Aurora Business Development offers its core services at no or low cost, including informative seminars and one-on-one counseling by appointment on a variety of business topics. Taking a few seminars is the best way to get a wealth of information in each three-hour session. This helps to maximize your time with a Small Business Specialist.

See below for upcoming Aurora business seminars:

* seminar descriptions
* 3rd quarter seminars as a pdf
* complete on-line calendar for 2011
* note the seminar fee structure for 2011
* location: Aurora Municipal Center (map)

Financing Your Business
Tues., July 12th, 9:00 - 11:00 AM, FREE
Learn how successful borrowers choose the right financing options and make their proposals
attractive to funding sources.
Offered again, Thurs., September 1st, 1:00 - 3:00 PM

Basics of Starting Your Business
Wed., July 13th, 1:00 - 4:00 PM, FREE
Excellent information to get your business underway - - the proper way!
In collaboration with Arapahoe/Douglas Works! at the Lowry Campus (see map)
Offered again, Tues., August 9th, 1:00 - 4:00 PM, at the Aurora Municipal Center

Plan to win this year with a 'winning' business and marketing plan!  Meet with the class each morning the first four Tuesdays and Thursdays in August.  All eight modules are highly recommended.  A strategic marketing plan is at the core of the overall business plan.  By the end of the month, your business will be ready to take on the competition, improve sales and focus attention where you need it the most.

Marketing in the Fast Lane, modules 1-4 -- complete your marketing plan this August!
Four consecutive Tuesdays, August 2nd, 9th, 16th and 23rd, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
$* $80/Aurora residents/businesses; $100 all others
See also the Business Plan modules below.

Writing Your Business Plan, Modules 1-4 -- complete your business plan this August!
Four consecutive Thursdays, August 4th, 11th, 18th and 25th, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
$* $80/Aurora residents/businesses; $100 all others
See also the Marketing modules above.

Sales & Use Tax 101
Thurs., August 11th, 1:00 - 4:00 PM, FREE
A must-attend for anyone selling tangible property at wholesale or retail, service businesses, and/or those who prepare returns for Colorado business owners located in Aurora or those doing business in Aurora.

Fundamentos de Negocio
con Doña Inéz de ¡Arriba Mi Negocio!
jueves, 25 de agosto, 1:00 - 4:00 PM, gratis

Plan Your Web Site
Tues., August 30th, 1:00 - 4:00 PM, $*
If you build a web site, be sure you can generate traffic, using essential components of effective e-commerce.

Marketing on a Shoestring
Tues., September 6th, 1:00 - 4:00 PM $*
No/low-cost practical and effective marketing tactics proven successful across many industries.

Legal Aspects of Social Media -- see announcement
Wed., September 7th, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM, FREE
Social media can provide unprecedented access to new markets at relatively low cost.  However, the technology comes with its own issues, costs and danger zones.

Starting a Restaurant
Thurs., September 8th, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM, $*
It's not as easy as pie, so learn to start a restaurant according to the rules and regs, and plan to finance it realistically.

Legal Rules of Business -- see announcement
Wed., September 21st, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM, $*
An excellent value -- not to be missed!
A business attorney will provide in layman’s terms an overview of legal issues common to businesses.

Before You Sign That Business Lease -- announcement
Tues., September 27th, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM, FREE
Location, Location, Location!  Choosing the right location for your business may be the most important decision you make for your business. Uncomfortable with commercial leasing principles and practices?  Get some timely information before you sign the lease.

¿Habla español?  Favor de llame Santos Blan,
          (303) 326-8693, para más informes.

The city of Aurora is seeking culinary visionaries interested in opening a
full-service restaurant in the heart of the Aurora Arts District.  The opportunity lies within an eight-block area located along East Colfax Avenue in Historic Aurora.  Funding is available for an experienced restaurateur who meets the program goals and criteria.

To learn more about this exciting opportunity, see the Dish It Up brochure. Proposals are due September 30th.  For full details regarding the program and how you may apply, see the Notice of Availability of Funds (NOFA) and Colfax Economic Enrichment Program (CEEP) Application, as well as the restaurant Excel spreadsheet ® (please download this file).

To register and receive additional informational updates as they become available, please call or e-mail Melissa Rogers, (303) 739-7130 or mrogers@auroragov.org.

Tips, Articles, Posts and Links

New Mileage Rate:  The IRS has changed the optional automobile mileage rate to 55.5 cents per mile, effective July 1, 2011. Read announcement...

 National Women Business Owners Corporation has been approved by the SBA to be a Third-Party Certifier for the Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) Program.  Certifications are related to the new federal procurement program that has a set-aside for woman-owned companies in specific NAICS codes which have been determined to be underrepresented in current contracting practices.  Read more about the NWBOC...

Trademarks:  Identify if trademarks or domain names are available:
Trademarkia...

The Ultimate Secret to Business Growth -- posted by John Jantsch, Jan. 10, 2008 (for Duct Tape Marketing -- simple, effective and affordable small business marketing):

• Get uncomfortable on purpose
• Get and give new skills
• Get bigger ideas
• Get value
• Get what you're worth

Four Real Reasons to Care About Google Place Pages -- by Lisa Barone, of Outspoken Media, Inc., March 16, 2011 (for Small Business Trends):

• Your customers are looking for you on-line
• Google Place acts as a one-stop-shop for your brand
• Google loves (to rank) Place Pages
• Google Places connects third-party sites

Colorado Small Business Forum, Wednesday, July 27th, 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM, sponsored by the IRS at the Mezzanine Conference Room, 1999 Broadway. Presenters are from the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, the Small Business Administration, & Colorado Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC). Read about the topics to be presented...

SBA's Small Business Resource Fair -- Coming together to help your $mall Bu$ine$$, Thursday, August 18th, 10:15 AM - 3:45 PM, Denver Public Library (registration link).

Tools for Business -- Visit the Aurora Chamber's home page--click on Tools for Business Success.  A friendly Chamber reminder:  "Every employee of a Chamber member is a member of The Chamber."

Employer / Employee Responsibilities -- Thousands naturalize on Independence Day. Learn about your responsibilities as employers and employees at the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services web site: www.USCIS.gov.

Nominate a Deserving Aurora Business

The city of Aurora acknowledges businesses within the community that contribute to the city's economic vitality.  Awards are given to a proven tax generator, significant business growth, longevity, innovation, exceptional customer service and/or community involvement.  The Aurora Business Recognition Awards Program committee has added an award for one Aurora business that demonstrates a commitment to sustainability, energy efficiency, renewable energy, waste diversion, water conservation and/or social responsibility.

Selected businesses will be presented with their awards at a celebration hosted by the City Manager and the Business Advisory Board in December of 2011.  To be considered by the selection committee, an application must be received no later than Friday, August 12, 2011.

Criteria   |   Fillable PDF form   |   Online version

My Aurora To Do List

Aurora offers great experiences for your business guests (and family, too). There's so much to choose from after your business is finished.  In fact, tie it all up in a bow and offer your business clients an extended stay at one of over 3500 hotel rooms and have some fun in the city.  Aurora has 10 area golf courses, over 400 ethnic restaurants, over 10,000 acres of parks, open space and trails, wildlife on Colorado's high plains, the Aurora Fox Theatre, and more. Go to visitaurora.com, and consider all the possibilities -- right here in Aurora!

Visit the Census 2010 Business Dynamics Statistics page.
For some quick Aurora facts, click here...