SBA Award Winner Reveals Business Plan Secrets

MEO BDC Director Craig Swift and Core Four graduate Tihani Yamane. Courtesy photo.

By Sonia Isotov

The Maui County Business Resource Center continues its monthly business workshops series geared towards helping small and micro businesses succeed on Maui.

This month, Craig Swift, executive director the Maui Economic Opportunity (MEO) Business Development Corp., and the 2013 winner of the State of Hawaii’s Home-Based Business Champion award, will lead a workshop on business plan development secrets. Swift has 35 years of experience owning, managing, and lending to small businesses and also leads the Core Four Business Plan Series for MEO.

The Maui County Business Resource Center also has an entire lineup of other short business workshops during March. Every month, local business experts share a wealth of knowledge and experience at the free workshops and topics vary by month but usually focus on starting, financing, and growing a small business.

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 certified public accountant, Richard Kehoe.

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

“The ABC’s of a Business Plan” by Craig Swift – Wednesday, March 6  – 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Craig Swift, director of the MEO Business Development Center, will discuss the important facts about writing a business plan. Participants will receive an outline of the business plan taught by MEO’s Core Four Business Plan Course.

“Developing Great Networking Skills To Grow Your Business” by Mike Kern – Tuesday, March 12 & 26
Develop your networking skills in this two-day workshop and create a networking and referral plan.

“Sales Skills 101- Communicating Your Way to a Better Future” by TJ Anderson – Wednesday, March 13
Learn the art of sales through better communication skills. TJ Anderson is a long-time sales professional who has owned several successful businesses, both on Maui and the mainland. Anderson is currently the owner and sales manager for No Ka Oi Nut Company, a gourmet Bavarian-roasted nut company on Maui.

Maui Business Brainstormers Monthly Meeting – Tuesday, March 19, 11:45 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
The public is invited to meet other business owners/managers, share and learn with thought-provoking questions, answers and coaching. Bring your business challenges to the meeting. Features: introductions, “get to know your neighbor”, barnstormers sharing, expert coaching, quick fire. No charge. To attend, RSVP at www.meetup.com/MauiBusinessBrainstormers.

Richard Kehoe, CPA, lead SCORE counselor on Maui, and leader of the Quickbooks workshop. Courtey photo.

“Starting a Business in Maui County” by Karen Arakawa– Wednesday, March 20
In this workshop, Karen Arakawa, manager of Maui County Business Resource Center, will cover general information and requirements for starting a business in Maui County. Handouts, and other useful information will be provided in this informative workshop. In addition, the requirements for a Maui County vendor business license will be covered.

“QuickBooks for Small Business” by Richard  Kehoe, CPA – Thursday, March 28, 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. $45 per session. Hands-on computer training for beginners.
Learn to set up your company’s QuickBooks in a small class setting with personalized tutoring. This class is for new users and will focus how to record sales, receive payments, prepare invoices and balance a checkbook. Get customized answers and schedule a follow-up appointment at no cost to discuss solutions. Sponsored by SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives) and presented by Richard Kehoe, CPA and lead SCORE counselor.