HOULTON — Jump Start your $35,000 Houlton Entrepreneurship Challenge business plan submission, brush up on business basics, and get on solid ground this summer with a tuition-free three-session business planning class offered by New Ventures Maine.
Starting Aug. 5, Business Basics classes will be held at the Houlton Town Office, 21 Water St, Houlton, Fridays from 9:30 a.m. to noon. Classes meet for three sessions on Aug. 5, Aug. 12, and Aug. 19.
The 9-hour class covers the basics of a business plan, marketing, and cash planning and is suitable for those thinking about or in the early start-up phase of a new business. The Business Basics class will help you assess the feasibility, desirability, and viability of your business idea and get you started with your plan.
Karin Petrin, microenterprise specialist for New Ventures Maine in Aroostook County and the trainer for the class, notes that “If you plan to enter the Houlton Entrepreneur Challenge in September, seek bank financing for your business endeavor, want to reach all of your customers the first time, or just want to see if your idea will work as a business, you need a business plan. This class will give you the foundational plan for financing, marketing, start-up, or expansion.”
The Business Basics class is open to all entrepreneurs. The class is suitable for those who are thinking about starting their own business, those in the early start-up phase, or established business owners who want a refresher on planning for successful business operation or expansion.
Pre-registration is required by Wednesday, Aug. 3. There is no fee for the class. For more information or to register, call 768-9468, email karin.petrin@maine.edu or go online to register at newventuresmaine.org/schedules/business-basics-34/. Class is limited to 15.
New Ventures Maine will offer a free comprehensive 12-session business planning class, Venturing Forth: Business Planning for Entrepreneurs, from Sept. 6 through Dec. 13 in Presque Isle.
Those who are considering attending the Venturing Forth class, are encouraged to register for a Business Basics workshop, where they will receive an overview of the business planning process and Venturing Forth applications will be available to all participants. Venturing Forth applications can be obtained directly from New Ventures Maine (or downloaded on the website) for those unable to attend the basics workshop.
