SFSmallBusinessWeekConference 19

This workshop shows participants how to use the gig economy as a strategic tool to support themselves while launching their business, but also market products and services to acquire new clients. 

Interested in learning more? Register for this 1.5h workshop on how to accelerate your small business growth using independent work. Attendees will learn about:

1. Understanding the gig economy: trends, platforms, opportunities and challenges
2. Using independent work to support yourself while launching your business 
3. Leveraging gig platforms to acquire new customers

REGISTER HERE

Co-sponsorship Authorization #19-0912-17. SBA’s participation in this cosponsored activity is not an endorsement of the views, opinions, products or services of any cosponsor or other person or entity. All SBA programs and services are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis.

Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance. Contact Noah Brod, noah.brod@sba.gov.

Making food is one thing, making a living is entirely different. In this brief workshop, La Cocina and the San Francisco Department of Public Health  will review the fundamental considerations that any food entrepreneur should consider before launching this next phase of their life. 

La Cocina will review business planning resources, available kitchen spaces, techniques for assessing the marketplace and referrals to support organizations and the department of public health will cover basic permit issues that food entrepreneurs should be aware of before launching.

REGISTER HERE 

Co-sponsorship Authorization #19-0912-17. SBA’s participation in this cosponsored activity is not an endorsement of the views, opinions, products or services of any cosponsor or other person or entity. All SBA programs and services are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis.

Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance. Contact Noah Brod, noah.brod@sba.gov.

Entrepreneurship is risky business, but you can reduce small business risks with good planning. This means defining your offerings, doing specific market research, recognizing the management skills you need, and creating realistic financial projections. In short, you can reduce risks when you write and use a business plan. In this workshop, small business owner and teacher Paul Terry and small business jewelry owner Sharon Zimmerman will share how to create a simple, effective plan of action for your emerging business. They will share their tips and experience in creating small business success.

Location: Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center

REGISTER HERE

Have something you want to sell online, but not sure how? Or already have an online store, but know it could be doing better? If so, then this is the workshop for you! During this 1.5-hour workshop, we will take you from concept to a fully executed online store. We’ll cover product sourcing, digital marketing and everything in between.

REGISTER HERE

Co-sponsorship Authorization #19-0912-17. SBA’s participation in this cosponsored activity is not an endorsement of the views, opinions, products or services of any cosponsor or other person or entity. All SBA programs and services are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis.

Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance. Contact Noah Brod, noah.brod@sba.gov.

In 2016, San Francisco passed an ordinance that requires existing buildings with a place of “public accommodation” to have all primary entrances accessible for people with disabilities.

In partnership with the Office of Small Business, California Commission on Disability Access, and Pacific ADA, the San Francisco Small Business Development Center will host a panel discussion for small business owners who want to learn about being compliant with federal, state, and local laws to reduce your risk of litigation.

Location: Office of Economic and Workforce Development

REGISTER HERE

There are times when pivotal decisions have to made to stay in the game as a small business.   In order to remain competitive and sustainable you have to remain driven and focused.  Come hear what tips that these business owners suggest for business survival.  

REGISTER HERE

Co-sponsorship Authorization #19-0912-17. SBA’s participation in this cosponsored activity is not an endorsement of the views, opinions, products or services of any cosponsor or other person or entity. All SBA programs and services are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis.

Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance. Contact Noah Brod, noah.brod@sba.gov.

Do you work in or own a small business and are pressed for time, but are looking to make a real-world difference on your business's environmental impacts?  This workshop is will cover common resource conservation issues such as supply chain management, reducing waste, green cleaning, water efficiency, and energy conservation. A diverse panel of speakers include a utility expert, the Green Business Program Coordinator, an B-Corp consultant, and a certified Green Business.  They panelist will cover environmental best practices and resources available to help your business take the next step on you sustainability journey.

REGISTER HERE

Co-sponsorship Authorization #19-0912-17. SBA’s participation in this cosponsored activity is not an endorsement of the views, opinions, products or services of any cosponsor or other person or entity. All SBA programs and services are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis.

Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance. Contact Noah Brod, noah.brod@sba.gov.

Hundreds of San Francisco brick and mortar merchants are incorporating on-demand delivery into their models to grow their businesses. Learn how powerful on-demand can be for small business and how to integrate it to better compete in the current business landscape.

REGISTER HERE 

Location: San Francisco Chamber of Commerce

There are myriad free and low-cost resources available from all different corners of the small business support ecosystem (business planning, legal, financial, marketing support, access to capital, real estate assistance). This workshop will focus on how best to harness these resources in the most strategic and meaningful ways for businesses to scale.

Location: Impact Hub

REGISTER HERE

Forbes says, “LinkedIn is where 80% of B2B leads are generated on social media”.

Business Insider reports, “72% of Instagram users say they have purchased a product they saw on the app.”

