December Workshops at Maui County Business Resource Center

Maui County business workshop. Image courtesy County of Maui.

The County of Maui Mayor’s Office of Economic Development today announced its free workshops for the month of December.

Workshops are presented at the Maui County Business Resource Center, a County of Maui facility, located in the Maui Mall across Pizza Hut, in Suite B-9.

Seating for all workshops is limited, and all workshops are subject to change or cancellation.

Workshops are free unless noted otherwise. To reserve a seat, call the Maui County Business Resource Center at (808) 270-5770. The following workshops are available:

Special Introduction to QuickBooks Online
Instructor: Pierce Gray, MA, EA
Thursday, Dec. 8, 2016 – 12 to 1:15 p.m.

QuickBooks Online has all the advantages of the Cloud, including multi-user access, automatic backup, access from any platform (Windows, Mac or Mobile), an advanced mobile app, and integration with a host of cloud applications like Salesforce, Square, LivePlan, and Shopify. In this workshop, you will learn about all the features of QuickBooks Online, which version is right for you, how to manage bank feeds, conversion from Desktop, and why QuickBooks Online is the right choice for today’s businesses. Start 2017 with the best accounting system in place! Pierce Gray, MA, EA, and QuickBooks Certified ProAdvisor is CEO of Smart Tax Solutions and QuickBooks Maui. He is a QuickBooks expert, specializing in setting up and coaching QuickBooks Online for small and medium size businesses, and brings extensive real-world experience and a passion for excellence in the areas of business startups, accounting, tax and financial planning, and tax return preparation. He puts this in practice by providing Virtual Controller Advantage Services to businesses and non-profits.

Becoming a Best-Selling Author: Leveraging the World’s Greatest Marketing Secret by Writing, Publishing and Promoting Your Book to Better Market Your Business
Instructor: Patrick Snow
Monday, Dec. 12, 2016 – 12 to 2 p.m.

Are you looking for a better way to market your business? Do you have a burning desire to become a best-selling author? Attend this seminar and learn how to make your publishing and business goals come true. If you want to stand out from your competition, strengthen your credentials, and get free publicity, then writing and publishing a book is your best marketing strategy. Let international best-selling author, Patrick Snow, guide you through the process. In this two-hour workshop you will learn your three publishing options, top five requirements for becoming a best-selling author, and 18 mistakes to avoid. Most importantly, you will learn how to monetize your passion and even better market your business, or start a new business using your book as a platform from which you can launch! Come early, and stay late for his Q/A session that will answer all questions on your book project. As a professional speaker he has given more than 2,500 speeches on three continents. As a publishing, book marketing, and speaker coach, he has mentored more than 750 clients worldwide to achieve their publishing goals.

Business in the Think Tank with MBB Members (Free)
Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2016 – 12 to 2 p.m.

Maui Business Brainstormers invite you to bring your business challenge to our Brainstorming Segment or If you want to feature your business (or business concept) in our “Think Tank” segment (that’s 20 minutes just for you), submit a form on the MBB meetup site, OR come along to brainstorm and be showered with ideas. To attend, please RSVP at www.Meetup.com/MauiBusinessBrainstormers. Non-members need to join the free membership of MBB.

Features of the session include:

• Mingling, introductions

• Get to Know Your Neighbor- an opportunity to interact with new faces and strengthen your own ability to communicate succinctly with others in fast-paced situations

• Featured Business in the Think Tank- a 20-minute segment in which a selected business is featured for focused brainstorming with the group. Owners of startups and small businesses benefit from this activity. You are qualified if you have a business concept fully researched and planned but with questions or obstacles remaining, or if you are a business already in operation with sales, but facing challenges to achieve further growth. The business owner needs to be an MBB member. To be featured in the 20-minute case-study “Think Tank,” fill out and submit the online form describing your business challenge. On the day of the meeting, the candidate chosen presents a five-minute overview of the business, including current challenges. The audience then brainstorms on ideas to address the problem area with the “build it, measure it, learn from it, improve it!” spirit.

• Five-min Think Tank- Attendees have the opportunity to present a challenge they are experiencing in their own business for ideas and suggestions from the group. No prior submission is required – just come to the meeting with your ideas and questions, to help others and be helped toward your own success!

5 Steps to Creating an Effective Marketing Plan for 2017
Instructor: Nicole Fisher
Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2016 – 12 to 1:15 p.m. (Q&A till 1:30 p.m.)

Learn how to grow your business by communicating consistent and creative messages to your intended audience. Create an online profile, a game plan for marketing your products or services and an action plan for promotion throughout the entire year (2017). 1) Define your audience; 2) Define your message; 3) Plan your budget; 4) Plan for Goal Setting; and 5) Tactics and timing. Nicole Fisher is an energetic entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience as a Marketing Strategist, Social Media Consultant and Trainer.

Get the Facts about Farm Loans and Farm Recordkeeping
Instructor: Richard “Buddy” Nichols
Friday, Dec. 16, 2016 – 12 to 1:30 pm.

USDA, Farm Loan Programs have been available for many years and has numerous types of loans available to a farmer from beginning farmers to seasoned farmers. The importance of good record keeping increases the success of any business; including farming. Whether you apply for a loan or not, you will need to know the productivity of your farm and whether it is improving every year. Buddy Nichols is a USDA, Farm Loan Program Manager on Maui. He previously has a BA in Animal Science as well as an MBA. He owned/managed a dairy, raised cattle and fruits/vegetables. He understands the aspects of farming from production to financial recordkeeping.