No Cost Advisory Appointments
1 hour
Cheri can help you with digital (email, social media, content) and traditional marketing, viability and commercialization analysis, budgeting, forecasting, pricing, packaging and developing a business and marketing plan. Cheri will assess your current marketing needs and review your branding/positioning. Cheri provides general guidance and assistance for startups and established businesses. Start up friendly.
1 hour
General sales and strategy guidance for startups and established businesses. Do you need help planning your new business, understanding distribution channels, structuring your sales team, or navigating the sales process? Dennis offers startups and small businesses practical advice to help you maximize sales, grow market share, and increase revenue. Dennis is "start up" friendly.
1 hour
Marge Johnsson is a high-growth business planning and revenue forecasting specialist, but also an accounting expert, who can help you with QuickBooks, business plan review, projections and financial statements. She brings 30 years of experience helping businesses of all sizes introduce new products, find new sales channels, enter new markets, and complete acquisitions. Marge is start up friendly.
1 hour
Book an appointment with Jennie Johns if you need assistance with ecommerce platforms, website, email service, and/or other technology issues. Jennie specializes in web functionality, usability and customer experience. She can assist with your technical questions re: website creation, deployment, and ongoing maintenance. Jennie has over 20 years experience in developing websites. Available for Zoom or Phone appointments (choose below).
30 minutes
General guidance and assistance for startups and established businesses. Available for Zoom or Phone appointments (choose below).
No Cost Legal and IP Consultation
30 minutes
Brie A. Crawford focuses on intellectual property and entertainment law, including patents, copyrights, trademarks, and trade secrets both domestically and abroad. She can counsel clients as to whether IP protection is appropriate, and if so, what kind and how to secure the appropriate protection. Brie also focuses on drafting IP-related agreements. She is registered to practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
30 minutes
Founded in 1989, Lavelle Law Ltd. is one of the most respected law firms in the Chicago area. Their expertise includes business and entrepreneurial law, estate planning, divorce and family law, criminal defense, commercial and residential real estate law, banking and securities law, law practice management, bankruptcy and more. The firm generously donates time to clients of the ISBDC.
Webinars
1 hour
No Cost. Sept 29th, 12-1:00pm CST
Are you looking to start a business or are a new business owner, entrepreneur, or inventor? Join the business advisors at Harper's Illinois SBDC for an open forum where they'll be answering your questions about the nuts and bolts of owning, operating, and growing your own small business. Bring your questions, meet new friends, and add to the discussion. Meeting will take place on Zoom. All welcome.
1 hour
No Cost. Sept 30th, 12:00-1:00pm CST
There's no denying Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn have changed the way we communicate, connect and market our businesses. But regardless which social media platform you're focusing on, the name of the online game is...attention! Award winning marketing consultant & social media strategist Vanessa Cabrera will deep dive 4 simple steps you'll be able to immediately implement to amplify your online visibility and position you as THE go-to expert in your industry.
1 hour
No Cost. October 13th, 12:00-1:00pm
Do you have the personal characteristics, the financial fitness and the business readiness skills to own a business? Find out if entrepreneurship is right for you. Learn about the critical steps to opening your own business including viability, business formation, financing, and more. GATA training will also be offered after the class for those interested.
1 hour
No Cost. Oct 14th, 12-1:00pmCST
Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, Tik Tok, now Clubhouse. Dizzy yet?
It can be difficult to decide which social media channel is right for you and your business.
Join award winning social media strategist & marketing consultant Vanessa Cabrera, as she breaks down each of these platforms to help you easily decide which one is going to bring you the BIGGEST, FASTEST results!
The answer may surprise you.
You're going to want to be in the virtual room for this!
1 hour
No Cost. Oct 14th, 12:00-1:00pm CST
This monthly virtual meet up of boutique consulting firm principals, and sole-practitioner, independent consultants is a collaborative space for sharing success strategies and struggles. Unprecedented numbers of professionals are transitioning their corporate functional skills into lucrative, entrepreneurial consulting careers. Bring a cup of coffee and learn from others paving similar paths.
Hosted by SBDC Business Advisor, Dr. Marge Johnsson.
1 hour
Are you looking to start a business or are a new business owner, entrepreneur, or inventor? Join the business advisors at Harper's Illinois SBDC for an open forum where they'll be answering your questions about the nuts and bolts of owning, operating, and growing your own small business. Bring your questions, meet new friends, and add to the discussion. Meeting will take place on Zoom. All welcome.