Review Trackers shares, “45 percent of consumers say they are likely to check reviews on Yelp before visiting a business. Yelp’s percentage is only second to Google (64 percent).”

Do you want to get more from your Instagram, LinkedIn and Yelp profiles? Are your profiles on these platforms helping you to:

Create visibility for the great work you’re doing
Attract prospective customers
Engage with existing customers
Generate consistent referrals
Increase your revenue

Many small business owners find it difficult to get amazing business results on these popular platforms.

We’ve invited our friends from Instagram, LinkedIn and Yelp to join us for a hands-on workshop, featuring insider secrets, on how to use the online profiles you already have to meet your goals for 2019.

During this session we will:
Review the basics of optimizing your profile so you can be found easily online
Introduce you to FREE features and tools you may have overlooked
Explain how to use the profiles consistently to create the results you’re looking for
Plan now to join us on Thursday, May 9, 2019, for this hands-on WORKshop!

You don’t want to miss this opportunity to work directly with experts from Instagram, LinkedIn and Yelp! Their experience and insider tips will give you insights that will uplevel your marketing efforts.

Location: Google Community Space

REGISTER HERE

*please note there may be a fee associated with attending this workshop.

Bunker Labs is a nationwide non-profit dedicated to helping military veteran and spouse entrepreneurs build and grow successful businesses. On May 9th, during San Francisco Small Business Week, the Bunker Labs Incubator Cohort will open their doors to the public for their session on Supporting Your Business Model: Pricing, Positioning and Payment options with guest speaker Eric Chan from Chargebee. Feel free to come and chat with our cohort members, the Bunker Labs Leadership team and stop by between 9am-3pm to be a part of the Business Model Session.

Location: WeWork Market Street

REGISTER HERE

One of the most pressing issues for business owners is how to successfully transition their business to the next generation of ownership. This workshop will feature experts in worker and employee ownership and business owners who share their personal stories. It’s never too early to start planning a smooth transition to ensure the long-term future of your business.

REGISTER HERE

Co-sponsorship Authorization #19-0912-17. SBA’s participation in this cosponsored activity is not an endorsement of the views, opinions, products or services of any cosponsor or other person or entity. All SBA programs and services are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis.

Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance. Contact Noah Brod, noah.brod@sba.gov.

Did you know that the federal government is the largest economy in the world, spending half a trillion dollars on goods & services each year, and the state of California ranks number five, just ahead of the UK & France! 

The government purchases nearly EVERYTHING from office supplies to construction services to art instruction services, and everything in between. If your small business sells it, the government probably buys it. Plus, there are special considerations for businesses certified as small, minority-owned, woman-owned, veteran-owned and more. Learn how to make the government your next customer, or learn how to expand your current government customer base at this free workshop series hosted by the Norcal Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). 

Agenda 
8:30 AM – 9:00 AM: Introduction to Government Contracting (Kristina Kunkel, Norcal PTAC Program Director)
Learn the basics of getting started in the government marketplace. 

9:00 AM – 10:00 AM: Government Contracting Panel with DGS, NASA, City & County of SF 
Hear the inside scoop from government agencies and utilities who purchase from small businesses like you. Learn about upcoming forecasts and have a chance to ask questions. 

10:00 AM – 11:00 AM: Why Your Company Should Get Certified (Christina Jones, Norcal PTAC Sr./Lead Procurement Specialist)
A brief overview of the benefits of certifications available for small businesses and businesses owned by women, minorities, veterans, and others.

11:00 AM – 12:00 PM: How to do Business with the Golden State Warriors(tentative)

REGISTER HERE

Co-sponsorship Authorization #19-0912-17. SBA’s participation in this cosponsored activity is not an endorsement of the views, opinions, products or services of any cosponsor or other person or entity. All SBA programs and services are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis.

Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance. Contact Noah Brod, noah.brod@sba.gov.

How do we know that our business ideas are going to create the positive change we want to see in the world? Or that our ideas have a chance of becoming a thriving business that serves our community?

In an environment where the majority of new businesses fail, lean principles aim to give small businesses a better chance of success by helping entrepreneurs learn more quickly what works and discard what doesn’t. As a small business owner, you can use lean practices to test, validate, and adapt your vision, shorten your business development cycle, and measure progress and gain valuable feedback on your products and services.

In this one-day intensive, you will receive valuable training, resources and support to apply lean startup principles and tools in starting a business with positive social, environmental and economic impact. Through a combination of discussions and hands-on activities, you will:

- Learn the build-measure-learn approach that characterizes lean methodology
- Develop hypotheses regarding your business idea and the problem it is solving
- Learn how to test your business idea with potential stakeholders
- Gain a “lean mindset” for building a thriving social enterprise

This workshop is appropriate for anyone who wants to try out lean methodologies to start a new business.

Location: Impact Hub SF

REGISTER HERE