The Daily Camera - Chamber aims at helping small business

By Alex de L'Arbre, For the Camera

February 8, 2005

New 12-week class covers wide range of subjects for entrepreneur

The Boulder Chamber of Commerce aims to help small businesses take the next step.

The Boulder Small Business Development Center, operated by the chamber, is putting on its spring session of the Leading Edge Entrepreneur course beginning Feb. 15.

The 12-week, 36-hour course is open to anyone interested in starting a business or currently involved in a business.

Sharon King, director of the Boulder SBDC and the class facilitator, said the aim of the course is to help participants "get control of their business and take businesses to the next level."

The curriculum covers a wide range of topics, including legal and organizational issues, creating marketing plans and meaningful financial projections, obtaining capital forbusiness growth, and accounting and financial reporting. One class is held at the Boulder Public Library, where attendees learn how to use free resources to conduct market research.

"In each topic area, they will take away a tremendous amount of information in a very concentrated form," King said.

The course is designed to expose participants to successful entrepreneurs from the community. King said instructors and guest speakers offer personal accounts of successes and failures they encountered when starting and expanding their own businesses.

During a class last fall, Laura Love, founder and principal of GroundFloor Media Inc., offered her expertise in implementing public relations and marketing strategies when starting a business. Love said this course is valuable because it offers small business owners the experience of hearing "real-life stories of entrepreneurs who have been in their shoes."

SuzAnn Brown enrolled in the fall 2004 session of the class to develop a business growth plan for her sales and marketing company, JumpStart. Brown drafted the business plan she came for and left feeling confident in the future success of her company.

"It's more than just going to a class. It makes you feel like part of the community. It makes you feel like you have resources," Brown said.

MORE INFO

• The cost of the course is $475 a person and $125 for another business partner. Boulder Chamber members receive a $50 discount.
• For more information, contact Sharon King, (303) 442-1475.