Online Classroom

The Montana Small Business Development Center statewide network holds online and in person trainings at each location. If you're looking to start, grow or buy a business in Montana, we will help you on your journey. Below are our most recent recorded trainings and accompanying materials. Is there a business topic that we haven't covered yet? Let us know by filling out a Contact Form with the topic you would like to see!

View the U.S. Small Business Administration's online Learning Center for additional courses and resources here.

Past Webinars

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Striving Vs. Thriving: Presented by the Miles City SBDC Click here for training There is a big difference between just surviving and being able to develop, adapt and flourish when faced with life challenges. The Covid-19 pandemic has presented everyone with new and ongoing stressors. This presentation will provide you with an opportunity to take a closer look at what your stress levels are and how they can impact your physical and mental well-being, as well as provide you with some tools to improve and maintain your mental health during times of distress. Taught by Brenda Kneeland with the Eastern Montana Community Mental Health Center and presented by the Miles City SBDC.	COVID-19 Resources\|Operations	COVID19\|HR\|Health
The Small Business Webinar Series: Steering Your Business Through Change Click here for presentation This webinar will be a concise reflection of moments of crisis that could have stopped operations at Bernice's Bakery during presenter Christine Littig's tenure. But more importantly did not. The take-a-ways from these experiences will highlight and solidify an adaptive approach that allowed for successful operations and the sale of Bernice's Bakery in 2017. Christine will stimulate your imagination and restart your engine when it comes to your own business by sharing stories yet to be heard of crisis management during her 13 years as owner of Bernice's Bakery. Hear experts provide an overview of small business development topics and phone in or type/chat questions or comments.	COVID-19 Resources\|Operations	COVID19\|Operations\|Steering through change
The Small Business Webinar Series: Engineering Growth in the Wake of COVID Click here for slide deck \| Click here for webinar This webinar will step through three considerations for growing a business in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic: acquiring talent, market share, and assets. Hear experts provide an overview of small business development topics and phone in or type/chat questions or comments.	COVID-19 Resources	COVID19\|Growth\|Talent\|Market Share\|Assets
Customer Service Webinar: Staying Positive and Thriving Through COVID-19: Presented by the Miles City SBDC Click here for training Speaker Karen Lum joins the Miles City SBDC and discusses, in a 90-minute webinar, supporting front line sales & service team members to pull back from the day to day operation and take some time to refuel and gain new tools and perspectives to handle customer service during a challenging time. In this session, participants have the opportunity to take time off the front lines to: learn methods to stay centered and effective during challenging times, learn how customers rate businesses and how COVID has impacted this, gain new approaches to dealing with difficult customer interactions, and refuel their energy and connection to their role & purpose.	COVID-19 Resources	COVID19\|Health
Community Focus During COVID: Customer Service Guide to Success: Presented by the Miles City SBDC Click here for training This presentation will be held by Glendive and Miles City's Job Service, Amy Deines. At the end of this presentation you will have learned what customer service skills are most desirable by businesses, how to better communicate and listen to customers. How COVID has changed what customer service looks like. There will also be a section related to Miles City and how knowing about your hometown and being aware of what “treasures" and what events are there. This can help increase satisfaction, length of stay, and money spent in your town. Please come and learn how customer service can help you and increase the value of Miles City or how using this as an example can better help your hometown. At the end of the class special guests Marla Prell, from Fish Wildlife and Parks, and John Laney, Miles City's Chamber of Commerce, will be speaking as well.	COVID-19 Resources	COVID19\|Community\|Customer Service\|Awareness
The Small Business Webinar Series: Business Crisis Toolkit: Control What You Can Click here for slide deck \| Click here for handout \| Click here for presentation In this brief, 30-minute webinar we are hoping to give business owners some guidance on steps to take during the initial stages of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak throughout the country. We'll provide guidance for entrepreneurs, financing options, scam alerts, and resources available to assist through this crisis. Hear experts provide an overview of small business development topics and phone in or type/chat questions or comments.	COVID-19 Resources\|Operations	COVID19\|Disaster Planning\|Crisis Toolkit\|Scam Alerts
The Small Business Webinar Series: Marketing, Communication, and Sales During the COVID-19 Crisis Click here for slide deck \| Click here for webinar In this brief, 30-minute webinar we are hoping to give business owners some guidance on marketing, communication, and sales during the COVID-19 crisis. Evaluating a company's human and fixed assets and then being creative in how to utilize them in an alternative way will be discussed. Focus will be given to innovating by solving customer-facing problems. Hear experts provide an overview of small business development topics and type/chat questions or comments.	COVID-19 Resources\|Marketing\|Operations	COVID19\|Marketing\|Communications\|Crisis
The Small Business Webinar Series: Prepare for Government Contracting During COVID-19 Click here for slide deck \| Click here for webinar In this brief, 30-minute webinar we are hoping to give business owners guidance on how to prepare to do business with government agencies during COVID-19 crisis. Topics will focus primarily on the federal government, but we'll also touch on state and local procedures and opportunities. Our goal is to get businesses not currently set up into the appropriate systems and then search for solicitations. Hear experts provide an overview of small business development topics and phone in or type/chat questions or comments.	COVID-19 Resources\|Operations	contracting\|COVID19\|Government Contracting
The Small Business Webinar Series: Hibernating Your Business During COVID-19 Click here for slide deck \| Click here for webinar In this brief, 30-minute webinar we are hoping to give business owners guidance on how to put a business to bed during COVID-19 crisis. For some, taking the time to hibernate a business properly is an opportunity to start strategic planning to come out the other end. Hear experts provide an overview of small business development topics and phone in or type/chat questions or comments.	COVID-19 Resources\|Operations	COVID19\|Operations\|Disaster Planning
The Small Business Webinar Series: Business Resiliency Guide Click here for slide deck \| Click here for webinar In this brief, 30-minute webinar we will provide business owners possible ways to make your business tougher and may enable it to recover more quickly, including: staffing problems, incentives for customers to not cancel jobs, or services, “shoe leather” marketing, customer referral/loyalty programs, online freelancing options, strategic, and informal partnerships with your competitors, digital product creating, guerrilla marketing, selling non essential assets, and beating your customer’s expectations	COVID-19 Resources\|Operations	COVID19\|Disaster Planning\|Marketing\|Business Resiliency
The Small Business Webinar Series: Reopening Best Practices During COVID-19 Click here for slide deck \| Click here for webinar In this brief 30-minute webinar, we will provide some of the basics business owners will need to take into account as they reopen their business during the COVID-19 crisis. Hear experts provide an overview of small business development topics and phone in or type/chat questions or comments. We will follow-up with requests for additional information.	COVID-19 Resources\|Operations	resources\|COVID19
The Small Business Webinar Series: Protecting Your Business From Legal Liability During Reopening Click here for slide deck \| Click here for webinar In this brief 30-minute webinar, we will step business owners through the liability concerns when reopening following the COVID-19 shutdown. Employment and labor law attorney with Church, Harris, Johnson, Williams P.C. in Great Falls, Bobbi Berkhof, will inform entrepreneurs why following local, state, and federal recommendations may help protect the business from lawsuits potentially stemming from employees and customers. Hear experts provide an overview of small business development topics and phone in or type/chat questions or comments.	COVID-19 Resources\|Operations	COVID19\|Disaster Planning\|Legal Liability
The Small Business Webinar Series: What It Means to be Open and Safe During Recovery Click here for slide deck \| Click here for Behavioral Economic slides \| Click here for recorded webinar In this webinar, we'll discuss addressing the challenges, barriers, team-building, resources, and mindset it will take for entrepreneurs to navigate reopening a business during COVID-19. Presenters Dena Johnson and Kevin Scharfe will discuss how the right state of mind and pivoting your business model can help build consumer confidence and employee buy-in during this challenging time. Hear experts provide an overview of small business development topics.	COVID-19 Resources\|Operations	resources\|COVID19\|Disaster Planning
The Small Business Webinar Series: Quick Cybersecurity Tips to Keep Your Company Safe Click here for slide deck \| Click here for webinar This webinar will give actionable tips to better protect your business from cyberattack. Hear experts provide an overview of small business development topics and phone in or type/chat questions or comments.	Operations\|Pre-Venture	Cybersecurity\|Tips
The Small Business Webinar Series: Tackling Unemployment Insurance Click here for slide deck \| Click here for webinar In this webinar we will discuss understanding traditional unemployment insurance, pandemic unemployment assistance and the role employers play when employees are collecting unemployment insurance. Hear experts provide an overview of small business development topics and phone in or type/chat questions or comments.	COVID-19 Resources\|Operations	COVID19\|Unemployment\|Insurance
The Small Business Webinar Series: Best Practices for PPP Loan Forgiveness Click here for slide deck \| Click here for webinar This webinar will walk you through the best practices, reporting procedures, and forms to maximize the forgiveness of your Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan. Hear experts provide an overview of small business development topics and phone in or type/chat questions or comments.	COVID-19 Resources	COVID19\|SBA\|PPP
The Small Business Webinar Series: Accessing SBA Programs: Your Guide to SBA Counseling, Capital, and Contracting Click here for handout \| Click here for webinar This webinar will provide an overview of SBA Resources including current Economic Injury Disaster (EIDL) and Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans. Hear experts provide an overview of small business development topics and phone in or type/chat questions or comments.	COVID-19 Resources\|Operations\|Financial	COVID19\|SBA\|PPP\|EIDL
The Small Business Webinar Series: How COVID is Affecting Communities Click here for webinar This webinar will discuss the evolution of public health response to this unprecedented incident over time, and how that affects small businesses. Find out what we are learning and hear simple reminders on how to best cope with the potential exposure. Hear experts provide an overview of small business development topics and phone in or type/chat questions or comments.	COVID-19 Resources	COVID19\|Community
The Small Business Webinar Series: Targeting Alternative Talent Pools Click here for slide deck \| Click here for training This webinar will discuss the hot topic of 2021...talent. As employers struggle to fill vacancies and are receiving fewer than normal applicants for openings, we'll discuss various ways to target, recruit, and attract labor. This won't be your standard 'pay more' or 'write a better job posting' presentation. We'll explore how seeking out undeserved or untapped communities can help get your organization to full staffing. Hear experts provide an overview of small business development topics and phone in or type/chat questions or comments.	Operations	HR\|Talent\|Talent Pools\|Employee
