Tuesday, February 14, 9:30am-11:00am

Payroll Basics

This session outlines employment relationships to help you determine whether a worker is an employee or a self-employed individual. Topics covered:

• Deductions – What to take off of your employees’ cheques
• Payroll remittance deadlines and responsibilities
• Reporting and filing of T4s

Presenter: Canada Revenue Agency                                                        Cost: $10

 

Wednesday, February 15, 1:30pm-4:30pm

Start Your Business!

This is one of Alberta's most informative small business seminars. It’s packed with valuable information to help you start off right and increase the odds of your business being successful. The session will address:

• Reasons for starting a business
• How good business ideas are discovered and evaluated
• Why and how business plans are developed
• Important marketing aspects to consider
• Financing sources available
• Pros and cons of the three common legal structures of business

Presenter: Jay Krysler, MBA – NAIT, JR Shaw School of Business    Cost: $40

 

Thursday, February 16, 12:00pm-2:00pm

New Importers: What You Need to Know 

This presentation will provide individuals and small business owners with information on the commercial import process. It will address:

• What you need to know before importing
• Determining the rates of customs duty
• Determining the value for duty
• Other duties and taxes
• Import process
• Requirements of other government departments
• Customs duty exemption programs

Presenter: Marwan Chehade, B.A.Sc. – Canada Border Services Agency Cost: $20

Thursday, February 16, 6:30pm-8:00pm

Incorporating in Alberta: What You Need to Know

Are you considering incorporating your business or is someone insisting you must incorporate and you want to know more about what that involves? This session will explain:

• What incorporation means
• The advantages and disadvantages of incorporating
• When to incorporate and when not to incorporate
• The current Alberta procedures for incorporating your business

Presenter: Tom Carter, MA, LLB – Grant MacEwan University, School of Business Cost: $15

Tuesday, February 21, 9:30am-11:30am

Income Tax Basics for the Incorporated Business

This basic corporate income tax session is invaluable for the newly incorporated business. It highlights areas that every corporate director should be aware of. Topics include:

• Transferring assets into a corporation
• Director's liability
• Shareholder loans and salaries
• Business expenses and capital expenditures
• Corporate filing requirements, corporate tax rate structure and installment payments

Presenter: Canada Revenue Agency Cost: $10

Wednesday, February 22, 1:30pm-3:00pm

Secrets of Successful Selling

How would a 10 to 50% increase in sales impact your pocketbook? Would it impact your sales performance? Would it make your company more competitive and profitable? If so, you need to attend this profitable selling success session. You will discover:

• Simple, strategic secrets gleaned from generations of selling for profitable growth
• The foundation of sales success
• How to effectively handle objections and concerns

Presenter: Bob ‘Idea Man’ Hooey Cost: $15

Thursday, February 23, 12:00pm-2:00pm

Exploring International Markets through Trade Missions

 Trade missions serve an important function in growing sales outside of a domestic (provincial) market, and can be an essential tool for companies engaged in international commerce. With the requisite planning and follow up, trade missions can foster additional business and help facilitate important contacts. To help you get the most out of trade missions, this session will provide concise and focused practical information about:

• What trade missions offer
• How to get invited and participate
  • Steps and techniques to prepare for a trade mission
  • Essentials of participation in the trade mission
  • Follow up requirements, taking advantage of your trade mission contacts and business opportunities

Presenter: Marek Drywa, MPA, M.Sc. (Econ.) – Calgary Economic Development, Global Business Centre Cost: $20

Thursday, February 23, 6:30pm-8:00pm

Scoring Big Success with Your Financial Requirements 

This session will help you better understand your personal credit score and how it can potentially affect your application for business credit. Learn about:

• The basics of credit scoring
• Implications on small business loan processing
• Insights to help improve your chances of success 

Presenter: Patrick O’Meara, MBA, CFP – Red Deer College, Donald School of Business Cost: $15

Tuesday, February 28, 9:30am-11:00am

Small Business Accounting Basics

Familiarize yourself with some basic accounting terminology, as well as three of the most common financial statements. This session will review:

• Methods of keeping receipts and recording business transactions
• What a ledger is and how to produce monthly statements
• Available resources to help you with tax planning, financing and government regulations

Presenter: Steve Bruns, CMA – Grant MacEwan University, School of Business  Cost: $15

Wednesday, February 29, 1:30pm-4:30pm

Preparing a Business Plan

Preparing a good business plan will require a significant investment of time and research on your part. Attending this session will only be the start of a process that will lead to developing your own business plan. It will provide you with a general overview and basic understanding of:

• The purpose and the components of a typical business plan
• The use of a business plan as an ongoing tool for business success
• How marketing, operations and finance are inter-related
• The importance of finding further information for your plan

Presenter: Jim Ewing – The Business Link Cost: $40