Small Business / Entrepreneur Support   

Are you a small business owner looking to connect with other local entrepreneurs? Join us for Morning Mugs with the SBDC! This event is a great opportunity to meet new people, share ideas, and learn from each other's experiences. This event will be held at Visit Fort Collins Colorado, 7 Old Town Square, Suite 100, Fort Collins, CO 80524. There will be opportunities to network with other local businesses and learn about resources available to entrepreneurs.

Benefits of attending:

• Meet new people and build relationships with other small business owners in your community
• Learn from each other's experiences and best practices
• Build confidence in mastering your business pitch
• Get advice and support from experienced entrepreneurs
• Stay up to date on the latest trends and developments in small businesses

What to bring:

• Business cards
• A positive attitude and a willingness to network

Enjoy the coffee courtesy of our sponsor, Ent Credit Union! **The event is free to attend, but registration is required.

Are you a small business owner looking to connect with other local entrepreneurs? Join us for Morning Mugs with the SBDC! This event is a great opportunity to meet new people, share ideas, and learn from each other's experiences. This event will be held at Grace Place in Berthoud. There will be opportunities to network with other local businesses and learn about resources available to entrepreneurs.

Benefits of attending:

• Meet new people and build relationships with other small business owners in your community
• Learn from each other's experiences and best practices
• Build confidence in mastering your business pitch
• Get advice and support from experienced entrepreneurs
• Stay up to date on the latest trends and developments in small businesses

What to bring:

• Business cards
• A positive attitude and a willingness to network!

Enjoy drip coffee courtesy of our sponsor, Ent Credit Union! While you're there, check out the cafe for a delicious selection of specialty drinks, smoothies, and pastries available for purchase. **The event is free to attend, but registration is required.

Are you a small business owner looking to connect with other local entrepreneurs? Join us for Morning Mugs with the SBDC! This event is a great opportunity to meet new people, share ideas, and learn from each other's experiences. This event will be held at Owl Canyon Coffee in Wellington. There will be opportunities to network with other local businesses and learn about resources available to entrepreneurs.

Benefits of attending:

• Meet new people and build relationships with other small business owners in your community
• Learn from each other's experiences and best practices
• Build confidence in mastering your business pitch
• Get advice and support from experienced entrepreneurs
• Stay up to date on the latest trends and developments in small businesses

What to bring:

• Business cards
• A positive attitude and a willingness to network!

Enjoy drip coffee courtesy of our sponsor, Ent Credit Union! While you're there, check out the delicious selection of specialty drinks, smoothies, and pastries available for purchase at the counter. **The event is free to attend, but registration is required.

The in person sessions on September 29^th and November 17^th will be held at the SBDC, serving Larimer County - Front Range Community College, 4616 South Shields Street Blanca Peak Room 142, Fort Collins, CO 80526. The remainder of the sessions will be held virtually, with information to be provided to the registrants at a later date.

What You Will Learn

LEADING EDGE™ is an 8-week course (class meets once per week) designed to teach you how to start and/or grow a successful business based on an actionable business plan.

The program is a combination of in-classroom sessions and online learning, interactive learning exercises, and conversations with subject experts. By the end of the course, you will understand the aspects of running a business, have a written business plan or strategy, and test your model for financial viability.

Who can participate?

Any entrepreneur can participate! Both owners of startup and existing businesses can benefit from LEADING EDGE™.

Historically, 60 percent of the participants come from existing businesses. The LEADING EDGE™ course provides specialized classes to address the needs of both startup and growing businesses.

This event will be held at the Fort Collins Chamber of Commerce - 225 S Meldrum St, Fort Collins, CO 80521

Don't miss this opportunity to meet with one of three experienced SBDC business advisors at the Fort Collins Chamber of Commerce.

• Amada Simental - Market Research
• Roger Funke - Business Advisor

Whether you're launching a new venture, looking to grow, or navigating a challenge, our advisors are here to help. You'll receive:

• A 1-hour, no-cost, confidential advising session
• Tailored guidance on business strategy, market research and more
• A chance to ask questions and gain insight from experts who understand the local business landscape

Spots are limited—register today to reserve your session. Once you complete your registration, we will reach out to you with availability

Don’t miss this chance to get personalized support and take the next step in your business journey.

This event will be held at the Loveland Chamber of Commerce - 5400 Stone Creek Cir Suite 200, Loveland, CO 80538

What You Will Learn

• All the steps to becoming an official business - registering with the state, legal entity understanding, local registrations, license requirements
• The Business Model Canvas - a one page business plan outline to think through all the elements of running a business
• Marketing Plan considerations
• Budget fundamentals
• How the SBDC can support you on your journey

This workshop is full of information, hands-on activities to get those ideas out of your head and into a tangible format, and a steppingstone to further resources.  Optional follow up activities include meeting with a SBDC consultant, signing up for a class, accessing On Demand videos, or finding a meetup group with other small business founders, owners and entrepreneurs. Beverages and light refreshments provided.

Workshop Agenda

• 10:00 - 11:00 - Walk through the official steps to become a legitimate business
• 11:00 - 12:00 - Introduction to the Business Model Canvas
• 12:00 - 1:00 - Introduction to creating a marketing plan & budget

You will walk away with:

• A one page business plan outline
• A marketing plan checklist
• A budget checklist
• SBDC network of resources and services
• New small business acquaintances and friends!

Thank you to 1st Bank for generously sponsoring our Business Quick Start workshop and supporting local entrepreneurs! 

Loveland business owners are eligible for a partial scholarship, made possible through the generosity of the City of Loveland. Please call 970-204-8600 or email info@larimersbdc.org for the scholarship code.

This event will be held at the Center for Creativity

200 Mathews Fort Collins, CO 80524

Are you fully prepared for your holiday markets? Are you maximizing your branding and customer potential at your markets?

• This free business session will help you learn more about email marketing, personal outreach and relationship development and partner maximization.
• Learn more about effective displays
• Good customer service /engagement /networking techniques

Join us for role playing and evaluations of good and poor displays

This event is a collaboration between the Downtown Fort Collins Creative District and the SBDC serving Larimer County

This event will be held at Front Range Community College

4616 South Shields Street

Blanca Peak Room 142

Fort Collins, CO 80526

What You Will Learn

Marketing as a small business can feel overwhelming, but this course provides a solid foundation for long-term marketing success. By focusing on your brand identity and marketing strategy first, you’ll ensure that your marketing resonates with your target audience, creates consistency and drives breakthrough results. Plus, it allows you to measure and refine your efforts over time to continuously improve your outcomes.

In this session, you’ll begin by understanding what brand identity is, why it matters, and the essential components that make up your brand “DNA.” Once you have clarity on your brand, we’ll dive into creating a marketing strategy tailored to your business. Key topics include setting clear objectives, identifying your target audience, prioritizing messages, and more. You’ll also learn time-saving tips and AI tricks that will simplify your marketing efforts.

By the end of the session, you will have a brand identity and marketing plan template in hand, leaving you well on your way to effective, results-driven marketing.