Writing a Winning Business Plan:
February 15th from 1:00-4:00 p.m. - $25/person
March 20th from 9:00 a.m.-12:00 - $25/person

QuickBooks for Beginners:
March 6th & 13th from 1:00-4:00 p.m.
- $45/person for two-session workshop  **Limited seating**

**FREE** Basics of Starting a Business:
February 6th from 1:00-3:00 p.m.
March 15th from 10:00 a.m.–12:00p.m.

**FREE** Doing Business with the Government:
February 7th from 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.

**FREE** Obtaining Business Financing:
February 8th from 1:00-3:00 p.m.
March 15th from 1:00-3:00 p.m.

**FREE** Sales Tax Made Simple:
February 14th from 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.

Starting a Restaurant or Food Business:
February 21st from 1:00-4:00 p.m. - $25/person

Art Legal-ese:
March 10th from 1:00-5:00 p.m. - $20/person; $25 at the door

Smart Marketing:  March 21st  from 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. - $25/person

Getting Results from Your Web Site:
March 28th from 9:00 a.m.-12:00p.m. – $25/person

For more information on the above seminars and programs, please call the Aurora BDC at (303) 326-8690 or visit http://www.aurorabdc.com.

The Aurora Business Development Center (BDC) offers free one-on-one counseling, low-cost seminars, financing programs and technical assistance for entrepreneurs and existing small business owners.  www.aurorabdc.com     The Aurora Business Development Center’s (BDC) e-newsletter, BIZ BEAT, contains our upcoming events and programs, valuable business tips and trends, City of Aurora news and other small business resources. If you do not wish to continue receiving this e-newsletter, please email us at info@aurorabdc.com.

With a new year upon us, you may have made some resolutions to kick-start marketing strategies for your business.  One often overlooked strategy is in the area of networking--creating exposure and getting connected to generate potential business opportunities.  The Aurora Chamber of Commerce is one such vehicle to accomplish this strategy.  As a member of the Chamber, you can:

• Make new contacts – Attend the monthly before and after hours mixers, join a leads group, be active on a committee, become a Chamber ambassador, or attend the many Chamber events.  You are bound to meet potential customers, individuals who will refer you to others and make new friends.

• Access to the Chamber’s small and large conference rooms (on a space-available basis)

• Increase your exposure to the business community – An annual membership directory and monthly newsletters that are distributed to 1,700 businesses in the east metro area help to put you in front of other businesses and potential customers.

• Establish a referral base – Chamber staff only refers members and members are encouraged to do so too.

• Receive discounts on Aurora Business Development Center seminars and workshops.

For more information on the Aurora Chamber of Commerce, call (303) 344-1500 or visit www.aurorachamber.org.

New Seminar Helps Make Sense of Sales Tax Complexities

If you currently sell or plan to sell a product, regardless of whether you have a retail or service business, you need to collect sales tax on that product.  However, this isn’t as easy as it sounds.  There are a myriad of details when it comes to sales tax.  The Aurora BDC is now offering a FREE “Sales Tax Made Simple” workshop.  Representatives from the Department of Revenue and city of Aurora will cover sales and use tax, types of licenses, sales tax collection, overview of tax forms, filing a sales tax return, Home Rule issues, and much more!  Register today for the February 14th workshop from 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.