Business and Industry Services at Beaufort County Community College announces four  upcoming classes this summer and fall that are part of the core curriculum for potential and existing small business owners.

The classes are designed to help entrepreneurs understand the basics of starting, advertising, financing and keeping records for their existing and potential small businesses as well as business plan development.

Participants can register to attend one or more of these classes. They are scheduled as follows:

How to Start a Business: 3 to 5 p.m. Monday, Aug. 13, in Room 830 of Building 8 on the BCCC campus. This is a workshop designed to help budding entrepreneurs start their own businesses. It will help encourage individuals who have good business ideas to take them seriously and find out how to pursue them while avoiding costly and painful mistakes. Among the topics to be discussed include the following: Advantages and disadvantages of owning a business; factors to be considered in starting a business; how to obtain permits and licenses; where to obtain tax information, and how to know if you are ready to start a business. Instructors for the course will be volunteers from S.C.O.R.E.

How to Write a Business Plan: 3 to 5 p.m., Monday, Sept. 10, in Room 830 of Building 8 on the BCCC campus. This is a workshop that will help students create a plan for their small businesses. A business plan is the foundation for success when future business owners are deciding whether to start a new business or buy an existing business. It is also a valuable tool for entrepreneurs seeking financing for their businesses. Some of the topics to be discussed in the seminar are writing the business plan, finding the required information, issues to be aware of when writing the plan and how to find help with the plan. Volunteers from S.C.O.R.E. will be the instructors for the course.

Advertising and Marketing for Small Businesses: 6 to 8 p.m., Monday, June 4, in Room 830 of Building 8 on the BCCC campus. This workshop is designed to teach participants low-cost advertising and marketing strategies and methods. Students will learn to create a marketing plan and score greater sales with current customers. The instructors are members of S.C.O.R.E.

Recordkeeping and Taxes for Your Small Business: 6 to 9 p.m., Monday, June 18, in Room 830 of Building 8 on the BCCC campus. This seminar will help participants understand the financial aspects of their businesses including financial statements, working with bankers, filing federal and state reports and financial terms that may be confusing. The instructor is Keith Kidwell, a tax professional with H & R Block in Washington.

Attendance is free of charge for all of these seminars but preregistration is recommended in order to reserve seating and to allow the college to adequately prepare materials.

To register, contact BCCC’s Business and Industry Services at 252-940-6375 or email Eva Peartree at evap@beaufortccc.edu.

The workshops are cosponsored by the Washington/Beaufort County Chamber of Commerce and S.C.O.R.E. The S.C.O.R.E. Association is a national nonprofit organization to provide professional guidance and information accessible to all, to maximize the success of America’s existing and emerging small businesses.

For more information about other services offered by BCCC’s Business and Industry Services’ Small Business Center, including targeted seminars for business owners, visit BCCC’s Website at www.beaufortccc.edu/coned/Small Business/workshops.htm or contact Stowe at 252-940-6306 or Lauren Spruill at 252-940-6311.