Creating a Lean Medical Office: Learn the lean tools and techniques to transform your medical office into a more efficient, smoother running operation. You will learn how to streamline paperwork, organize the office, and maximize the use of your resources. Earn 0.4 CEUs in this half-day class.
• Location-TBA F 11/7 1-5P $50

Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs): Designed for electrical technicians, maintenance personnel, machine engineers, etc. Topics covered will include operation, usage, applications, hardware selection and configuration, ladder logic programming examples and exercises, and troubleshooting hints. Earn 2.4 CEUs in this 4-week class.
• Location-TBA TTh TBA 4-7P $55 + $5 TF

Construction Bidding Process: In the construction industry, it is now more important than ever to be able to accurately bid for jobs, whether it’s commercial, general contracting or subcontracting. Accurate bidding will not only help you get the job, but ensure you make a profit as well. This class will cover topics such as selecting which jobs to bid on, estimating material costs, and delivering a professional, comprehensive bid to the client.
• Location-TBA TBA TBA TBA $50

REAL Entrepreneurship: REAL means “Rural Entrepreneurship through Action Learning,” and it’s not your typical business start-up course! You’ll learn how to start and operate a successful small business in a non-traditional classroom setting where lessons are learned through hands-on activities. In this fast-paced nine-week course, you’ll:
-Discover your true strengths
-Learn how to see and capitalize on opportunities
-Design effective marketing strategies for your business
-Understand basic bookkeeping
-Determine the best legal structure for your venture
-Examine the best way to manage the day-to-day operations
-Write a business plan to guide you and help secure financing, and much more
It’s time to take control of your life and your fortune. Build your business on a solid foundation. Get REAL!
• Cherokee EMS Complex
M 9/8-11/3 6-9P R. Seagle $55
+ $60 Course Materials

Business Basics for Boomers & Beyond: If you’re a baby boomer or beyond (age 50+) who’s nearing retirement or already retired and exploring owning your own business, this retreat is designed especially for you. During the course, you’ll have plenty of instruction on how to start or buy that dream business, as well as informal meetings around the lovely High Hampton Inn & Spa in Cashiers, where you can network, socialize, or strategize with other participants or the instructors. Not only will you leave with a clearer picture of what you want to achieve and how to go about it, but you’ll also leave relaxed and energized. In addition to the business instruction, you’ll have ample opportunity to take part in

The special SCC nightly rate of $205 includes all food and beverage, your room, one round of golf, taxes and gratuities. Feel free to upgrade any part of the package on your own. This is one of the grandest resorts in Western North Carolina, and the experience is sure to be one you’ll remember. You’ll want to travel to the High Hampton Inn on Sunday to get settled in and familiarize yourself with the amenities. All participants will meet in the lobby for introductions, orientation and networking at 6:00 p.m. on Sunday evening. A portion of your expenses may be tax deductible as education or business expense. See your tax professional for details.
• High Hampton Inn & Spa
S-Th 11/9-11/12 9A-12:30P R Seagle
Room, meals, etc. single occupancy for 4 days and 4 nights $820
Double Occupancy, add $280

Autumn is a Great Time to Start a Business!
The following seminars are designed with the new start-up business or budding entrepreneur in mind. Learn what it takes to be successful in starting and operating a small business one week at a time. Take one course, or take them all! Contact the Small Business Center at 828.488.6413 to reserve your seat or to request one-on-one, confidential business counseling.

Each seminar will be held at SCC, Macon Campus, Room 212

Business Start-up Basics: Do you have what it takes to be an entrepreneur? Learn whether you have the right stuff to own and operate a successful business. Learn how to find out if there’s a market for your product or service, how to finance a new business, the four major issues every business must face, and how to design a step-by-step plan for success.
SCC T 9/2 6-9P H Ponder $5

11 Businesses to Start This Weekend: Always wanted a business, but didn’t know where to start? This seminar will get your creative juices flowing with lots of ideas. Use proven idea-generating exercises & learn how to follow-through so you can become the owner of a business you really love.
SCC T 9/9 6-9P R Seagle $5

Surviving Your First Year in Business: What happens after you open the doors to your new business? You may be surprised at what you will encounter in the first year. How will you take the information from your business plan and apply it to the actual operation of your business? Learn survival skills for that crucial first 12 months that you can use in future years while growing your business. Learn how to keep records for yourself and Uncle Sam, how to deal with local, state, and federal regulations, employees, customers, and more.
SCC T 9/16 6-9P R Seagle $5

Pricing for Profit: If you use your creative skill to make items for sale to businesses and/or the end customer, this workshop will help you learn to effectively price your products. You’ll learn all the factors that go into setting a profitable price. The focus is on Curley Maple, a fictitious craftsman who makes custom tables. After helping Curley set a profitable price, you’ll walk away with a formula that you can use to do the same thing for your products!
SCC T 9/30 6-9P R Seagle $5

Writing a Business Plan: Learn the two main purposes of a business plan and why you should write it, what a lender really wants to see in your plan, and what things you do not want to include in your plan.
SCC T 10/7 6-9P H Ponder $5

Run With the Big Dogs (Don’t stay on the porch!): Small companies don’t have unlimited budgets for advertising, human resources, or inventory. This course will help you learn and develop competitive strategies to make the most of what you DO have. Learn how to develop a strategy, identify opportunities, and pursue them faster and more successfully than larger, bulkier competitors
SCC T 10/21 6-9P R Seagle $5

How to Hire, Train and Motivate a Teenage Workforce: There’s no need to pull your hair out because of teen employees. They have a lot to offer (more than you might think!), and all you need to do is tap into what makes them tick. You’ll learn how to find and recruit the best front-line employees, train them to be caring, committed, and loyal, and dramatically reduce costly turnover.
SCC T 10/28 6-9P R Seagle $5

How to Hire Your First Manager: So your business has grown, and now you need some help. Hiring a manager can be quite different from hiring any other employee. This seminar will help you identify the tasks that need to be handled and the roles that need to be filled. You’ll learn about:Creating a job description, proven recruitment techniques, doing your due diligence, making the offer, working together, and getting comfortable in your new role.
SCC T 11/4 6-9P R Seagle $5

Marketing Your Business for Greater Success: Nothing happens in your business until you sell something. Do you have a plan to market what you do or sell? This seminar will help you determine the best way to develop a strategy for successfully reaching the right market.
SCC T 11/11 6-9P H Ponder $5