SMALL MAR/APR 16 BUSINESS CENTER www.cpcc.edu/sbc Anita and Ramona Staton, owners Miles Freight Solutions CENTRAL PIEDMONT COMMUNITY COLLEGE
MARCH/APRIL CLASSES REGISTER NOW BY CALLING 704.330.4223. Basic Accounting with QuickBooks SBX 7439 Build a solid foundation by learning the fundamentals of accounting and how they relate within QuickBooks. Understand the chart of accounts and what happens when bills, checks and invoices are entered. $99 3/1 3/3 T/TH 6 9 p.m. Harris Campus From Grant Seeking to Grant Writing SBX 7468 Learn how to do the research, weigh the options, build relationships, incorporate what is needed in the proposals and submit for funding. $149 3/7 3/16 M/W 6:30 9 p.m. Central Campus 3/7 3/16 M/W 6:30 9 p.m. Online QuickBooks Level 1 SBX 7440 Discover how to manage and maintain your business finances by automating your accounting and financial reporting functions. $169 3/8 3/17 T/TH 6 9 p.m. Harris Campus 4/18 4/27 M/W 8 11 a.m. Ballantyne Center Nonprofit Management SBX 8118 Examine the fundamental principles of nonprofit management, explore the roles and responsibilities of a nonprofit board of directors and the management team, discover the essential aspects of fundraising and become acquainted with the budgeting process. $2599 3/8 9/8 Online Small Business Marketing on a Shoestring SBX 8108 Use the marketing tricks the big companies use, but skip the big dent in your wallet. As you build your own marketing plan step by step, you ll learn to attract your target audiences and keep repeat buyers, plus generate valuable referrals. $149 3/16 4/26 Online QuickBooks Level 2 SBX 7460 Already know the basics? Delve into advanced features such as forms creation, report and graph generation, job costing, inventory, payroll and troubleshooting. $169 3/21 4/4 M/W 6 9 p.m. Central Campus Making Your Grant Budget Work SBX 7482 A weak budget can make an otherwise strong grant proposal fail. Learn the basic components of a budget and how to make it work for your grant proposal. $99 3/21 3/23 M/W 6 9 p.m. Central Campus 3/21 3/23 M/W 6 9 p.m. Online Food Trucks 101: SBX 7903 Starting a Mobile Food Business Food trucks are the single fastest growing sector of the restaurant industry. Discover how to develop your business, build your brand and gain a loyal following. Bonus: course includes a panel discussion with mobile food truck operators. $199 4/5 4/14 T/TH 6 8:30 p.m. Levine Campus Design Your Business Website SBX 7327 with WordPress More than 7.5 million websites were built with WordPress. If you have always wanted your own business website but did not know where to begin, now s the time to learn how easy it can be with WordPress. $149 4/7 4/28 TH 6:30 9 p.m. Central Campus
MARCH/APRIL CLASSES CONT. REGISTER NOW BY CALLING 704.330.4223. QuickBooks Certified User: SBX 7480 Exam Review and Certification Test Stand out from the crowd as a QuickBooks Certified user. The exam prep will provide you with a review, prepare you for success on the exam and provide you with an industry-recognized credential. $210 4/11 M 6 9 p.m. Central Campus Soup to Nuts Strategy for Starting SBX 7901 a Successful Food Business There is good news in North Carolina for food entrepreneurs. Thanks to cottage food laws you can now create a small food business in your own kitchen as long as you follow all of the rules. Take advantage of this growing market and learn the intricacies of the laws that allow you to create food products at home and a winning recipe for a successful food business. $149 4/11 4/25 M/W 6:30 8:30 p.m. Central Campus Understanding and Using Drones: SBX 7998 Regulations, Equipment and Business Applications Whether you are a hobbyist who wants to master the safe use of drones or are an entrepreneur considering using drones in your business, this course will give you a broad foundation of practical knowledge. While FAA regulations are still evolving, this course is intended to be part one of a two-part path to FAA operator certification. $849 4/12 4/26 T/TH 6 9 p.m. Central Campus Supervision and Management 2 SBX 8106 Unlock your potential as a more effective manager and develop your interpersonal skills to confidently handle various situations and issues with your team. $149 4/13 6/3 Online Start Your Own Arts and Crafts Business SBX 8148 Discover how to find your niche within your chosen craft and how to create your own unique business identity. $149 4/13 6/3 Online Manage your business s finances Learn how budgeting and forecasting can grow your business, increase sales, control expenses and improve cash flow. Visit www.cpcc.edu/sbc/courses/budgetingand-forecasting to learn more.
When and why did you decide to be an entrepreneur? My first start-up business began as I worked my way through college. Upon discharge from the U.S. Air Force, I realized I could be more creative and independent with entrepreneurship. MFS was launched due to a market demand for innovative transportation solutions. We pride ourselves on helping as many people as possible within the communities we serve. How has the Small Business Center assisted you? CPCC Small Business Center has assisted our business in multiple ways. The seminars have been instrumental in providing educational resources related to owning and operating a business. The Center s partnership with the Charlotte School of Law allowed us to obtain no-cost legal advice and other invaluable legal documentation. What is the most challenging aspect of owning your own business? The most challenging aspect for us is ensuring the business has adequate working capital. Cash flow occurs at different times; therefore, managing cash flow is one of our top priorities. The use of timely and accurate financial statements for decision making is critical. Anita and Ramona Staton, owners Miles Freight Solutions The Pitch Founded in 2013, Miles Freight Solutions (MFS) specializes in providing diversified general freight, transportation management and back office administrative solutions nationwide. We deliver quality and reliable transportation solutions to our clients, focusing on safety/risk management, exceptional customer service, cost reductions and building long-term relationships. When you launched your venture, how did you get your seed funding? Our business has been self-funded. Various revenue streams have funded our projects thus far. What advice would you give to other aspiring entrepreneurs? I would tell them to have a plan, perform tests early in the process, be open to validated learning and understand the value of your time. Testing your business concept in the early stages of formation will assist in identifying market challenges.
MARCH/APRIL FREE SEMINARS REGISTER NOW AT WWW.CPCC.EDU/SBC/REGISTER. Marketing Your Business 3/1 T 6:30 8:30 p.m. Central Campus How to Start a Business 3/10 TH 6 8 p.m. Online How to Find Your Customers 3/15 T 6:30 8:30 p.m. Central Campus Intermodal Hub: What Can it Do for My Business? 3/21 M 6:30 8:30 p.m. Central Campus How to Write a Business Plan 3/24 TH 6 8 p.m. Online Financing Your Small Business 3/29 T 6:30 8:30 p.m. Central Campus Franchising 3/31 TH 6:30 8:30 p.m. Central Campus Capital Access for Small Business in Partnership with Mecklenburg County MWSBE 4/5 T 6:30 8:30 p.m. Central Campus Your Small Business Taxes 4/7 TH 6 8 p.m. Online How to Write a Business Plan 4/12 T 6:30 8:30 p.m. Central Campus Basics of Bookkeeping 4/19 T 6:30 8:30 p.m. Central Campus Marketing Your Business 4/21 TH 6 8 p.m. Online CPCC SBC Would you like to be featured on our website or in marketing materials? Email a testimonial telling us about your business and your experience with the training or counseling services of the Small Business Center and you could be featured on our website or in upcoming marketing materials. Email sbc@cpcc.edu to submit your testimonial today!