The Small Business Webinar Series: Generations in the Workforce Click here for handout \| Click here for webinar Never before have we had four (five?) generations in the workforce. Why are work habits and communication styles so different between the generations and how can we work together more effectively? Speaker Tara Mastel will share the importance of understanding generational differences in order to be successful going forward. Hear experts provide an overview of small business development topics and phone in or type/chat questions or comments.	Operations	Operations\|Communications\|Workforce\|Generations
The Small Business Webinar Series: Strategic Communications and Support for Women in Business Click here for handout \| Click here for webinar Women and men both carry implicit biases that affect daily, human interactions. Gain insights on how to leverage language and imagery that connects with women for outreach campaigns. Hear experts provide an overview of small business development topics and phone in or type/chat questions or comments.	Operations	women\|Communications\|Women Entrepreneurs\|Strategic Communication
Business Model Canvas: Presented by the Billings SBDC Click here for training A one-page, visual, strategic management tool to quickly and easily define and communicate a business idea or concept in a focused but flexible way. Join the Billings SBDC as they walk you through the Business Model Canvas.	Operations	Business\|Model\|Canvas
Legal & Tax Do's and Don'ts for Businesses: Presented by the Billings SBDC Click here for training Join the Billings SBDC as they talk about what you need to be aware of for your business, both legal and tax. Choosing the right legal structure, business registry, contracts, zoning regulation, business taxation, payroll taxes, withholding, employer/independent Contractors.	Operations	Legal\|Tax\|Legal Structure\|Contract\|Business Registry
Patent Webinar: Presented by the Billings SBDC featuring Billings Based Patent Attorney and Patent Examiner, David Stoltenberg Click here for training Join the Billings SBDC as the talk with Billings based Patent Attorney and Patent Examiner, David Stoltenberg.	Operations	Intellectual Property\|Patent\|IP
The Small Business Webinar Series: How to Organize and Use Your Branding Package Click here for slide deck \| Click here for supplement PDF \| Click here for webinar We know our business needs to have a cohesive, recognizable look - using a branding package is key to creating that. It also saves time and makes marketing (including social media) much easier. We will cover the 4 elements of a basic branding package, (logo, tagline, colors & fonts), how to collect and organize them, and how to use them.	Marketing	Branding
The Small Business Webinar Series: Financing and Grants Click here for training \| Click here for slide deck Hear experts provide an overview of small business development topics and phone in or type/chat questions or comments. We will follow-up with requests for additional information. All webinars are free and open the public at 11 a.m. and will be recorded and archived.	Financial\|Pre-Venture	Financing\|Grants
Cybersecurity Click here for slide deck \| Click here for webinar We've all seen them. Scams, malicious emails, and threatening phone calls have increased at exponential rates since the start of the global COVID-19 pandemic. By some reports, cybercrime is up 600% since March 2020. Changes in work environments, consumer behaviors, and supply chains have also migrated even more of our business lives to virtual platforms. So how should a business prepare to mitigate the risks of cybercrime? Our presenter will help entrepreneurs understand why starting with a cybersecurity risk assessment is the best place to start. Our presenter will also help entrepreneurs understand why completing a cyber assessment may help lower your insurance bill and how the assessment can help your marketing strategy.	Operations	Cybersecurity
Human Relations: Presented by the Billings SBDC Click here for training Join the Billings SBDC as they help business owners learn about skills such as communication and handling conflict, how leadership styles can affect workplace culture, and how engagement and interaction directly affect work performance, happiness, and success.	Operations	HR\|Customer Service\|Communications\|Workplace Culture
Buying a Business: Presented by the Billings SBDC Click here for training Join the Billings SBDC for their presentation about Buying a Business. Learn what to look for in a business purchase, what is an asset sale vs. business purchase, valuations, appraisals, mergers, and acquisitions.	Operations\|Pre-Venture	Buying a Business\|Business Purchase\|Valuations\|Appraisals\|Acquisitions\|Mergers
The Small Business Webinar Series: Understanding Credit Card Processing Click here for slide deck \| Click here for webinar This webinar will cover the fundamentals of understanding credit card processing and how this complex industry can be kept SIMPLE! Stephanie Cummings from CardConnect will cover the basics of interchange, the roles the card associations, banks and processors play, and the importance of doing business with people you TRUST! Hear experts provide an overview of small business development topics and phone in or type/chat questions or comments.	Operations\|Financial	Credit Card\|Credit Card Processing
The Small Business Webinar Series: Using Opportunity Zones to Start or Grow Your Business Click here for slide deck \| Click here for webinar Opportunity Zones were created as part of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 to help stimulate long-term, private sector investment into economic activity in all 50 states and U.S. Territories. Governor Steve Bullock designated 25 Opportunity Zones in metropolitan and rural areas of Montana as targeted areas to stimulate business investment. In this webinar, Ben Hobbs will discuss what Opportunity Zones are, how simple it is for investors and entrepreneurs to create funds and the tax incentives of investing in businesses in qualifying zones. Hear experts provide an overview of small business development topics and phone in or type/chat questions or comments.	Operations	Growth\|Opportunity Zone
The Small Business Webinar Series: Three Steps to Get Your Business on a Path to Profitable Growth Click here for slide deck \| Click here for webinar The urgent need to stay afloat financially leads to "strategic moves" that are a waste of energy, focus, money, and time. Get your business out of the Survival Prap, headed toward its Sweet Spot and on a path toward profitable growth. Hear experts provide an overview of small business development topics and phone in or type/chat questions or comments.	Operations	Growth\|Profitable
The Small Business Webinar Series: Business Valuation: More Art Than Science Click here for slide deck \| Click here for webinar This webinar will explore how there is no cookie-cutter approach to valuing a private business. It often involves a multi-faceted approach using different valuation processes and techniques, which will be discussed. Hear experts provide an overview of small business development topics and phone in or type/chat questions or comments.	Operations	Business Valuation
The Small Business Webinar Series: Rethinking Innovation in Montana Click here for slide deck \| Click here for webinar This webinar will provide an overview of how small business owners can innovate in small businesses to create customer experiences that attract and retain customers. Hear experts provide an overview of small business development topics and phone in or type/chat questions or comments.	Operations	Innovation\|Customer Experience
The Small Business Webinar Series: Insurance for Small Business Click here for slide deck \| Click here for webinar As one of the most important ways to protect a business, insurance often goes overlooked. This webinar provides an overview of general and professional liability insurance, employer practice liability insurance, worker's compensation requirements, the difference between insurance and bonding, and a variety of other insurance-specific topics. Hear experts provide an overview of small business development topics and phone in or type/chat questions or comments.	Operations	Insurance\|Worker Compensation
The Small Business Webinar Series: Creative Labor Solutions Click here for slide deck \| Click here for webinar This webinar detailed the benefits of creating apprenticeships, on-the-job training, and internship opportunities to attract and retain potential employees. Also discussed is the military's Career Skills Program (CSP) to tap into the labor force soon to be leaving the military service. Experts, like Apprenticeship Specialist Kari Woods, provide an overview of small business development topics and phone in or type or chat questions or comments.	Operations	Labor Solutions\|Apprenticeship\|Internship
The Small Business Webinar Series: Strategy Sells Businesses and Buys Them Too Click here for slide deck \| Click here for webinar \| Click here for Murphy Sell Sheet This webinar discusses buying and selling an established business. We discussed the time it takes and the financial planning needed to successfully sell a business for top dollar. Buyers were also be guided on the types of questions to ask and documents to request on the other side of a business acquisition.	Operations	Buying a Business\|Selling a Business\|Business Acquisition
The Small Business Webinar Series: Crowdfunding Isn't Just Free Money Click here for slide deck \| Click here for webinar This webinar discusses the regulatory impacts of equity crowdfunding. How crowdfunds are gathered, the amount of the investment and the law determines what you can use the money on and the legal implications required.	Operations\|Financial	Crowdfinding
The Small Business Webinar Series: Hire for Your Peak Season & Don't Lose Money Doing it Click here for slide deck \| Click here for webinar This webinar features ratios to assist business owners or managers in justifying a new or seasonal hire and to ensure that the additional cost of a new employee will do more than break even with increases in sales volume. Performance metrics related to the new hire were also addressed.	Operations	Labor Solutions\|Peak Season
The Small Business Webinar Series: Five Critical Customer Service Click here for slide deck \| Click here for webinar This webinar focuses on five critical skills that will almost guarantee a rewarding customer service or client interaction. Understand why these skills can make or break your service results. If you are a supervisor, use these skills as a checklist to ensure you are providing training, coaching, evaluation, and support for these skills throughout your organization.	Operations	Customer Service\|Customer Experience
The Small Business Webinar Series: Keys to Hiring the Right Employee Click here for slide deck \| Click here for webinar This webinar discusses how company culture should be a factor in your employee search, the best questions to ask during interviews, best practices in the search process, and takeaways you can implement now.	Operations	Customer Service\|Labor Solutions\|Hiring
The Small Business Webinar Series: Introduction to Government Contracting Click here for slide deck \| Click here for webinar Does the Government buy what you sell? Learn how to find out and the initial steps for becoming a vendor for governmental contracting. This webinar discussed best practices in doing business with government entities, appropriate procedures when getting into the system, and winning contracts.	Operations	contracting\|Government Contracting
The Small Business Webinar Series: Food Manufacturing 101: Get Rich and Don't GO TO JAIL! Click here for handout \| Click here for webinar This webinar discusses the most important rules, regulations, and best practices for food manufacturers to follow in order to be successful. You may not get rich and taking this class in no way guarantees you won't GO TO JAIL. At least that's what our presenter, Claude Smith says. Please note - this is very tongue in cheek. :)	Operations	Food Manufacturing\|Regulations\|101
The Small Business Webinar Series: Employee Retention, Creating a Positive Company Culture Click here for handout Happy employees make for thriving businesses. In this webinar, learn how to create a positive corporate culture by identifying larger business goals. Get tips on hiring smarter, keeping employees engaged, and handling employees' concerns.	Operations	Workplace Culture\|Labor Solutions\|Employee Retention
The Small Business Webinar Series: Reduce Payment Friction and Sell on Your Website Click here for slide deck \| Click here for training If the COVID-19 pandemic has taught us anything, it's that consumer purchasing behavior has changed. Nearly every business in nearly every industry can use its website to take orders and receive payments. In this webinar, we'll highlight some of the largest e-commerce platforms, discuss the pros and cons of each, how to make your website generate revenue for your company, and why reducing payment friction will make for happier customers and a happier bank account. Hear experts provide an overview of small business development topics and phone in or type/chat questions or comments.	Marketing	Online\|Website\|E-Commerce
