SCORE Chester and Delaware Counties is hosting several free webinars during the rest of July and in August.

Understanding Cash Flow—A Business Survival Guide

On Tuesday, July 28, join this free webinar, “Understanding Cash Flow—A Business Survival Guide.”

The webinar, 9 to 10:30 a.m., will be hosted by Tom Faughnan, SCORE mentor and retired Chief Financial Office from Axalta Coating Systems (formerly DuPont Automotive Finishes).

Sales and earnings are not enough to survive, just ask W.T Grant who had consistent earnings growth, yet went bankrupt.

Ask Bernie Madoff, whose Ponzi scheme would have gone on had it not been for the lack of new cash inflows.

In fact, the number two cause of business failures is not knowing the difference between earnings and cash!

Additionally, understanding the value of time in the cash equation is critical to business survival.

This session will help you better understand the differences between cash and earnings as well as provide some suggestions as how to maximize cash.

About the presenter:

Tom Faughnan was the founder and CEO of Tech Services International, a limited liability corporation in Kennett Square.

As part of his strong commitment to education, Tom taught Accounting and Financial Management Theory and Practice to undergraduate and graduate students at Pace University in New York, University of Arkansas, Delaware State University, Virginia Commonwealth University and continues to teach today at West Chester University in West Chester.

Tom is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) as well as a Certified Forensic Accountant.

Click here to register.

 “How to Start and Operate a Small Business”

On Tuesday, July 28, or Tuesday, Aug. 25, you can participate in a free webinar, “How to Start and Operate a Small Business.”

The webinars, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., will be hosted by SCORE presenter and attorney Frank P. Farmer.

He will discuss the “nuts and bolts” issues that should be considered when starting and operating a small business.

If you are in the early stages of thinking about starting a small business, or if you have started up your business and realized you missed a few things, then you have come to the right place.

If you are thinking about “becoming your own boss” this is a chance to get an overview of the things you need to know.

Frank will discuss topics including:

• The need and usefulness of developing a business plan;
• Selecting a business organizational structure;
• Fictitious name registration and licensing;
• Hiring employees vs. independent contractors;
• Obtaining tax identification numbers;
• Other related topics (as time permits).

About the presenter:

Frank P. Farmer, Jr.  is a graduate of Widener School of Law and a member of the Pennsylvania Bar.

He has been engaged in the private practice of law through his private practice in Kennett Square since 1980 providing services throughout the Delaware Valley region.

Frank’s practice concentrates in the area of small business transactions, which includes the representation of individuals and business entities; starting, operating and/or buying/selling small businesses.

His services include, but are not limited to, incorporation services and registration of fictitious names; preparation and review of leases, contracts, employment agreements, shareholder/operating /partnership agreements; representation of buyers/sellers of businesses, conflict resolution and problem solving.

Click here to register for July 28.

Click here to register for Aug. 25.

“3 Tips to Publish Your Website With Confidence”

On Thursday, July 30, you can participate in a free webinar, “3 Tips to Publish Your Website With Confidence”.

The webinar, at 1 p.m., will be hosted by digital marketing expert Jenna Shaffer.

With the world changing every day, publishing and updating your website can feel like a daunting task.

Even with a template that takes care of the look and feel of your website, you still need to create the content for your pages that reflects current events and COVID guidelines surrounding your business.

It’s easy once you know where to focus. You can publish your website quickly with just the essential pages you need to get yourself online.

Join us for this presentation led by Jenna Shaffer with Constant Contact, who will show you the best practices on:

• 4 questions your homepage must answer before you hit publish;
• The real purpose of your about page and how to create one your visitors want to read;
• How to make it easy for visitors to find and contact you;
• Tips for using images on these pages;
• eCommerce and shopping cart landing pages
• And more…

Don’t miss out on this valuable webinar that will give you tangible takeaways to get your website up and running!

About the presenter:

Digital marketing expert, Jenna Shaffer, brings her vast knowledge to thousands of small businesses and nonprofits helping them maximize their marketing success.

With over a decade of experience at Constant Contact, Jenna has taken on various roles but has most recently enjoyed her most current role as a Programs Marketing Manager and public speaker.

Born and raised in a family of small business owners, she is passionate and inspired by small business owners and is highly driven to help them succeed.

Click here to register.

How to Boost Your Business on LinkedIn

On Tuesday, Aug. 4, you can participate in a free webinar, “How to Boost Your Business on LinkedIn”.

The webinar, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., will be hosted by Lynne Williams, a SCORE Speaker and executive director of the Philadelphia Area Great Careers Group.

The objective of this webinar is to learn how to define your personal value proposition, optimize your LinkedIn profile with keywords, and leverage your competitive edge to build your own personal brand.

With over 690+ million users on LinkedIn, how can you define your value proposition, optimize your LinkedIn profile with keywords, and leverage your competitive edge to build your brand?

Join us to learn valuable tips so you can develop your “secret sauce”, streamline your profile, and stand out from your competition to boost your business within the world’s largest professional network.

About the presenter:

Lynne Williams, Ed.D. Candidate provides career education and networking. Contact Lynne by phone at 484-393-2951, email at director@greatcareersphl.org, on social media @GreatCareersPHL and #GreatCareersPHL and connect on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/lynnewilliams Visit the website and read our SCORE Success Story!

Click here to register.

Reopening and Staying Open – How to Assess the Past 60 Days and Prepare for What’s Next

On Thursday, Aug. 6, you can participate in a free webinar, “Reopening and Staying Open—How to Access the Past 60 Days and Prepare for What’s Next”.

