Tuesday, August 22, 2023, 12:00 – 2:00 p.m.

--- CLASS WILL BE HELD VIA ZOOM. ZOOM INFORMATION WILL BE EMAILED TO REGISTRANTS PRIOR TO CLASS START TIME ---

In this introductory workshop, learn the basic steps to starting your business, plus get tools and resources for in-depth training on what you “didn’t know you needed to know” about business.

Class covers:

• Developing a business idea and writing a business plan
• Identifying a market and reaching customers/clients
• Obtaining proper licenses and permits, and complying with tax requirements
• Funding your business – including funding opportunities available for business affected by COVID-19
• Exercising your legal rights and avoiding common legal issues

Participants are encouraged to join the Zoom session using video as this class may involve sharing of visual information and writings, participation via the chat function, and the opportunity to interact with others. Virtual networking reception to follow class.

Presented by Michael Chavez and Derek Kissinger with the support of West Valley Business Source and Harbor Business Source, and Ryan Metheny:

Michael Chavez is the Program Specialist at the City of Los Angeles Business Source Center – West Valley and Harbor Regions. There he has helped launch and fund numerous businesses in the greater Los Angeles Area by providing free services to anyone looking to start or grow their business in Los Angeles. These services include: help with permits and licenses, educational workshops, access to capital, financial planning/restructuring, profitability analysis, S.W.O.T analysis, and loan packaging. Within the past year alone, the Hollywood Business Source Center has sourced over $4,000,000 in commercial lending to small businesses in Los Angeles. The Center has also created 112 new jobs in the City of Los Angeles as a direct result of the services they provided, and was also responsible for helping to preserve 14 jobs that Los Angeles was in danger of losing this past year.

 Ryan Metheny is the Managing Librarian, Legal Education at LA Law Library. After graduating from UCLA School of Law, Ryan practiced First Amendment law at a public interest firm in Berkeley. He transitioned to librarianship to focus on his passions of research and education, and earned a master’s degree in library and information science from the University of Washington. When not on the reference desk, Ryan coordinates the educational programming at the law library, the law student internship program, and the Members Program. He also teaches legal research at the University of Southern California Gould School of Law.

LA Law Library does not provide legal advice: LA Law Library does not provide legal advice. LA Law Library provides legal resources and assistance with legal research as an educational service.  The information presented in this program is not legal advice and is provided solely as an educational service to our patrons.  For legal advice, you should consult an attorney.

Tuesday, August 29, 2023, 12:00 – 2:00 p.m.

--- CLASS WILL BE HELD VIA ZOOM. ZOOM INFORMATION WILL BE EMAILED TO REGISTRANTS PRIOR TO CLASS START TIME ---

Formulating a plan is essential to your business success. In this hands-on workshop, an experienced entrepreneur and business executive will use the business model canvas to help you develop your business idea or work out ways to improve your existing business.

Class covers:

• Why you need a business model
• Identifying and describing your value proposition
• Essential components of a successful business model: resources, partners, channels, cost structure, and more
• Pitching your business to potential investors and partners
• Taking advantage of opportunities and overcoming challenges as the economy emerges from COVID-19

Participants are encouraged to join the Zoom session using video as this class may involve sharing of visual information and writings, participation via the chat function, and the opportunity to interact with others. Virtual networking reception to follow class.

Presented by Mark Kapczynski (https://www.linkedin.com/in/markkap)

Mark Kapczynski is a successful serial entrepreneur, chief executive and advertising industry expert. He founded LocationX, a physical location ad network leveraging beacon technology. Mr. Kapczynski also serves as an Executive Director of the UCLA Venture Capital Fund, helping to foster innovation connected to the university. Mr. Kapczynski last served as VP of Corporate Development and Strategy for Experian's consumer businesses which include leading consumer brands: Experian, FreeCreditReport.com, and ProtectMyID. Mr. Kapczynski graduated from UCLA film school and continues to be active in multiple industry associations that span media, mobile telecom, technology, and consumer internet.  He has 8 patents to his name and an additional 45 patents pending.

 LA Law Library does not provide legal advice:

LA Law Library does not provide legal advice. LA Law Library provides legal resources and assistance with legal research as an educational service.  The information presented in this program is not legal advice and is provided solely as an educational service to our patrons.  For legal advice, you should consult an attorney.

Tuesday, September 5, 2023, 12:00 – 2:00 p.m.

--- CLASS WILL BE HELD VIA ZOOM. ZOOM INFORMATION WILL BE EMAILED TO REGISTRANTS PRIOR TO CLASS START TIME ---

Every business needs an initial investment to get off the ground, and established businesses often require investment in order to expand. Learn how to apply for and obtain small business loans, including COVID-19-related forgivable loans and grants, plus learn about vital alternative funding sources for startups. 

Class covers:

• How to sell your business to investors
• Crafting a business pitch
• Best practices for loan applicants
• Forgivable loans and grants created in response to COVID-19
• Other funding options, like friends and family, and crowdfunding

Participants are encouraged to join the Zoom session using video as this class may involve sharing of visual information and writings, participation via the chat function, and the opportunity to interact with others. Virtual networking reception to follow class.

Presented by Kevin Lew (https://www.linkedin.com/in/lewkevin/), and Alfred Villalobos of Pacific Western Bank (https://www.pacificwesternbank.com/).

LA Law Library does not provide legal advice:

LA Law Library does not provide legal advice. LA Law Library provides legal resources and assistance with legal research as an educational service.  The information presented in this program is not legal advice and is provided solely as an educational service to our patrons.  For legal advice, you should consult an attorney.

Tuesday, September 12, 2023, 12:00 – 2:00 p.m.

--- CLASS WILL BE HELD VIA ZOOM. ZOOM INFORMATION WILL BE EMAILED TO REGISTRANTS PRIOR TO CLASS START TIME ---

In this class, government officials from the state of California and the City and County of Los Angeles will give business owners and entrepreneurs important, practical information on how to “make it official,” obtain business licenses, comply with local tax requirements, and follow COVID-19 reopening requirements.  

Class covers:

• How to comply with state and local COVID-19 reopening requirements
• Determining which licenses and permits you need
• How to apply for business licenses and permits
• City, county & state tax requirements
• How to avoid common license, permit & tax compliance issues

Participants are encouraged to join the Zoom session using video as this class may involve sharing of visual information and writings, participation via the chat function, and the opportunity to interact with others. Virtual networking reception to follow class.

Presented by officials from the L.A. City Office of Finance, Department of Economic Opportunity, and the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration.

LA Law Library does not provide legal advice:

LA Law Library does not provide legal advice. LA Law Library provides legal resources and assistance with legal research as an educational service.  The information presented in this program is not legal advice and is provided solely as an educational service to our patrons.  For legal advice, you should consult an attorney.