Social Media Marketing with KRose Marketing: Presented by the Great Falls SBDC Click here for training Customers have stopped looking for products and services in magazines, newspapers, or billboards – they look online. If you want to reach your ideal customer, come learn how to start a conversation on social media that will lead to a conversion for your business! Social media marketing is an important tool to use for growing your business, come learn why and how to use it! Join the Great Falls SBDC for a 4 hour Zoom training, presented by Karoline Rose of KRose Marketing Co-Sponsored by the Montana DBE Program.	Marketing	Social Media
The Small Business Webinar Series: Using Social Media (TikTok) to Reach Your Clientele Click here for slide deck \| Click here for webinar When you hear about TikTok, do you think of Ke$ha's 2009 smash hit song? There are all sorts of social media platforms available, and if you're not on them, you're missing out on client interactions. This session will not teach you the inner workings of all the social media platforms out there, but it will help you develop an engaging and entertaining social media presence. We will focus on TikTok, but the concepts we discuss can be applied to any form of social media. Hear experts provide an overview of small business development topics and phone in or type/chat questions or comments.	Marketing	Social Media\|TikTok
The Art and Science of Storytelling: Insights from Behavioral Science: Presented by the Billings SBDC Click here for training Each of us is exposed to over 10,000 messages per day from those wanting our attention. Most of us just tune these messages out. If you are someone who needs to deliver a message, you need new strategies to break through this noise. Using important clues from digital footprints about what works (and what doesn't), savvy storytellers can learn to refine their messages for maximum impact. The Billings SBDC will take an analytical look at storytelling, and explore how the latest research into behavioral science can help all of us tell better stories that move people to act.	Marketing	Behavioral Science\|Story Telling
Restaurant Revitalization Fund: The Basics Click here for training In the coming weeks, food and drink establishments, caterers, mobile food operators, and other eligible applicants will be able to begin applying for the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF). The RRF will be making $28.6 billion in grants to hard-hit food service businesses to help offset lost revenue since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. While details are not fully available, now is the time for eligible applicants to begin planning for the opening of the application portal. In partnership with rural, tribal, economic development, and resource partners of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), Martin DeWitt with the SBA Montana District Office will elaborate on what the RRF is, who is eligible, and how the it overlaps with other pandemic-related programs. If you are a restaurant, bar, or food service business owner who could benefit from additional funding to keep your doors open please join us for this 45-60 minute webinar to learn more.
How to Sell your Stuff: Presented by the Billings SBDC Click here for training Join the Billings SBDC as they present a training to learn more about Consumer Buying Behavior. Learn how you can reach more customers and sell more stuff by knowing how, when, and why people buy.	Marketing	Behavioral Science\|Sell\|Sales
Social Media Training: Presented by the Billings SBDC Click here for training Online Marketing through social media platforms; Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and email blasts. This presentation explores ways that an online pretense can help businesses grow. Join the Billings SBDC as they present this comprehensive Social Media training.	Marketing	Online\|Social Media
The Small Business Webinar Series: Targeting Alternative Talent Pools Click here for slide deck \| Click here for training This webinar will discuss the hot topic of 2021...talent. As employers struggle to fill vacancies and are receiving fewer than normal applicants for openings, we'll discuss various ways to target, recruit, and attract labor. This won't be your standard 'pay more' or 'write a better job posting' presentation. We'll explore how seeking out undeserved or untapped communities can help get your organization to full staffing. Hear experts provide an overview of small business development topics and phone in or type/chat questions or comments. We will follow-up with requests for additional information. All webinars are free and open the public at 11 a.m. and will be recorded and archived.
The Small Business Webinar Series: A Beginner's Guide to SEO: Five Tips to Get Found Online Click here for slide deck \| Click here for webinar What is SEO and why does it matter? SEO stands for search engine optimization and is the process of getting engines to recognize your site as one worth serving up. This presentation will cover some basics of SEO and give you five actionable steps to help your business get found online. Hear experts provide an overview of small business development topics and phone in or type/chat questions or comments.	Marketing	Online\|SEO
The Small Business Webinar Series: Reduce Payment Friction and Sell on Your Website Click here for slide deck \| Click here for training If the COVID-19 pandemic has taught us anything, it's that consumer purchasing behavior has changed. Nearly every business in nearly every industry can use its website to take orders and receive payments. In this webinar, we'll highlight some of the largest e-commerce platforms, discuss the pros and cons of each, how to make your website generate revenue for your company, and why reducing payment friction will make for happier customers and a happier bank account. Hear experts provide an overview of small business development topics and phone in or type/chat questions or comments. We will follow-up with requests for additional information. All webinars are free and open the public at 11 a.m. and will be recorded and archived.
The Small Business Webinar Series: Marketing on LinkedIn Click here for slide deck \| Click here for webinar LinkedIn hosts over 590 million professionals who represent the largest group of influential, affluent, and educated people anywhere. Find out what content to share, which products suit your needs, and how much time you'll spend daily or weekly to ensure your brand stays in front of the people who matter most to your business. Hear experts provide an overview of small business development topics and phone in or type/chat questions or comments.	Marketing	Social Media\|LinkedIn
Leading In Times of Crisis: Presented by the Miles City SBDC Click here for training Taught by Angela Mendoza with the South Eastern Montana Economic Development as a grant writer brings you "Leading in Times of Crisis", presented by the Miles City SBDC. “A crisis in the community, especially one like COVID-19, can make leaders behave and feel in unfamiliar ways. These crises require an emergency response plan and adaptation to a new environment. Glen Klann, the author of Crisis Leadership, states that “During a crisis, your goal is to reduce loss and keep things operating as normal as possible.” Leading in times of crisis will teach you the necessary actions to prepare and respond to leading your team through this time.	COVID-19 Resources\|Operations	resources\|COVID19\|HR
The Small Business Webinar Series: How To Lock Down Your Sales Funnel Click here for slide deck \| Click here for webinar This webinar details building a website, creating a Facebook page, Instagram account, and Google listing are all important, but what happens after? Learn how to capture potential customers at every stage of the buying process – lockdown your sales funnel with these easy-to-follow steps!	Marketing	Social Media\|Sales
The Small Business Webinar Series: Reach Customers Online with Google Click here for slide deck \| Click here for webinar This webinar provides an overview of using Google to market to potential customers. Presenter Corissa Saint Laurent and Google Trainer will discuss creating a free Google My Business listing, Improving your website's visibility in Google's organic search results, and advertising your business on Google.	Marketing	Online\|SEO\|Google
The Small Business Webinar Series: Finding Customers on Instagram Click here for slide deck \| Click here for webinar This webinar provides an overview of using Instagram to market to potential customers. Amanda Read, Founder of Read Mobile Marketing, provides an overview of small business development topics and phone in type or chat questions or comments.	Marketing	Social Media\|Instagram
The Small Business Webinar Series: Finding Customers on Facebook Click here for slide deck \| Click here for webinar This webinar provides an overview of using Facebook to market to potential customers. Experts give an overview of small business development topics and phone in or type/chat questions or comments.	Marketing	Social Media\|Facebook
Becoming a Franchisee: An Alternate Path to Business Ownership - Part 2 of 2 Click here for slide deck \| Click here for training In this brief webinar, we will walk through franchising. Are you an entrepreneur at heart, but have yet to come up with that million-dollar idea and are looking for another way to get into business ownership? Of the three ways to get into owning a business, franchising might be the most well-known but least utilized. We see franchises every day. We eat at them. They service our vehicles. They give us fun activities. They help our aging parents. In this course we cover defining franchises, analyzing advantages and disadvantages, and discovering how to find a franchise.	Operations\|Pre-Venture	resources\|Great Falls\|Operations\|Marketing\|Online
The Small Business Webinar Series 2023: Inventory Management and Supply Planning for a Post-Pandemic World January 5, 2023 Presenter: Marguerite Thordarson, Business Advisor,Accelerate Montana-Women's Entrepreneurship and Leadership Lab (W.E.L.L.) Women's Business Center (WBC) YouTube Link	COVID-19 Resources	business planning\|classroom\|Missoula\|COVID19
The Small Business Webinar Series: Marketing Essentials- Getting Found Online Click here for slide deck \| Click here for webinar This webinar provides an overview of digital marketing best practices and strategies. Presenter Jenna Jones Design and experts give an overview of small business development topics and phone in or type/chat questions or comments.	Marketing	Online\|Essentials
The Small Business Webinar Series: Developing Your Story: A Foundation for Funding Click here for slide deck \| Click here for webinar Your story is the foundation for your business and will be your pitch to generate funding. We explored ways to effectively use your story to fund a new business idea (via crowdfunding, perhaps?), develop networks that may lead to business venture partnerships, and determine if lending is a good fit for your project. Numbers and analysis are key characters, but your story will drive your success.	Marketing\|Financial	Crowdfinding\|Story Telling
The Small Business Webinar: Getting your Small Business Online Click here for slide deck \| Click here for eCommerce Selling Guide \| Click here for webinar This webinar discusses best practices as well as details related to setting a budget, understanding your customer, and how that relates to where to locate online and how to craft a message that motivates action.	Marketing	Online\|Website
Break Even: Presented by the Billings SBDC Click here for training Join the Billings SBDC as they talk about how to break even. Is your business making money, breaking even, or losing money? Find out how to calculate the break-even point of your company in this training.	Financial	Break Even
The Small Business Webinar Series: Basic Accounting for Successful Entrepreneurs Click here for slide deck \| Click here for webinar This webinar will help you manage your business more efficiently and more accurately because, as they say, if garbage goes in, garbage comes out. And if you're not managing the money and recording it correctly, the risk of failure goes up exponentially. Hear experts, like presenter Wendy Weissman, CPA PC, provide an overview of small business development topics.	Financial	Accounting
Boots to Business- Reboot: An Introduction to Entrepreneurship: Presented by the Great Falls SBDC, Great Falls Development Authority, SBA, MDO, VBOC, and the Malmstrom Air Force Base Diversity and Inclusion Team Click here for training The Boots to Business program is a business course for veterans. The goal is to guide them through the transition from serving to becoming a business owner, covering topics like business plans and launching a product. The Great Falls SBDC and partners joined with Malmstrom Air Force Base in Great Falls to provide Montana Veterans and their spouses this Pre-Business course.	Pre-Venture	Boots to Business\|Veteran Entrepreneurs\|Veteran
