Rogers State University’s Innovation Center is hosting two workshops on Thursday, May 10, for small business owners and for people interested in becoming entrepreneurs.
The first workshop, “Are you Ready for Entrepreneurship?” is free and will be held from 5 to 6 p.m., focusing on preparing to take the plunge into small business ownership. In addition, participants will get an overview of the Entrepreneur Development Program, an online training program to assist entrepreneurs in planning and operating a successful business.
The Entrepreneur Development Program features 11 self-paced, online modules on topics covering business planning, taxes, marketing, management and more. The program was developed by RSU’s Innovation Center staff with input from RSU’s business faculty. Program enrollment is $95, which includes individual support from Innovation Center staff via email, phone, videoconferencing or face-to-face meetings.
“The majority of small businesses fail within the first few years due to lack of planning and insufficient business skills and resources, often attributed to poor preparation for business ownership,” said Dr. Ray Brown, RSU vice president for economic and community development. “The Entrepreneur Development Program provides a convenient framework for entrepreneurs to develop and follow a business plan as well as enhance business skills that will increase the likelihood of their success.”
The second workshop, “Six Steps to a Winning Business Plan,” will be held from 6:30 to 9 p.m. The cost of the workshop is $15 and free to RSU employees and students with proper identification.
The workshop is designed to help inspiring entrepreneurs learn the basics of writing a business plan and improving the odds of entrepreneurial success. The majority of failed businesses could have been avoided by simply developing a business plan, Brown said. A business plan would have compelled them to evaluate the amount of money needed to open the business, the amount of cash reserves needed to cover their expenses in a timely manner, and proper evaluation of their competition, he added.
Both workshops require advance registration and will be held at the Innovation Center, located at 2000 University Drive on the Claremore campus. The workshops also will be broadcast to the Innovation Center at the RSU campus in Bartlesville.
To learn more about the workshops or to register, call the RSU Innovation Center at (918) 343-7533 e-mail [email protected] or log on to www.rsu.edu and click on the Innovation Center link.