The webinar, 1 to 2 p.m.., will be hosted by SCORE mentor Suzanne McGrath, who has 15 years’ experience as a restaurant owner and event developer.

This session will help business owners learn from the experience they’ve had over the summer to address the very real issues that will continue to pose existential challenges to many businesses at least through the next year.

If you’re like many businesses, you are probably working overtime to navigate the ever-changing landscape created by C19. Whether you’ve already reopened or will be opening this summer, August will be an ideal time to assess what you’ve experienced already and develop a strategic plan for the rest of the year.

This session will help business owners – including retailers and restaurants – learn from the experience they’ve had over the summer to:

• Create a pro forma Profit & Loss statement as a basis for planning the next 12 months
• Minimize costs and maximize revenue through market positioning
• Develop strategies for dealing with capacity limits, especially in a restaurant context
• Consider how to plan for a potential second wave as well as long term changes in consumer behavior
• Analyze options for dealing with lease issues

The goal of this webinar is to address these very real issues that will continue to pose existential challenges to many businesses at least through the next year.

About the presenter:

Suzanne McGrath helps clients who are running or thinking of starting a retail business, restaurant, or other food or beverage-related business (cafes, caterers, etc.).   She provides guidance on concept development, the start-up process, marketing, and operations, as well as defining and solving business problems.

Prior experience as a lawyer also enables her to assist with avoiding and addressing legal issues.

This webinar is sponsored by Progressive Commercial Insurance.

Click here to register.

How to Leverage a Virtual Assistant in a Pandemic

On Tuesday, Aug. 11, you can participate in a free webinar, “How to Leverage a Virtual Assistant in a Pandemic”.

The webinar, 11 a.m. to noon, will be hosted by Danielle Julia Cuomo, owner of business services firm Virtual Assist USA.

In this webinar you’ll learn how:

• Outsourcing can save your business
• To plan versus panic in times of uncertainty
• You can afford a Virtual Assistant
• To figure out what to delegate to a Virtual Assistant

A Virtual Assistant can be a valuable asset for any business but especially when resources are scarce and access to funds is limited, such as during the current pandemic.  Leveraging a VA can help you manage your time more effectively and allow you to focus on activities that translate faster to business development and growth.

About the presenter:

Danielle Julia Cuomo is an award-winning entrepreneur and author. Virtual Assist USA is an early disrupter and leading provider of virtual assistant services that help to keep thousands of companies on track, focused, and growing.

Under her innovative leadership, Virtual Assist USA has continued to grow every year and is a top reviewed company in this space.

In addition to working with Virtual Assist USA, Danielle had served as a board member, committee member and volunteer for various charities. She is also an ongoing entrepreneurial advisor for Reese International and was honored as a featured mentor at Chatham University.

Danielle is a seasoned professional with more than 12 years of experience starting, developing, and leading local and national businesses across a variety of growth industries.

Danielle is a graduate of The Pennsylvania State University, where she received her Bachelor’s Degree and Master’s in Business Administration.

She believes in the power of small businesses and the American dream and says “Small businesses are the lifeline of America. I hope to continue to contribute by making my client’s dreams come true, which is the most rewarding of all.”

Click here to register.

Business Smart

On Tuesday, Aug. 18, learn how to get your business off the ground in the free webinar, “Business Smart”.

The webinar, 1 to 2:30 p.m.., will be hosted by Kimberly B. Stout, a SCORE volunteer and an Economic Development and Lender Relations Specialist with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Philadelphia District Office.

In this webinar you will learn about:

• Key steps to getting your business off the ground.
• Financing options and what banks look for when lending money
• Local resources available to assist you in starting and growing a small business.

Learn what it takes to have a successful start-up.

About the presenter:

In her current role, Kimberly is responsible for promoting the SBA lending programs and maintaining a network of collaborative partners to assist, promote, and protect small businesses.

Click here to register.

Closing a Business – How to Legally Close Your Company

On Wednesday, Aug. 20, this free webinar will talk about “Closing a Business – How to Legally Close Your Company”.

The webinar, 1 to 2 p.m.., will be hosted by Deborah Sweeney, GM and VP of Small Business Services at Deluxe Corporation.

In this webinar, you’ll learn how to:

• Determine the value of your business
• Find a buyer
• Avoid fines, fees or continued liability by selling or legally closing your company
• Communicate your plan with employees, customers and partners

In trying times, you may be looking to close or sell a business.

Deborah Sweeney is a former corporate and intellectual property attorney turned entrepreneur. She will show you key considerations for the process of closing your business.

About the presenter

Deborah Sweeney is an advocate for protecting personal and professional assets for business owners and entrepreneurs. She has extensive experience in the entrepreneurial industry as the CEO of MyCorporation.com, a leader in online legal filing services that provides startup bundles including corporation and LLC formation, registered agent, DBA, and trademark and copyright filing services.

Deborah has been involved in the formation of hundreds of thousands of MyCorporation’s customers. With her extensive experience in the field of corporate and intellectual property law, Deborah provides insightful commentary on who should consider incorporation and trademark registration.

This webinar is sponsored by Deluxe Corporation.

Click here to register.

SCORE, the nation’s largest network of volunteer business experts, is dedicated to helping small businesses get off the ground, grow and achieve their goals.

Since 1964, they have provided education and mentorship to more than 11 million entrepreneurs nationwide.

SCORE Chester and Delaware Counties has been operating since 1985, with 120 dedicated volunteers today who provide confidential mentoring at no charge and offer business seminars, workshops and webinars to benefit the local community.

SCORE is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and a resource partner of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).

Find out more about SCORE by clicking here.