The LaunchPoint: A Pre-Business Webinar Click here for the slide deck \| Click here for Best Practices PDF \| Click here for webinar Have you been thinking about an idea and always wondered if you could make it a business? Are you a business owner but not a business school graduate? Are you passionate about the thing you do and don't know how to turn that passion into profit? Join GFDA and the Great Falls Small Business Development Center for The LaunchPoint, a business planning and strategies workshop that will walk through the key structures, available tools and why money is important before, during and after you open your doors.	Pre-Venture	Pre Venture\|Idea\|Start Up
The Small Business Webinar Series: Start Your Side Hustle Click here for handout \| Click here for slide deck \| Click here for webinar This webinar addresses turning a hobby or passion into a side business. They discuss the lean approach to business planning and innovating to solve your customer's real-world problems. Hear experts provide an overview of small business development topics and phone in or type/chat questions or comments.	Pre-Venture	Idea\|Side Hustle
Restaurant Revitalization Fund: The Basics Click here for training In the coming weeks, food and drink establishments, caterers, mobile food operators, and other eligible applicants will be able to begin applying for the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF). The RRF will be making $28.6 billion in grants to hard-hit food service businesses to help offset lost revenue since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. While details are not fully available, now is the time for eligible applicants to begin planning for the opening of the application portal. In partnership with rural, tribal, economic development, and resource partners of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), Martin DeWitt with the SBA Montana District Office will elaborate on what the RRF is, who is eligible, and how the it overlaps with other pandemic-related programs. If you are a restaurant, bar, or food service business owner who could benefit from additional funding to keep your doors open please join us for this 45-60 minute webinar to learn more.	COVID-19 Resources	resources\|COVID19
The Small Business Webinar Series: Five Things to Do Today to Manage Risk in Your Company Click here for handout \| Click here for training As part of renewed disaster preparedness awareness, all businesses must manage risk. And risk doesn't just include basic insurance on your company assets. Especially as companies grow, they take on additional risks through employees, contracts, partners, and especially related to the lingering impacts of COVID-19. This webinar will touch on three types of risk and five risk management strategies for growth-focused companies. Hear experts provide an overview of small business development topics and phone in or type/chat questions or comments. We will follow-up with requests for additional information.	COVID-19 Resources\|Operations	resources\|COVID19\|Risk
Exploring Loneliness as a Foundation for Meaningful Connection: Presented by the Miles City SBDC Click here for training This Miles City SBDC class is taught by Lisa Grossman The Connection Cure workshop – Exploring Loneliness as a Foundation for Meaningful Connection – will explore the history of loneliness and its physiological effects on the body. This online Zoom based webinar will also focus on the physiological, emotional, and healing benefits of connection and tools to prioritize these ‘micro-moments.’ There is no substitute for human relationships and this webinar will help participants find similarities in our experiences, and value how our interpersonal connections make us happier, more productive, and healthier.	COVID-19 Resources	COVID19\|Health
The Small Business Webinar Series: Business Model Canvas/Value Proposition Design Click here for training \| Click here for slide deck Hear experts provide an overview of small business development topics and phone in or type/chat questions or comments. We will follow-up with requests for additional information. All webinars are free and open the public at 11 a.m. and will be recorded and archived.	Operations\|Financial\|Pre-Venture	Business Model Canvas\|Value Proposition Design
Cybersecurity from an Insurance Companies Perspective Click here for slide deck \| Click here for webinar Humans are the first line of defense, with a 95% of cyber incidents resulting from human error- and 99% of business facing cybersecurity risks. Not every company has the same level of cyber exposure. Learn how to understand your risks and protect your company, and mitigate, respond and recover if one occurs.	Operations	Cybersecurity
Intellectual Property - Understanding and Protecting Your Intellectual Property Unfamiliar with patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets? Learn about intellectual property (IP) basics and potential ways to protect your innovations as you transition from idea to product. These sessions will cover: Session 1: Identifying and Protecting Intellectual Property Session 2: Protecting Inventions through Patents, Copyrights and Trade Secrets Session 3 : Trademarks, Branding, and Related Issues	Operations
Communication That Fosters Cooperation Join us to learn new communication strategies that enable, cultivate and improve cooperative efforts presented by Illiana Cruz, owner of Crumont Leadership Consulting. Hear experts provide an overview of small business development topics. Click here for the webinar Click here for the handout	Operations
Four Types of People We will cover the following objectives: 1. Discover Key Personality Differences 2. Consider Why We Should Embrace Healthy Differences 3 Recognize When and HOw to Navigate No-Win Differences 4. Learn Tips on How to Better Relate to Others with Differences Click For The Handout Click For The Webinar	Operations	classroom\|HR\|Operations
The Small Business Webinar Series: Structuring Effective & Efficient Meetings The Small Business Webinar Series: Structuring Effective & Efficient Meetings For some, office meetings can be a productive way to achieve a company's objectives. For others, a business' internal meetings make employees feel like their time is not valued and their productivity is finished by meeting with leadership and teammates. We'll visit this human resource management problem to ensure your company's staff meetings are effective, efficient move the company forward! Presenter: Marguerite Thordarson, Business Advisor, Accelerate Montana Watch the Webinar Handout	Operations	Operations
What is Corporate Culture? Jackie Swiesz will help us define corporate culture and learn how to create and maintain the culture you desire. Click For The Handout Click For The Webinar	Operations	HR
The Small Business Webinar Series 2023: Beef & Beer, Pulse & Produce: How the State Can Assist with Grant Funds Towards your Ag Business Expansion February 2, 2023 Presenter: Alyssa Townsend, Montana Department of Agriculture, Business Development Division Handout (13 pages) You-Tube Link	Financial\|Operations	Financing\|Grants
Small Business Webinar Series: Employee Engagement We will cover why strategic investment in professional development and leadership for your employees and team is a smart investment. Research shows that engaged employees drive performance and innovation and lead to more succesful businesses. Click here for the PDF Click to watch	Operations
The Small Business Webinar Series: Mom Entrepreneur's -You are Legit! Whether you're a full time founder or a home based maker and side hustler, this webinar will celebrate your challenges and provide guidance on how to take your business to the next level. We will explore the research as to why parents make great entrepreneurs and tell / share stories about how other mom's make it work. Click here for the PDF Click here for the Video	Operations	women\|entrepreneur
The Small Business Webinar Series: Retirement Plans- A Tool to Retain Employees Click here for training Small business owners are constantly looking for the best way to attract and retain good workers. Retirement plans are a great tool to help keep employees and make it easier to ensure financially stable retirement years for you and your employees. This session will cover the basics of what small business Owens need to consider before starting a retirement plan.	Financial	Great Falls\|Employee\|Employee Retention\|Retirement
Becoming a Franchisee: An Alternate Path to Business Ownership - Part 1 of 2 Click here for slide deck \| Click here for training In this brief webinar, we will walk through franchising. Are you an entrepreneur at heart, but have yet to come up with that million-dollar idea and are looking for another way to get into business ownership? Of the three ways to get into owning a business, franchising might be the most well-known but least utilized. We see franchises every day. We eat at them. They service our vehicles. They give us fun activities. They help our aging parents. In this course we cover defining franchises, analyzing advantages and disadvantages, and discovering how to find a franchise.	Operations	resources\|business planning\|Great Falls\|Marketing
The Small Business Webinar Series 2023: Skill Session with Canva: Media Templates for Customer Engagement & Brand Recognition March 2, 2023 Presenter: KJ Kahnle, Owner, KJ Small Biz Cafe Handout (1 page) You-Tube Link	Marketing	Marketing
The Small Business Webinar Series 2023: Understanding Your Financial for Better Business Decisions April 6, 2023 Presenter: Stephanie Albano, Hatched Concepts Handout (39 pages) You-Tube Link	Financial	business planning\|Financing
The Small Business Webinar Series 2023: Using AI to Enhance Your Marketing Strategies May 4, 2023 Presenter: Rich Gannon, SBDC Rural Business Advisor, Great Falls Development Authority Handout (10 pages) You-Tube Link	Marketing	Marketing
The Small Business Webinar Series: Driving Business Success Through Employee Engagement March 3, 2022 Presenter: Katie Weaver, MSU Extension Community Development Associate Specialist Handout (7 pages) You-Tube	Operations
The Small Business Webinar Series 2023: Quarterly and Annual Payroll Reporting June 1, 2023 Presenters: Jamie Ballas & Casey Nimocks, Accounting & Payroll Professionals, JCCS, PC. Handout (15 pages) You-Tube Link	Financial
The Small Business Webinar Series 2023: Understanding Lender Priorities When Applying for Debt Financing August 3, 2023 Presenter: Alyssa Peterman, MoFi, Business Development Manager No Handouts You-Tube Link	Financial	Financing
The Small Business Webinar Series 2023: Introduction to OSHA and Workplace Safety September 7, 2023 Presenter: Aaron Mugaas, Director, MSU Extension Weatherization Training Center Handout (18 pages) You-Tube Link	Operations
The Small Business Webinar Series 2023: Hiring Your First Employee in Montana October 5, 2023 Presenter: Deborah Derrick Gass, Workforce Consultant, Missoula Job Service Handout (12 pages) You-Tube Link	Operations	Operations
The Small Business Webinar Series 2023: Sustainable Success: Unlocking Growth for Montana Businesses November 2, 2023 Presenter: Sam Gilberston, Founder & Principal, Renewably No Handouts You-Tube Link	Operations	Growth
The Small Business Webinar Series 2023: AI Tools for Businesses December 7, 2023 Presenter: Rich Gannon, SBDC Rural Business Advisor, Great Falls Development Authority Handout (6 pages) You-Tube Link	Operations\|Marketing	Marketing
The Small Business Webinar Series: Mom-trepreneurs: You're Legit May 5, 2022 Presenter: Marguerite Thordarson, Business Advisor,Accelerate Montana-Women's Entrepreneurship and Leadership Lab (W.E.L.L.) Women's Business Center (WBC) Handout (13 pages) You-Tube	Operations
The Small Business Webinar Series: Business Transition Readiness June 2, 2022 Presenter: Alistair Stewart, Senior Business Advisor, Montana Manufacturing Extension Center (MMEC) No Handouts You-Tube	Operations\|Pre-Venture
The Small Business Webinar Series: Small Business Retirement Plans: A Tool to Retain Employees July 7, 2022 Presenter: Joel Schumacher, Montana State University Extension Handouts (8 pages) You-Tube	Operations
The Small Business Webinar Series: Customer Service Automations That Save August 4, 2022 Presenter: Ashley Metesh-McCoy, Director, Accelerate Montana-Women's Entrepreneurship and Leadership Lab (W.E.L.L.) Women's Business Center (WBC) Handout (8 pages) You-Tube	Operations\|Financial
The Small Business Webinar Series: Managing the Human Side of Change September 1, 2022 Presenter: Robert Farmer, SVP of People Solutions, Clearwater Credit Union Handout (6 pages) You-Tube	Operations
The Small Business Webinar Series: Introduction to Small Business Certifications October 6, 2022 Presenter: Lillian Sunwall, Certified Procurement Professional, Vice President, Great Falls Development Authority Handout (13 pages) You-Tube	Operations
The Small Business Webinar Series: Dipping Your Toes Into TikTok for Business November 3, 2022 Presenter: Shelby Humphreys, Owner, Missoula Social Media Handout (3 pages) You-Tube	Marketing
The Small Business Webinar Series: The Montana Dinosaur Center: An Automations Case Study December 1, 2022 Presenter: Steve Dogiakos, Owner, Steve Dee Designs Handout (10 pages) You-Tube	Financial\|Operations

