Seminars and Training

The Missouri Small Business and Technology Development Centers offer educational sessions on a wide variety of topics targeting critical business development needs and issues.

Courses available

Start-up

Training Calendar

Training seminars and other activities are available to help those doing business in Missouri. See what's happening near you this month or search for the seminars listed to the right. [full calendar]

Online Learning
Learning via the internet allows flexibility to meet the busy schedules of business owners and managers. Self-directed training complements the classroom offerings. [more]

To learn more about any of these seminars or to request individual consulting, contact an SBTDC near you.






Funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. All opinions, conclusions or recommendations expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the SBA. Programs are extended to the public on a non-discriminatory basis.

Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance. Contact the center offering the event for information.

Starting a Small Business: The First Steps (3 hour course) -
Introduces participants to the business planning process and provides tools to assess their personal, managerial, technical and financial skills to successfully run a business. [more]

Starting and Managing a Small Business in Missouri (8 hour course) -
Targets people serious about starting a business or are already in business. It acquaints participants with the basics of starting and managing a business by covering topics on planning, information management, financing, marketing and resources for assistance. [more]

The Basics of Writing a Business Plan -
Designed for business owners and entrepreneurs who need to know how to create a business plan for their organization so the plan can be a useful management tool. Participants will learn the importance of business plans, the key required elements of a basic plan and data that must be included. Participants will also get tips on writing style to make the business plan easier to understand and more professional in appearance. Participants will leave this session with a greater understanding of what their business plan should look like and how to get started writing one. [more]

FastTrac NewVenture™ -
This course is for anyone interested in starting a business. An education program created by entrepreneurs for entrepreneurs, FastTrac NewVenture is designed to help you evaluate and perfect your business concept. FastTrac's hands-on program uses your idea as a case study, giving you an opportunity to "workshop" your venture in a safe and supportive environment. FastTrac NewVenture is a nine-module, 31.5 hour, program. [more]

First Step FastTrac™ -
Designed for entrepreneurs with low- to moderate-incomes who are starting or expanding a small business, First Step FastTrac incorporates materials from the award-winning FastTrac program. You'll work closely with other entrepreneurs, sharing ideas and experiences, and laying the foundation for future business relationships. Through the program, you'll discover whether the life of an entrepreneur is right for you. [more]

Finance

Understanding Financial Statements -
Designed for business owners, managers, accountants, bankers and consultants who want to learn how to turn financial statements into useful management tools. They will learn how to capture information from the Income Statement and Balance Sheet, calculate several useful Ratios and learn to make business decisions from this information. [more]

How to Control Cash Flow -
Designed for business owners, managers, accountants, bankers, and consultants who need to know how to turn financial statements into useful management tools. During this course, participants will take a close look at where cash comes from, where it's used in day-to-day business, and learn to identify and correct cash flow problems. [more]

Predicting Future Cash Needs -
The third in a series of finance courses is designed for business owners, managers, accountants, bankers, and consultants who need to know how to use a Cash Budget to prepare future performance of a business. Participants will learn to estimate future sources and uses of cash. They will also learn how to analyze those predictions to make more informed decisions. Participants will leave this session feeling more comfortable about decisions related to preparing for growth, realistic loan and financing requests, how much cash they can safely take out of the business, and making affordable purchases for the business. [more]

Management

The SMART Self-Assessment: The First Step to Adding Value and Improving Profits -
Designed for owners and leaders of existing businesses who are willing to make an educational investment to improve their business's performance thereby adding value and improving profits. [more]

Business Performance: Measure, Manage and Succeed -
This course provides an overview of the benefits of using a balanced set of measures to evaluate the performance of a business or organization. It then teaches a nine-step process that an individual or team can use to develop a balanced scorecard for their business or organization. It also shows how a scorecard can be used as a management tool after it has been developed. [more]

HR for Small Businesses: Avoiding the Landmines -
Finally, a class designed for small businesses on the complicated topic of human resources management. This workshop covers regulatory compliance issues and establishing policies and procedures. It also touches on the soft skills needed to effectively manage people. [more]

FastTrac GrowthVenture™ -
This course is geared toward the business owner taking their company to new levels of growth and expanding business operations. This program assists entrepreneurs in evaluating their current business framework and determine the changes needed to improve performance and grow the business. [more]

FastTrac Listening to Your Business™ -
Listening to Your Business is a hands-on workshop designed to provide entrepreneurs and business managers with the critical evaluation tools and action steps they need to maximize the growth and profitability of their businesses. This four-hour workshop will take you through a four-step evaluation and action process designed to enhance your company's performance. [more]

FastTrac Manufacturing™ -
This course is geared toward the manufacturing business focused on taking their company to new levels of growth and expanding business operations. The program covers the following topics: product/service plan, market research and analysis, marketing, operating and control systems, management and organization, legal issues, financial planning, projections and resources, and a growth plan. [more]

FastTrac TechVenture™ -
FastTrac Tech encourages technology entrepreneurs to determine the economic feasibility of their business concept, evaluate the feasibility of the technology, design a business model that matches a personal vision, and create a business plan to communicate the opportunity to investors. This course is divided into two parts: Feasibility Testing and Business Planning. Feasibility Testing is critical for new technology and can serve as a catalyst to complete a more formal, focused feasibility analysis for existing technology. With proven technology in hand, you will move on to create the Business Plan. [more]

Marketing

Foundations of Marketing -
Designed for small business owners, managers and marketing directors who are looking for workable strategies for market research, customer understanding and sales promotion. [more]

Creating a Breakthrough Marketing Program -
This course is for small business owners and managers who are interested in developing and enhancing their marketing efforts through the development of a marketing program. [more]