Small Business Center Series Begins In August
In Asheboro And Archdale

ASHEBORO, N.C.--Small business owners and those aspiring to become one can take advantage of a series of Randolph Community College Small Business Center courses that take you through the process of starting a small business. Thirteen one-session courses will be offered throughout the fall semester on both the Asheboro and Archdale campuses. Participants are encouraged to take all the courses in the order they are offered, but courses may be taken individually. The registration fee is $5 for each class. All classes meet from 6 - 9 p.m.

On Tuesday, Aug. 5, a class called "Am I Cut Out to Be a Small Business Owner?" will be held on the Asheboro Campus. Participants will identify the personal qualities and skills of successful business owners and other factors that contribute to the success of small businesses. In addition, they will assess their current skills and knowledge of small business ownership and develop a learning plan to assist them in growing successful enterprises. The class will be held on the Archdale Campus on Thursday, Aug. 7.

You can develop an understanding of personal budgeting and its relationship to business planning in "Can My Business Idea Support Me?" on Tuesday, Aug. 12, in Asheboro. This class will be held on Thursday, Aug. 14, on the Archdale Campus. Students will identify the kinds of data needed to project the revenue, start-up, and operating costs of a business, and learn break-even analysis as a tool to assist the entrepreneur in measuring financial feasibility.

"Pricing Your Products & Services" will help you identify internal and external factors to consider in setting prices for products and services and learn to estimate potential market share. Business examples demonstrate how to evaluate pricing methods, develop sales forecasts, and measure market potential for products and services. It will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 19, at the Asheboro Campus and on Thursday, Aug. 14, on the Archdale Campus.

"Achieving Sales--A Marketing Plan" will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 26, at the Asheboro Campus and on Thursday, Aug. 28, on the Archdale Campus. This course focuses on the marketing plan and the importance of market analysis in projecting sales. Market research information for a sample business demonstrates the connection between a marketing plan and a cash flow statement. Participants identify market segments and use market segmentation to project sales.

Also in August, but not part of the course series, is a "Notary Public Education" class, which will be held from 9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 16, on the Archdale Campus. This class is required for individuals interested in obtaining a North Carolina commission as a notary public. The purpose of a notary is to prevent fraud and forgery. Learn what you may and may not do as a notary public. Students must be 18 years of age and speak and write English. A textbook is required and will be available for purchase at the first class. The registration fee is $50.

The Small Business Center is also offering a Customer Service Certificate on-line through Ed2Go. Three courses are required for the completion of the certificate: "Overview of Marketing & Sales," "Satisfying Customer Wants & Needs," and "Winning Customer Service Techniques." Ed2Go courses begin each month and run for six weeks. The registration fee for each class is $55. The next classes start on Aug. 6. To learn more, visit www.ed2go.com/rcc2go.

For more information or to preregister for any of these courses, call the Asheboro Campus at (336) 633-0275 or the Archdale Campus at (336) 862-7980.