Description	Category	Tags
Striving Vs. Thriving: Presented by the Miles City SBDC Click here for training There is a big difference between just surviving and being able to develop, adapt and flourish when faced with life challenges. The Covid-19 pandemic has presented everyone with new and ongoing stressors. This presentation will provide you with an opportunity to take a closer look at what your stress levels are and how they can impact your physical and mental well-being, as well as provide you with some tools to improve and maintain your mental health during times of distress. Taught by Brenda Kneeland with the Eastern Montana Community Mental Health Center and presented by the Miles City SBDC.	COVID-19 Resources\|Operations	COVID19\|HR\|Health
The Small Business Webinar Series: Steering Your Business Through Change Click here for presentation This webinar will be a concise reflection of moments of crisis that could have stopped operations at Bernice's Bakery during presenter Christine Littig's tenure. But more importantly did not. The take-a-ways from these experiences will highlight and solidify an adaptive approach that allowed for successful operations and the sale of Bernice's Bakery in 2017. Christine will stimulate your imagination and restart your engine when it comes to your own business by sharing stories yet to be heard of crisis management during her 13 years as owner of Bernice's Bakery. Hear experts provide an overview of small business development topics and phone in or type/chat questions or comments.	COVID-19 Resources\|Operations	COVID19\|Operations\|Steering through change
The Small Business Webinar Series: Engineering Growth in the Wake of COVID Click here for slide deck \| Click here for webinar This webinar will step through three considerations for growing a business in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic: acquiring talent, market share, and assets. Hear experts provide an overview of small business development topics and phone in or type/chat questions or comments.	COVID-19 Resources	COVID19\|Growth\|Talent\|Market Share\|Assets
Customer Service Webinar: Staying Positive and Thriving Through COVID-19: Presented by the Miles City SBDC Click here for training Speaker Karen Lum joins the Miles City SBDC and discusses, in a 90-minute webinar, supporting front line sales & service team members to pull back from the day to day operation and take some time to refuel and gain new tools and perspectives to handle customer service during a challenging time. In this session, participants have the opportunity to take time off the front lines to: learn methods to stay centered and effective during challenging times, learn how customers rate businesses and how COVID has impacted this, gain new approaches to dealing with difficult customer interactions, and refuel their energy and connection to their role & purpose.	COVID-19 Resources	COVID19\|Health
Community Focus During COVID: Customer Service Guide to Success: Presented by the Miles City SBDC Click here for training This presentation will be held by Glendive and Miles City's Job Service, Amy Deines. At the end of this presentation you will have learned what customer service skills are most desirable by businesses, how to better communicate and listen to customers. How COVID has changed what customer service looks like. There will also be a section related to Miles City and how knowing about your hometown and being aware of what “treasures" and what events are there. This can help increase satisfaction, length of stay, and money spent in your town. Please come and learn how customer service can help you and increase the value of Miles City or how using this as an example can better help your hometown. At the end of the class special guests Marla Prell, from Fish Wildlife and Parks, and John Laney, Miles City's Chamber of Commerce, will be speaking as well.	COVID-19 Resources	COVID19\|Community\|Customer Service\|Awareness
The Small Business Webinar Series: Business Crisis Toolkit: Control What You Can Click here for slide deck \| Click here for handout \| Click here for presentation In this brief, 30-minute webinar we are hoping to give business owners some guidance on steps to take during the initial stages of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak throughout the country. We'll provide guidance for entrepreneurs, financing options, scam alerts, and resources available to assist through this crisis. Hear experts provide an overview of small business development topics and phone in or type/chat questions or comments.	COVID-19 Resources\|Operations	COVID19\|Disaster Planning\|Crisis Toolkit\|Scam Alerts
The Small Business Webinar Series: Marketing, Communication, and Sales During the COVID-19 Crisis Click here for slide deck \| Click here for webinar In this brief, 30-minute webinar we are hoping to give business owners some guidance on marketing, communication, and sales during the COVID-19 crisis. Evaluating a company's human and fixed assets and then being creative in how to utilize them in an alternative way will be discussed. Focus will be given to innovating by solving customer-facing problems. Hear experts provide an overview of small business development topics and type/chat questions or comments.	COVID-19 Resources\|Marketing\|Operations	COVID19\|Marketing\|Communications\|Crisis
The Small Business Webinar Series: Prepare for Government Contracting During COVID-19 Click here for slide deck \| Click here for webinar In this brief, 30-minute webinar we are hoping to give business owners guidance on how to prepare to do business with government agencies during COVID-19 crisis. Topics will focus primarily on the federal government, but we'll also touch on state and local procedures and opportunities. Our goal is to get businesses not currently set up into the appropriate systems and then search for solicitations. Hear experts provide an overview of small business development topics and phone in or type/chat questions or comments.	COVID-19 Resources\|Operations	contracting\|COVID19\|Government Contracting
The Small Business Webinar Series: Hibernating Your Business During COVID-19 Click here for slide deck \| Click here for webinar In this brief, 30-minute webinar we are hoping to give business owners guidance on how to put a business to bed during COVID-19 crisis. For some, taking the time to hibernate a business properly is an opportunity to start strategic planning to come out the other end. Hear experts provide an overview of small business development topics and phone in or type/chat questions or comments.	COVID-19 Resources\|Operations	COVID19\|Operations\|Disaster Planning
The Small Business Webinar Series: Business Resiliency Guide Click here for slide deck \| Click here for webinar In this brief, 30-minute webinar we will provide business owners possible ways to make your business tougher and may enable it to recover more quickly, including: staffing problems, incentives for customers to not cancel jobs, or services, “shoe leather” marketing, customer referral/loyalty programs, online freelancing options, strategic, and informal partnerships with your competitors, digital product creating, guerrilla marketing, selling non essential assets, and beating your customer’s expectations	COVID-19 Resources\|Operations	COVID19\|Disaster Planning\|Marketing\|Business Resiliency
The Small Business Webinar Series: Reopening Best Practices During COVID-19 Click here for slide deck \| Click here for webinar In this brief 30-minute webinar, we will provide some of the basics business owners will need to take into account as they reopen their business during the COVID-19 crisis. Hear experts provide an overview of small business development topics and phone in or type/chat questions or comments. We will follow-up with requests for additional information.	COVID-19 Resources\|Operations	resources\|COVID19
The Small Business Webinar Series: Protecting Your Business From Legal Liability During Reopening Click here for slide deck \| Click here for webinar In this brief 30-minute webinar, we will step business owners through the liability concerns when reopening following the COVID-19 shutdown. Employment and labor law attorney with Church, Harris, Johnson, Williams P.C. in Great Falls, Bobbi Berkhof, will inform entrepreneurs why following local, state, and federal recommendations may help protect the business from lawsuits potentially stemming from employees and customers. Hear experts provide an overview of small business development topics and phone in or type/chat questions or comments.	COVID-19 Resources\|Operations	COVID19\|Disaster Planning\|Legal Liability
The Small Business Webinar Series: What It Means to be Open and Safe During Recovery Click here for slide deck \| Click here for Behavioral Economic slides \| Click here for recorded webinar In this webinar, we'll discuss addressing the challenges, barriers, team-building, resources, and mindset it will take for entrepreneurs to navigate reopening a business during COVID-19. Presenters Dena Johnson and Kevin Scharfe will discuss how the right state of mind and pivoting your business model can help build consumer confidence and employee buy-in during this challenging time. Hear experts provide an overview of small business development topics.	COVID-19 Resources\|Operations	resources\|COVID19\|Disaster Planning
The Small Business Webinar Series: Quick Cybersecurity Tips to Keep Your Company Safe Click here for slide deck \| Click here for webinar This webinar will give actionable tips to better protect your business from cyberattack. Hear experts provide an overview of small business development topics and phone in or type/chat questions or comments.	Operations\|Pre-Venture	Cybersecurity\|Tips
The Small Business Webinar Series: Tackling Unemployment Insurance Click here for slide deck \| Click here for webinar In this webinar we will discuss understanding traditional unemployment insurance, pandemic unemployment assistance and the role employers play when employees are collecting unemployment insurance. Hear experts provide an overview of small business development topics and phone in or type/chat questions or comments.	COVID-19 Resources\|Operations	COVID19\|Unemployment\|Insurance
The Small Business Webinar Series: Best Practices for PPP Loan Forgiveness Click here for slide deck \| Click here for webinar This webinar will walk you through the best practices, reporting procedures, and forms to maximize the forgiveness of your Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan. Hear experts provide an overview of small business development topics and phone in or type/chat questions or comments.	COVID-19 Resources	COVID19\|SBA\|PPP
The Small Business Webinar Series: Accessing SBA Programs: Your Guide to SBA Counseling, Capital, and Contracting Click here for handout \| Click here for webinar This webinar will provide an overview of SBA Resources including current Economic Injury Disaster (EIDL) and Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans. Hear experts provide an overview of small business development topics and phone in or type/chat questions or comments.	COVID-19 Resources\|Operations\|Financial	COVID19\|SBA\|PPP\|EIDL
The Small Business Webinar Series: How COVID is Affecting Communities Click here for webinar This webinar will discuss the evolution of public health response to this unprecedented incident over time, and how that affects small businesses. Find out what we are learning and hear simple reminders on how to best cope with the potential exposure. Hear experts provide an overview of small business development topics and phone in or type/chat questions or comments.	COVID-19 Resources	COVID19\|Community
The Small Business Webinar Series: Targeting Alternative Talent Pools Click here for slide deck \| Click here for training This webinar will discuss the hot topic of 2021...talent. As employers struggle to fill vacancies and are receiving fewer than normal applicants for openings, we'll discuss various ways to target, recruit, and attract labor. This won't be your standard 'pay more' or 'write a better job posting' presentation. We'll explore how seeking out undeserved or untapped communities can help get your organization to full staffing. Hear experts provide an overview of small business development topics and phone in or type/chat questions or comments.	Operations	HR\|Talent\|Talent Pools\|Employee
The Small Business Webinar Series: Generations in the Workforce Click here for handout \| Click here for webinar Never before have we had four (five?) generations in the workforce. Why are work habits and communication styles so different between the generations and how can we work together more effectively? Speaker Tara Mastel will share the importance of understanding generational differences in order to be successful going forward. Hear experts provide an overview of small business development topics and phone in or type/chat questions or comments.	Operations	Operations\|Communications\|Workforce\|Generations
The Small Business Webinar Series: Strategic Communications and Support for Women in Business Click here for handout \| Click here for webinar Women and men both carry implicit biases that affect daily, human interactions. Gain insights on how to leverage language and imagery that connects with women for outreach campaigns. Hear experts provide an overview of small business development topics and phone in or type/chat questions or comments.	Operations	women\|Communications\|Women Entrepreneurs\|Strategic Communication
Business Model Canvas: Presented by the Billings SBDC Click here for training A one-page, visual, strategic management tool to quickly and easily define and communicate a business idea or concept in a focused but flexible way. Join the Billings SBDC as they walk you through the Business Model Canvas.	Operations	Business\|Model\|Canvas
Legal & Tax Do's and Don'ts for Businesses: Presented by the Billings SBDC Click here for training Join the Billings SBDC as they talk about what you need to be aware of for your business, both legal and tax. Choosing the right legal structure, business registry, contracts, zoning regulation, business taxation, payroll taxes, withholding, employer/independent Contractors.	Operations	Legal\|Tax\|Legal Structure\|Contract\|Business Registry
Patent Webinar: Presented by the Billings SBDC featuring Billings Based Patent Attorney and Patent Examiner, David Stoltenberg Click here for training Join the Billings SBDC as the talk with Billings based Patent Attorney and Patent Examiner, David Stoltenberg.	Operations	Intellectual Property\|Patent\|IP
The Small Business Webinar Series: How to Organize and Use Your Branding Package Click here for slide deck \| Click here for supplement PDF \| Click here for webinar We know our business needs to have a cohesive, recognizable look - using a branding package is key to creating that. It also saves time and makes marketing (including social media) much easier. We will cover the 4 elements of a basic branding package, (logo, tagline, colors & fonts), how to collect and organize them, and how to use them.	Marketing	Branding
The Small Business Webinar Series: Financing and Grants Click here for training \| Click here for slide deck Hear experts provide an overview of small business development topics and phone in or type/chat questions or comments. We will follow-up with requests for additional information. All webinars are free and open the public at 11 a.m. and will be recorded and archived.	Financial\|Pre-Venture	Financing\|Grants
Cybersecurity Click here for slide deck \| Click here for webinar We've all seen them. Scams, malicious emails, and threatening phone calls have increased at exponential rates since the start of the global COVID-19 pandemic. By some reports, cybercrime is up 600% since March 2020. Changes in work environments, consumer behaviors, and supply chains have also migrated even more of our business lives to virtual platforms. So how should a business prepare to mitigate the risks of cybercrime? Our presenter will help entrepreneurs understand why starting with a cybersecurity risk assessment is the best place to start. Our presenter will also help entrepreneurs understand why completing a cyber assessment may help lower your insurance bill and how the assessment can help your marketing strategy.	Operations	Cybersecurity
Human Relations: Presented by the Billings SBDC Click here for training Join the Billings SBDC as they help business owners learn about skills such as communication and handling conflict, how leadership styles can affect workplace culture, and how engagement and interaction directly affect work performance, happiness, and success.	Operations	HR\|Customer Service\|Communications\|Workplace Culture
Buying a Business: Presented by the Billings SBDC Click here for training Join the Billings SBDC for their presentation about Buying a Business. Learn what to look for in a business purchase, what is an asset sale vs. business purchase, valuations, appraisals, mergers, and acquisitions.	Operations\|Pre-Venture	Buying a Business\|Business Purchase\|Valuations\|Appraisals\|Acquisitions\|Mergers
