Regional Office.

Date: Wednesday, January 17, 2024
Time: 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. EDT
Location: Online
Cost: No charge
Contact: Kaitlin Muldoon at kmuldoon@salemstate.edu or 978-542-7369

Government Contracting

Let the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), help you get "procurement-ready" to market your firm’s products and services to the Federal Government through our Resource Partners Network.

Federal Government Contracting can represent a very profitable market for your business, but it can also be extremely complex to get started and thrive. Working for the Government can provide a lucrative opportunity for companies that can provide the needed products and services. In addition, the government has preferred treatment for specially qualified contractors. It also encourages its major contractors to provide small companies with opportunities to become subcontractors with the resulting advantages. However, working for the government requires adherence to specific rules involving registration and certification. The government also has its own set of rules for marketing and pricing.  

The speakers will be:

  • Nadine Boone, Assistant District Director of Business Development — U.S. Small Business Adminstration
  • Lisa Gonzalez Welch, Economic Development Specialist — U.S. Small Business Adminstration

Date: Thursday, January 25, 2024
Time: 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. EDT
Location:
Online
Cost: No charge
Contact: Kaitlin Muldoon at kmuldoon@salemstate.edu or 978-542-7369

Export Expo

Export ExpoJoin us for the Export Expo – the state’s largest and most important export event of the year that brings together resources, training and information for the local exporting community! The Massachusetts Export Center’s Export Expo provides a forum for exporters to connect with the wide range of export resources available in Massachusetts while learning about issues that impact their day-to-day operations.   

This year’s Export Expo will again be a virtual event that will include an exhibit area featuring government, non-profit and private sector service providers serving the export community. The Export Expo will also feature a lineup of workshops, panel discussions and special addresses on a wide variety of export-related topics.    

The Export Expo will feature influential guest speakers and opportunities to connect with experts to answer your specific export questions. We hope that you will join us for the same timely and important international trade content in a convenient virtual format! Our virtual platform will provide opportunities for networking and allow participants to view all of the conference’s content, so you won’t miss a thing!   

Speakers and content to be announced soon. Visit www.mass.gov/export/expo for the latest details.

Dates: Thursday and Friday, January 25 & 26, 2024
Times: 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. EST
Location: Virtual
Cost: No charge
Contact: Massachusetts Export Center at training@massexport.org or 617-973-6610

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) for Beginners

You’ve likely heard this acronym many times, but what does it mean for your small business? This webinar will provide an overview of SEO fundamentals including:

  • How search engines work
  • The importance of keyword research
  • On- and off-page optimizations
  • How to use metrics to measure performance

The speaker will be Rosa Di Virgilio Taormina, Senior Business Advisor and Certified Digital Marketing Professional with the MSBDC Northeast Regional Office.

Date: Wednesday, January 31, 2024
Time:
11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. EDT
Location: Online
Cost: No charge
Contact: Kaitlin Muldoon at kmuldoon@salemstate.edu or 978-542-7369

 

Important Training Notes

Training registrations are booked on a first-come, first-served basis. To reserve your space for fee-based events, mail your payment to the appropriate office with a copy of the completed registration form. Credit cards are accepted ONLY for the Massachusetts Export Center's events. Your spot is reserved once payment is received by the appropriate office. Training programs may be added or cancelled; the training schedule is subject to change.

Please note: Training confirmations are sent from centeric@clients.msbdc.org. We use this email frequently, so please add it to your approved sender list. A verification code will be sent from this email address allowing your to register for training. If you have problems signing in, do not create a new account with a different email in order to register. For help registering, send an email to the contact in the seminar description. Please review our cancellation and refund policies.