County Workshops Focus on Business Startup, Management

Maui County Business Resource Center is located at the Maui Mall in Kahului across from IHOP.. File photo.

By Sonia Isotov

Every month, local business experts bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to free workshops held at the Maui County Business Resource Center.

Topics vary by month but usually focus on starting, financing, and growing a small business. Workshops are usually presented between 12 p.m. and 1 p.m., except for the special evening Quickbooks class and the ABC. All workshops are free, unless otherwise specified below.

The Center, a division of the County of Maui Office of Economic Development, also has free business counseling with business executives in the US Small Business Administration’s Service Corp of Retired Executives (SCORE) counselor program. SCORE is a federal program and the Maui Chapter is lead by long-time SCORE counselor and local certified public accountant, Richard Kehoe.

Here’s the February schedule of business education workshops:

“Separating your Business Credit from Personal Credit” — Mike Kern, Tuesday, February 14, 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. Learn how to build business credit without any personal credit or individual guarantees. Mike Kern will share his financing expertise derived from being a business owner for over 45 years. If you would like to discuss financial strategies specifically for your business, Mike is available every Tuesday afternoon at the Maui County Business Resource Center from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.

Susie Thieman, interim executive director, Lokahi Pacific. Courtesy photo.

“Starting a Business in Maui County” — Karen Arakawa, Wednesday, February 15, 12:00 p.m. to 1pm. Karen Arakawa, Small Business Specialist with the County Office of Economic Development will cover general information and requirements for starting a business in Mau County. Handouts, websites and other helpful information are included.

“Top 3 Roadblocks to Successful Private Practice for Service Practitioners” — Julie Migneault, MBA, Wednesday, February 22, 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. Learn about what may be holding back a thriving practice. The workshop is targeted at service professionals that struggle to attract clients, charge appropriate fees, or create a strong referral network.

“Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Pono Center: How can it Help Your Small Business” — Susie Thieman, February 22, 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. Susie Thieman, Interim Executive Director of Lokahi Pacific, will discuss options available to the business community at the Pono Center in Waikulu. Learn how your small business can benefit from the facilities: training room, conference room, and office space to meet clients or how to use the commercial kitchen to prepare food products.

Richard Kehoe, MBA, CPA is a long-time SCORE counselor, and the lead SCORE representative on Maui. Numerous business owners have received his free business counseling and QuickBooks workshop at the Center. Courtesy photo.

“What is a Capability Statement?” — Evette Lau, Maui Economic Opportunity, Wednesday, February 29, 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. A capability statement is a promotional or marketing statement about your business and its capabilities and skills that advertises your company and services or products. One of the main areas in which an organization needs a capability statement is when it is trying to get a contract from the government or a public entity or work as a sub-contractor for a company that is the prime contractor on a government contract. In this workshop, Evette Lau of MEO’s Business Development Corp. will help you to put together a capability statement for your business.

SPECIAL EVENING WORKSHOP

“QuickBooks for Small Business” by Richard Kehoe, CPA
$45 per session, includes hands-on computer training for beginners.
Thursday, February 23 from 5 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Learn to set up your company’s QuickBooks in a small class setting with personalized tutoring. This class is for new users and will teach you how to record sales, receive payments, prepare invoices and balance your checkbook. Get customized answers and schedule a follow-up appointment at no cost to discuss solutions. Sponsored by SCORE (and presented by Richard Kehoe, CPA and lead SCORE counselor).

For more information or to reserve a seat, call the Maui County Resource Center at (808) 873-8247. All workshops are subject to change or cancellation.