The Small Business Webinar Series: Understanding Credit Card Processing Click here for slide deck \| Click here for webinar This webinar will cover the fundamentals of understanding credit card processing and how this complex industry can be kept SIMPLE! Stephanie Cummings from CardConnect will cover the basics of interchange, the roles the card associations, banks and processors play, and the importance of doing business with people you TRUST! Hear experts provide an overview of small business development topics and phone in or type/chat questions or comments.	Operations\|Financial	Credit Card\|Credit Card Processing
The Small Business Webinar Series: Using Opportunity Zones to Start or Grow Your Business Click here for slide deck \| Click here for webinar Opportunity Zones were created as part of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 to help stimulate long-term, private sector investment into economic activity in all 50 states and U.S. Territories. Governor Steve Bullock designated 25 Opportunity Zones in metropolitan and rural areas of Montana as targeted areas to stimulate business investment. In this webinar, Ben Hobbs will discuss what Opportunity Zones are, how simple it is for investors and entrepreneurs to create funds and the tax incentives of investing in businesses in qualifying zones. Hear experts provide an overview of small business development topics and phone in or type/chat questions or comments.	Operations	Growth\|Opportunity Zone
The Small Business Webinar Series: Three Steps to Get Your Business on a Path to Profitable Growth Click here for slide deck \| Click here for webinar The urgent need to stay afloat financially leads to "strategic moves" that are a waste of energy, focus, money, and time. Get your business out of the Survival Prap, headed toward its Sweet Spot and on a path toward profitable growth. Hear experts provide an overview of small business development topics and phone in or type/chat questions or comments.	Operations	Growth\|Profitable
The Small Business Webinar Series: Business Valuation: More Art Than Science Click here for slide deck \| Click here for webinar This webinar will explore how there is no cookie-cutter approach to valuing a private business. It often involves a multi-faceted approach using different valuation processes and techniques, which will be discussed. Hear experts provide an overview of small business development topics and phone in or type/chat questions or comments.	Operations	Business Valuation
The Small Business Webinar Series: Rethinking Innovation in Montana Click here for slide deck \| Click here for webinar This webinar will provide an overview of how small business owners can innovate in small businesses to create customer experiences that attract and retain customers. Hear experts provide an overview of small business development topics and phone in or type/chat questions or comments.	Operations	Innovation\|Customer Experience
The Small Business Webinar Series: Insurance for Small Business Click here for slide deck \| Click here for webinar As one of the most important ways to protect a business, insurance often goes overlooked. This webinar provides an overview of general and professional liability insurance, employer practice liability insurance, worker's compensation requirements, the difference between insurance and bonding, and a variety of other insurance-specific topics. Hear experts provide an overview of small business development topics and phone in or type/chat questions or comments.	Operations	Insurance\|Worker Compensation
The Small Business Webinar Series: Creative Labor Solutions Click here for slide deck \| Click here for webinar This webinar detailed the benefits of creating apprenticeships, on-the-job training, and internship opportunities to attract and retain potential employees. Also discussed is the military's Career Skills Program (CSP) to tap into the labor force soon to be leaving the military service. Experts, like Apprenticeship Specialist Kari Woods, provide an overview of small business development topics and phone in or type or chat questions or comments.	Operations	Labor Solutions\|Apprenticeship\|Internship
The Small Business Webinar Series: Strategy Sells Businesses and Buys Them Too Click here for slide deck \| Click here for webinar \| Click here for Murphy Sell Sheet This webinar discusses buying and selling an established business. We discussed the time it takes and the financial planning needed to successfully sell a business for top dollar. Buyers were also be guided on the types of questions to ask and documents to request on the other side of a business acquisition.	Operations	Buying a Business\|Selling a Business\|Business Acquisition
The Small Business Webinar Series: Crowdfunding Isn't Just Free Money Click here for slide deck \| Click here for webinar This webinar discusses the regulatory impacts of equity crowdfunding. How crowdfunds are gathered, the amount of the investment and the law determines what you can use the money on and the legal implications required.	Operations\|Financial	Crowdfinding
The Small Business Webinar Series: Hire for Your Peak Season & Don't Lose Money Doing it Click here for slide deck \| Click here for webinar This webinar features ratios to assist business owners or managers in justifying a new or seasonal hire and to ensure that the additional cost of a new employee will do more than break even with increases in sales volume. Performance metrics related to the new hire were also addressed.	Operations	Labor Solutions\|Peak Season
The Small Business Webinar Series: Five Critical Customer Service Click here for slide deck \| Click here for webinar This webinar focuses on five critical skills that will almost guarantee a rewarding customer service or client interaction. Understand why these skills can make or break your service results. If you are a supervisor, use these skills as a checklist to ensure you are providing training, coaching, evaluation, and support for these skills throughout your organization.	Operations	Customer Service\|Customer Experience
The Small Business Webinar Series: Keys to Hiring the Right Employee Click here for slide deck \| Click here for webinar This webinar discusses how company culture should be a factor in your employee search, the best questions to ask during interviews, best practices in the search process, and takeaways you can implement now.	Operations	Customer Service\|Labor Solutions\|Hiring
The Small Business Webinar Series: Introduction to Government Contracting Click here for slide deck \| Click here for webinar Does the Government buy what you sell? Learn how to find out and the initial steps for becoming a vendor for governmental contracting. This webinar discussed best practices in doing business with government entities, appropriate procedures when getting into the system, and winning contracts.	Operations	contracting\|Government Contracting
The Small Business Webinar Series: Food Manufacturing 101: Get Rich and Don't GO TO JAIL! Click here for handout \| Click here for webinar This webinar discusses the most important rules, regulations, and best practices for food manufacturers to follow in order to be successful. You may not get rich and taking this class in no way guarantees you won't GO TO JAIL. At least that's what our presenter, Claude Smith says. Please note - this is very tongue in cheek. :)	Operations	Food Manufacturing\|Regulations\|101
The Small Business Webinar Series: Employee Retention, Creating a Positive Company Culture Click here for handout Happy employees make for thriving businesses. In this webinar, learn how to create a positive corporate culture by identifying larger business goals. Get tips on hiring smarter, keeping employees engaged, and handling employees' concerns.	Operations	Workplace Culture\|Labor Solutions\|Employee Retention
The Small Business Webinar Series: Reduce Payment Friction and Sell on Your Website Click here for slide deck \| Click here for training If the COVID-19 pandemic has taught us anything, it's that consumer purchasing behavior has changed. Nearly every business in nearly every industry can use its website to take orders and receive payments. In this webinar, we'll highlight some of the largest e-commerce platforms, discuss the pros and cons of each, how to make your website generate revenue for your company, and why reducing payment friction will make for happier customers and a happier bank account. Hear experts provide an overview of small business development topics and phone in or type/chat questions or comments.	Marketing	Online\|Website\|E-Commerce
Social Media Marketing with KRose Marketing: Presented by the Great Falls SBDC Click here for training Customers have stopped looking for products and services in magazines, newspapers, or billboards – they look online. If you want to reach your ideal customer, come learn how to start a conversation on social media that will lead to a conversion for your business! Social media marketing is an important tool to use for growing your business, come learn why and how to use it! Join the Great Falls SBDC for a 4 hour Zoom training, presented by Karoline Rose of KRose Marketing Co-Sponsored by the Montana DBE Program.	Marketing	Social Media
The Small Business Webinar Series: Using Social Media (TikTok) to Reach Your Clientele Click here for slide deck \| Click here for webinar When you hear about TikTok, do you think of Ke$ha's 2009 smash hit song? There are all sorts of social media platforms available, and if you're not on them, you're missing out on client interactions. This session will not teach you the inner workings of all the social media platforms out there, but it will help you develop an engaging and entertaining social media presence. We will focus on TikTok, but the concepts we discuss can be applied to any form of social media. Hear experts provide an overview of small business development topics and phone in or type/chat questions or comments.	Marketing	Social Media\|TikTok
The Art and Science of Storytelling: Insights from Behavioral Science: Presented by the Billings SBDC Click here for training Each of us is exposed to over 10,000 messages per day from those wanting our attention. Most of us just tune these messages out. If you are someone who needs to deliver a message, you need new strategies to break through this noise. Using important clues from digital footprints about what works (and what doesn't), savvy storytellers can learn to refine their messages for maximum impact. The Billings SBDC will take an analytical look at storytelling, and explore how the latest research into behavioral science can help all of us tell better stories that move people to act.	Marketing	Behavioral Science\|Story Telling
Restaurant Revitalization Fund: The Basics Click here for training In the coming weeks, food and drink establishments, caterers, mobile food operators, and other eligible applicants will be able to begin applying for the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF). The RRF will be making $28.6 billion in grants to hard-hit food service businesses to help offset lost revenue since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. While details are not fully available, now is the time for eligible applicants to begin planning for the opening of the application portal. In partnership with rural, tribal, economic development, and resource partners of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), Martin DeWitt with the SBA Montana District Office will elaborate on what the RRF is, who is eligible, and how the it overlaps with other pandemic-related programs. If you are a restaurant, bar, or food service business owner who could benefit from additional funding to keep your doors open please join us for this 45-60 minute webinar to learn more.
How to Sell your Stuff: Presented by the Billings SBDC Click here for training Join the Billings SBDC as they present a training to learn more about Consumer Buying Behavior. Learn how you can reach more customers and sell more stuff by knowing how, when, and why people buy.	Marketing	Behavioral Science\|Sell\|Sales
Social Media Training: Presented by the Billings SBDC Click here for training Online Marketing through social media platforms; Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and email blasts. This presentation explores ways that an online pretense can help businesses grow. Join the Billings SBDC as they present this comprehensive Social Media training.	Marketing	Online\|Social Media
The Small Business Webinar Series: Targeting Alternative Talent Pools Click here for slide deck \| Click here for training This webinar will discuss the hot topic of 2021...talent. As employers struggle to fill vacancies and are receiving fewer than normal applicants for openings, we'll discuss various ways to target, recruit, and attract labor. This won't be your standard 'pay more' or 'write a better job posting' presentation. We'll explore how seeking out undeserved or untapped communities can help get your organization to full staffing. Hear experts provide an overview of small business development topics and phone in or type/chat questions or comments. We will follow-up with requests for additional information. All webinars are free and open the public at 11 a.m. and will be recorded and archived.
The Small Business Webinar Series: A Beginner's Guide to SEO: Five Tips to Get Found Online Click here for slide deck \| Click here for webinar What is SEO and why does it matter? SEO stands for search engine optimization and is the process of getting engines to recognize your site as one worth serving up. This presentation will cover some basics of SEO and give you five actionable steps to help your business get found online. Hear experts provide an overview of small business development topics and phone in or type/chat questions or comments.	Marketing	Online\|SEO
The Small Business Webinar Series: Reduce Payment Friction and Sell on Your Website Click here for slide deck \| Click here for training If the COVID-19 pandemic has taught us anything, it's that consumer purchasing behavior has changed. Nearly every business in nearly every industry can use its website to take orders and receive payments. In this webinar, we'll highlight some of the largest e-commerce platforms, discuss the pros and cons of each, how to make your website generate revenue for your company, and why reducing payment friction will make for happier customers and a happier bank account. Hear experts provide an overview of small business development topics and phone in or type/chat questions or comments. We will follow-up with requests for additional information. All webinars are free and open the public at 11 a.m. and will be recorded and archived.
The Small Business Webinar Series: Marketing on LinkedIn Click here for slide deck \| Click here for webinar LinkedIn hosts over 590 million professionals who represent the largest group of influential, affluent, and educated people anywhere. Find out what content to share, which products suit your needs, and how much time you'll spend daily or weekly to ensure your brand stays in front of the people who matter most to your business. Hear experts provide an overview of small business development topics and phone in or type/chat questions or comments.	Marketing	Social Media\|LinkedIn
Leading In Times of Crisis: Presented by the Miles City SBDC Click here for training Taught by Angela Mendoza with the South Eastern Montana Economic Development as a grant writer brings you "Leading in Times of Crisis", presented by the Miles City SBDC. “A crisis in the community, especially one like COVID-19, can make leaders behave and feel in unfamiliar ways. These crises require an emergency response plan and adaptation to a new environment. Glen Klann, the author of Crisis Leadership, states that “During a crisis, your goal is to reduce loss and keep things operating as normal as possible.” Leading in times of crisis will teach you the necessary actions to prepare and respond to leading your team through this time.	COVID-19 Resources\|Operations	resources\|COVID19\|HR
The Small Business Webinar Series: How To Lock Down Your Sales Funnel Click here for slide deck \| Click here for webinar This webinar details building a website, creating a Facebook page, Instagram account, and Google listing are all important, but what happens after? Learn how to capture potential customers at every stage of the buying process – lockdown your sales funnel with these easy-to-follow steps!	Marketing	Social Media\|Sales
The Small Business Webinar Series: Reach Customers Online with Google Click here for slide deck \| Click here for webinar This webinar provides an overview of using Google to market to potential customers. Presenter Corissa Saint Laurent and Google Trainer will discuss creating a free Google My Business listing, Improving your website's visibility in Google's organic search results, and advertising your business on Google.	Marketing	Online\|SEO\|Google
The Small Business Webinar Series: Finding Customers on Instagram Click here for slide deck \| Click here for webinar This webinar provides an overview of using Instagram to market to potential customers. Amanda Read, Founder of Read Mobile Marketing, provides an overview of small business development topics and phone in type or chat questions or comments.	Marketing	Social Media\|Instagram
The Small Business Webinar Series: Finding Customers on Facebook Click here for slide deck \| Click here for webinar This webinar provides an overview of using Facebook to market to potential customers. Experts give an overview of small business development topics and phone in or type/chat questions or comments.	Marketing	Social Media\|Facebook
Becoming a Franchisee: An Alternate Path to Business Ownership - Part 2 of 2 Click here for slide deck \| Click here for training In this brief webinar, we will walk through franchising. Are you an entrepreneur at heart, but have yet to come up with that million-dollar idea and are looking for another way to get into business ownership? Of the three ways to get into owning a business, franchising might be the most well-known but least utilized. We see franchises every day. We eat at them. They service our vehicles. They give us fun activities. They help our aging parents. In this course we cover defining franchises, analyzing advantages and disadvantages, and discovering how to find a franchise.	Operations\|Pre-Venture	resources\|Great Falls\|Operations\|Marketing\|Online
The Small Business Webinar Series 2023: Inventory Management and Supply Planning for a Post-Pandemic World January 5, 2023 Presenter: Marguerite Thordarson, Business Advisor,Accelerate Montana-Women's Entrepreneurship and Leadership Lab (W.E.L.L.) Women's Business Center (WBC) YouTube Link	COVID-19 Resources	business planning\|classroom\|Missoula\|COVID19
The Small Business Webinar Series: Marketing Essentials- Getting Found Online Click here for slide deck \| Click here for webinar This webinar provides an overview of digital marketing best practices and strategies. Presenter Jenna Jones Design and experts give an overview of small business development topics and phone in or type/chat questions or comments.	Marketing	Online\|Essentials
The Small Business Webinar Series: Developing Your Story: A Foundation for Funding Click here for slide deck \| Click here for webinar Your story is the foundation for your business and will be your pitch to generate funding. We explored ways to effectively use your story to fund a new business idea (via crowdfunding, perhaps?), develop networks that may lead to business venture partnerships, and determine if lending is a good fit for your project. Numbers and analysis are key characters, but your story will drive your success.	Marketing\|Financial	Crowdfinding\|Story Telling
The Small Business Webinar: Getting your Small Business Online Click here for slide deck \| Click here for eCommerce Selling Guide \| Click here for webinar This webinar discusses best practices as well as details related to setting a budget, understanding your customer, and how that relates to where to locate online and how to craft a message that motivates action.	Marketing	Online\|Website
Break Even: Presented by the Billings SBDC Click here for training Join the Billings SBDC as they talk about how to break even. Is your business making money, breaking even, or losing money? Find out how to calculate the break-even point of your company in this training.	Financial	Break Even
The Small Business Webinar Series: Basic Accounting for Successful Entrepreneurs Click here for slide deck \| Click here for webinar This webinar will help you manage your business more efficiently and more accurately because, as they say, if garbage goes in, garbage comes out. And if you're not managing the money and recording it correctly, the risk of failure goes up exponentially. Hear experts, like presenter Wendy Weissman, CPA PC, provide an overview of small business development topics.	Financial	Accounting
Boots to Business- Reboot: An Introduction to Entrepreneurship: Presented by the Great Falls SBDC, Great Falls Development Authority, SBA, MDO, VBOC, and the Malmstrom Air Force Base Diversity and Inclusion Team Click here for training The Boots to Business program is a business course for veterans. The goal is to guide them through the transition from serving to becoming a business owner, covering topics like business plans and launching a product. The Great Falls SBDC and partners joined with Malmstrom Air Force Base in Great Falls to provide Montana Veterans and their spouses this Pre-Business course.	Pre-Venture	Boots to Business\|Veteran Entrepreneurs\|Veteran
The LaunchPoint: A Pre-Business Webinar Click here for the slide deck \| Click here for Best Practices PDF \| Click here for webinar Have you been thinking about an idea and always wondered if you could make it a business? Are you a business owner but not a business school graduate? Are you passionate about the thing you do and don't know how to turn that passion into profit? Join GFDA and the Great Falls Small Business Development Center for The LaunchPoint, a business planning and strategies workshop that will walk through the key structures, available tools and why money is important before, during and after you open your doors.	Pre-Venture	Pre Venture\|Idea\|Start Up
The Small Business Webinar Series: Start Your Side Hustle Click here for handout \| Click here for slide deck \| Click here for webinar This webinar addresses turning a hobby or passion into a side business. They discuss the lean approach to business planning and innovating to solve your customer's real-world problems. Hear experts provide an overview of small business development topics and phone in or type/chat questions or comments.	Pre-Venture	Idea\|Side Hustle
Restaurant Revitalization Fund: The Basics Click here for training In the coming weeks, food and drink establishments, caterers, mobile food operators, and other eligible applicants will be able to begin applying for the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF). The RRF will be making $28.6 billion in grants to hard-hit food service businesses to help offset lost revenue since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. While details are not fully available, now is the time for eligible applicants to begin planning for the opening of the application portal. In partnership with rural, tribal, economic development, and resource partners of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), Martin DeWitt with the SBA Montana District Office will elaborate on what the RRF is, who is eligible, and how the it overlaps with other pandemic-related programs. If you are a restaurant, bar, or food service business owner who could benefit from additional funding to keep your doors open please join us for this 45-60 minute webinar to learn more.	COVID-19 Resources	resources\|COVID19
The Small Business Webinar Series: Five Things to Do Today to Manage Risk in Your Company Click here for handout \| Click here for training As part of renewed disaster preparedness awareness, all businesses must manage risk. And risk doesn't just include basic insurance on your company assets. Especially as companies grow, they take on additional risks through employees, contracts, partners, and especially related to the lingering impacts of COVID-19. This webinar will touch on three types of risk and five risk management strategies for growth-focused companies. Hear experts provide an overview of small business development topics and phone in or type/chat questions or comments. We will follow-up with requests for additional information.	COVID-19 Resources\|Operations	resources\|COVID19\|Risk
Exploring Loneliness as a Foundation for Meaningful Connection: Presented by the Miles City SBDC Click here for training This Miles City SBDC class is taught by Lisa Grossman The Connection Cure workshop – Exploring Loneliness as a Foundation for Meaningful Connection – will explore the history of loneliness and its physiological effects on the body. This online Zoom based webinar will also focus on the physiological, emotional, and healing benefits of connection and tools to prioritize these ‘micro-moments.’ There is no substitute for human relationships and this webinar will help participants find similarities in our experiences, and value how our interpersonal connections make us happier, more productive, and healthier.	COVID-19 Resources	COVID19\|Health
The Small Business Webinar Series: Business Model Canvas/Value Proposition Design Click here for training \| Click here for slide deck Hear experts provide an overview of small business development topics and phone in or type/chat questions or comments. We will follow-up with requests for additional information. All webinars are free and open the public at 11 a.m. and will be recorded and archived.	Operations\|Financial\|Pre-Venture	Business Model Canvas\|Value Proposition Design
Cybersecurity from an Insurance Companies Perspective Click here for slide deck \| Click here for webinar Humans are the first line of defense, with a 95% of cyber incidents resulting from human error- and 99% of business facing cybersecurity risks. Not every company has the same level of cyber exposure. Learn how to understand your risks and protect your company, and mitigate, respond and recover if one occurs.	Operations	Cybersecurity
Intellectual Property - Understanding and Protecting Your Intellectual Property Unfamiliar with patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets? Learn about intellectual property (IP) basics and potential ways to protect your innovations as you transition from idea to product. These sessions will cover: Session 1: Identifying and Protecting Intellectual Property Session 2: Protecting Inventions through Patents, Copyrights and Trade Secrets Session 3 : Trademarks, Branding, and Related Issues	Operations
Communication That Fosters Cooperation Join us to learn new communication strategies that enable, cultivate and improve cooperative efforts presented by Illiana Cruz, owner of Crumont Leadership Consulting. Hear experts provide an overview of small business development topics. Click here for the webinar Click here for the handout	Operations
Four Types of People We will cover the following objectives: 1. Discover Key Personality Differences 2. Consider Why We Should Embrace Healthy Differences 3 Recognize When and HOw to Navigate No-Win Differences 4. Learn Tips on How to Better Relate to Others with Differences Click For The Handout Click For The Webinar	Operations	classroom\|HR\|Operations
The Small Business Webinar Series: Structuring Effective & Efficient Meetings The Small Business Webinar Series: Structuring Effective & Efficient Meetings For some, office meetings can be a productive way to achieve a company's objectives. For others, a business' internal meetings make employees feel like their time is not valued and their productivity is finished by meeting with leadership and teammates. We'll visit this human resource management problem to ensure your company's staff meetings are effective, efficient move the company forward! Presenter: Marguerite Thordarson, Business Advisor, Accelerate Montana Watch the Webinar Handout	Operations	Operations
What is Corporate Culture? Jackie Swiesz will help us define corporate culture and learn how to create and maintain the culture you desire. Click For The Handout Click For The Webinar	Operations	HR
The Small Business Webinar Series 2023: Beef & Beer, Pulse & Produce: How the State Can Assist with Grant Funds Towards your Ag Business Expansion February 2, 2023 Presenter: Alyssa Townsend, Montana Department of Agriculture, Business Development Division Handout (13 pages) You-Tube Link	Financial\|Operations	Financing\|Grants
Small Business Webinar Series: Employee Engagement We will cover why strategic investment in professional development and leadership for your employees and team is a smart investment. Research shows that engaged employees drive performance and innovation and lead to more succesful businesses. Click here for the PDF Click to watch	Operations
The Small Business Webinar Series: Mom Entrepreneur's -You are Legit! Whether you're a full time founder or a home based maker and side hustler, this webinar will celebrate your challenges and provide guidance on how to take your business to the next level. We will explore the research as to why parents make great entrepreneurs and tell / share stories about how other mom's make it work. Click here for the PDF Click here for the Video	Operations	women\|entrepreneur
The Small Business Webinar Series: Retirement Plans- A Tool to Retain Employees Click here for training Small business owners are constantly looking for the best way to attract and retain good workers. Retirement plans are a great tool to help keep employees and make it easier to ensure financially stable retirement years for you and your employees. This session will cover the basics of what small business Owens need to consider before starting a retirement plan.	Financial	Great Falls\|Employee\|Employee Retention\|Retirement
Becoming a Franchisee: An Alternate Path to Business Ownership - Part 1 of 2 Click here for slide deck \| Click here for training In this brief webinar, we will walk through franchising. Are you an entrepreneur at heart, but have yet to come up with that million-dollar idea and are looking for another way to get into business ownership? Of the three ways to get into owning a business, franchising might be the most well-known but least utilized. We see franchises every day. We eat at them. They service our vehicles. They give us fun activities. They help our aging parents. In this course we cover defining franchises, analyzing advantages and disadvantages, and discovering how to find a franchise.	Operations	resources\|business planning\|Great Falls\|Marketing
The Small Business Webinar Series 2023: Skill Session with Canva: Media Templates for Customer Engagement & Brand Recognition March 2, 2023 Presenter: KJ Kahnle, Owner, KJ Small Biz Cafe Handout (1 page) You-Tube Link	Marketing	Marketing
The Small Business Webinar Series 2023: Understanding Your Financial for Better Business Decisions April 6, 2023 Presenter: Stephanie Albano, Hatched Concepts Handout (39 pages) You-Tube Link	Financial	business planning\|Financing
The Small Business Webinar Series 2023: Using AI to Enhance Your Marketing Strategies May 4, 2023 Presenter: Rich Gannon, SBDC Rural Business Advisor, Great Falls Development Authority Handout (10 pages) You-Tube Link	Marketing	Marketing
The Small Business Webinar Series: Driving Business Success Through Employee Engagement March 3, 2022 Presenter: Katie Weaver, MSU Extension Community Development Associate Specialist Handout (7 pages) You-Tube	Operations
The Small Business Webinar Series 2023: Quarterly and Annual Payroll Reporting June 1, 2023 Presenters: Jamie Ballas & Casey Nimocks, Accounting & Payroll Professionals, JCCS, PC. Handout (15 pages) You-Tube Link	Financial
The Small Business Webinar Series 2023: Understanding Lender Priorities When Applying for Debt Financing August 3, 2023 Presenter: Alyssa Peterman, MoFi, Business Development Manager No Handouts You-Tube Link	Financial	Financing
The Small Business Webinar Series 2023: Introduction to OSHA and Workplace Safety September 7, 2023 Presenter: Aaron Mugaas, Director, MSU Extension Weatherization Training Center Handout (18 pages) You-Tube Link	Operations
The Small Business Webinar Series 2023: Hiring Your First Employee in Montana October 5, 2023 Presenter: Deborah Derrick Gass, Workforce Consultant, Missoula Job Service Handout (12 pages) You-Tube Link	Operations	Operations
The Small Business Webinar Series 2023: Sustainable Success: Unlocking Growth for Montana Businesses November 2, 2023 Presenter: Sam Gilberston, Founder & Principal, Renewably No Handouts You-Tube Link	Operations	Growth
The Small Business Webinar Series 2023: AI Tools for Businesses December 7, 2023 Presenter: Rich Gannon, SBDC Rural Business Advisor, Great Falls Development Authority Handout (6 pages) You-Tube Link	Operations\|Marketing	Marketing
The Small Business Webinar Series: Mom-trepreneurs: You're Legit May 5, 2022 Presenter: Marguerite Thordarson, Business Advisor,Accelerate Montana-Women's Entrepreneurship and Leadership Lab (W.E.L.L.) Women's Business Center (WBC) Handout (13 pages) You-Tube	Operations
The Small Business Webinar Series: Business Transition Readiness June 2, 2022 Presenter: Alistair Stewart, Senior Business Advisor, Montana Manufacturing Extension Center (MMEC) No Handouts You-Tube	Operations\|Pre-Venture
The Small Business Webinar Series: Small Business Retirement Plans: A Tool to Retain Employees July 7, 2022 Presenter: Joel Schumacher, Montana State University Extension Handouts (8 pages) You-Tube	Operations
The Small Business Webinar Series: Customer Service Automations That Save August 4, 2022 Presenter: Ashley Metesh-McCoy, Director, Accelerate Montana-Women's Entrepreneurship and Leadership Lab (W.E.L.L.) Women's Business Center (WBC) Handout (8 pages) You-Tube	Operations\|Financial
The Small Business Webinar Series: Managing the Human Side of Change September 1, 2022 Presenter: Robert Farmer, SVP of People Solutions, Clearwater Credit Union Handout (6 pages) You-Tube	Operations
The Small Business Webinar Series: Introduction to Small Business Certifications October 6, 2022 Presenter: Lillian Sunwall, Certified Procurement Professional, Vice President, Great Falls Development Authority Handout (13 pages) You-Tube	Operations
The Small Business Webinar Series: Dipping Your Toes Into TikTok for Business November 3, 2022 Presenter: Shelby Humphreys, Owner, Missoula Social Media Handout (3 pages) You-Tube	Marketing
The Small Business Webinar Series: The Montana Dinosaur Center: An Automations Case Study December 1, 2022 Presenter: Steve Dogiakos, Owner, Steve Dee Designs Handout (10 pages) You-Tube	Financial\|Operations

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Striving Vs. Thriving: Presented by the Miles City SBDC

The Small Business Webinar Series: Steering Your Business Through Change

The Small Business Webinar Series: Engineering Growth in the Wake of COVID

Customer Service Webinar: Staying Positive and Thriving Through COVID-19: Presented by the Miles City SBDC

Community Focus During COVID: Customer Service Guide to Success: Presented by the Miles City SBDC

The Small Business Webinar Series: Business Crisis Toolkit: Control What You Can

The Small Business Webinar Series: Marketing, Communication, and Sales During the COVID-19 Crisis

The Small Business Webinar Series: Prepare for Government Contracting During COVID-19

The Small Business Webinar Series: Hibernating Your Business During COVID-19

The Small Business Webinar Series: Business Resiliency Guide

The Small Business Webinar Series: Reopening Best Practices During COVID-19

The Small Business Webinar Series: Protecting Your Business From Legal Liability During Reopening

The Small Business Webinar Series: What It Means to be Open and Safe During Recovery

The Small Business Webinar Series: Quick Cybersecurity Tips to Keep Your Company Safe

The Small Business Webinar Series: Tackling Unemployment Insurance

The Small Business Webinar Series: Best Practices for PPP Loan Forgiveness

The Small Business Webinar Series: Accessing SBA Programs: Your Guide to SBA Counseling, Capital, and Contracting

The Small Business Webinar Series: How COVID is Affecting Communities

The Small Business Webinar Series: Targeting Alternative Talent Pools

The Small Business Webinar Series: Generations in the Workforce

The Small Business Webinar Series: Strategic Communications and Support for Women in Business

Business Model Canvas: Presented by the Billings SBDC

Legal & Tax Do's and Don'ts for Businesses: Presented by the Billings SBDC

Patent Webinar: Presented by the Billings SBDC featuring Billings Based Patent Attorney and Patent Examiner, David Stoltenberg

The Small Business Webinar Series: How to Organize and Use Your Branding Package

The Small Business Webinar Series: Financing and Grants

Cybersecurity

Human Relations: Presented by the Billings SBDC

Buying a Business: Presented by the Billings SBDC

The Small Business Webinar Series: Understanding Credit Card Processing

The Small Business Webinar Series: Using Opportunity Zones to Start or Grow Your Business

The Small Business Webinar Series: Three Steps to Get Your Business on a Path to Profitable Growth

The Small Business Webinar Series: Business Valuation: More Art Than Science

The Small Business Webinar Series: Rethinking Innovation in Montana

The Small Business Webinar Series: Insurance for Small Business

The Small Business Webinar Series: Creative Labor Solutions

The Small Business Webinar Series: Strategy Sells Businesses and Buys Them Too

The Small Business Webinar Series: Crowdfunding Isn't Just Free Money

The Small Business Webinar Series: Hire for Your Peak Season & Don't Lose Money Doing it

The Small Business Webinar Series: Five Critical Customer Service

The Small Business Webinar Series: Keys to Hiring the Right Employee

The Small Business Webinar Series: Introduction to Government Contracting

The Small Business Webinar Series: Food Manufacturing 101: Get Rich and Don't GO TO JAIL!

The Small Business Webinar Series: Employee Retention, Creating a Positive Company Culture

The Small Business Webinar Series: Reduce Payment Friction and Sell on Your Website

Social Media Marketing with KRose Marketing: Presented by the Great Falls SBDC

The Small Business Webinar Series: Using Social Media (TikTok) to Reach Your Clientele

The Art and Science of Storytelling: Insights from Behavioral Science: Presented by the Billings SBDC

Restaurant Revitalization Fund: The Basics

How to Sell your Stuff: Presented by the Billings SBDC

Social Media Training: Presented by the Billings SBDC

The Small Business Webinar Series: Targeting Alternative Talent Pools

The Small Business Webinar Series: A Beginner's Guide to SEO: Five Tips to Get Found Online

The Small Business Webinar Series: Reduce Payment Friction and Sell on Your Website

The Small Business Webinar Series: Marketing on LinkedIn

Leading In Times of Crisis: Presented by the Miles City SBDC

The Small Business Webinar Series: How To Lock Down Your Sales Funnel

The Small Business Webinar Series: Reach Customers Online with Google

The Small Business Webinar Series: Finding Customers on Instagram

The Small Business Webinar Series: Finding Customers on Facebook

Becoming a Franchisee: An Alternate Path to Business Ownership - Part 2 of 2

The Small Business Webinar Series 2023: Inventory Management and Supply Planning for a Post-Pandemic World

The Small Business Webinar Series: Marketing Essentials- Getting Found Online

The Small Business Webinar Series: Developing Your Story: A Foundation for Funding

The Small Business Webinar: Getting your Small Business Online

Break Even: Presented by the Billings SBDC

The Small Business Webinar Series: Basic Accounting for Successful Entrepreneurs

Boots to Business- Reboot: An Introduction to Entrepreneurship: Presented by the Great Falls SBDC, Great Falls Development Authority, SBA, MDO, VBOC, and the Malmstrom Air Force Base Diversity and Inclusion Team

The LaunchPoint: A Pre-Business Webinar

The Small Business Webinar Series: Start Your Side Hustle

Restaurant Revitalization Fund: The Basics

The Small Business Webinar Series: Five Things to Do Today to Manage Risk in Your Company

Exploring Loneliness as a Foundation for Meaningful Connection: Presented by the Miles City SBDC

The Small Business Webinar Series: Business Model Canvas/Value Proposition Design

Cybersecurity from an Insurance Companies Perspective