1. DC Women's Business Center Sponsored by: U.S. Small Business Administration Operated by: Business at the Next Level: Starting and Growing Your Business

2. Intro Activity: Your True Colors DC Women's Business Center

3. Who We Are A business development organization that serves women entrepreneurs in the Washington, DC Capital Region. Advocates for the inclusion of women’s businesses in federal procurement opportunities. A network of business connections and services that support the growth of women- owned businesses.

4. DC Women's Business Center Who We Serve Women executives seeking operational, financial, and/or market assistance to grow their businesses. Women entrepreneurs seeking to formalize their business through business planning and operations assistance. There is a particular focus on assisting economically disadvantaged and minority women entrepreneurs.

5. DC Women's Business Center Services Provided Existing Business Business Assessment Business Growth Support through Counseling & Training Access to Capital Mentoring and Networking Opportunities Start-up Business Business Assessment Business Planning Access to Capital Connection to Mentors

6. DC Women's Business Center Starting A Business Inspiration Identified Need or Solution to a Problem Problem + Solution = Opportunity! Research Existing Models and Competition Feasibility Business Planning Company Description Market Analysis Organization & Management Service or Product Line Marketing & Sales Financial Projections

7. Your Words are POWERFUL! DC Women's Business Center Video clip

8. Successful Entrepreneurs Influenced by role models Parents were entrepreneurs

9. Key Characteristics Creativity Developing new ideas and ways to solve problems that provide new or better opportunities and products. DOGGIE WASHERETTE

10. Key Characteristics Creative People Bright Adaptable High self esteem Challenge-oriented Idea-oriented Inquisitive Curious

11. Improve Your Creativity Gather as much information as you can Research Read: Newspapers, Trade Magazines Talk with experts

12. Improve Your Creativity Brainstorm ideas for new improvements and opportunities. Is the solution reasonable? If so, try it! If not, start thinking again. Don’t limit your mind. Don’t give up!

13. DC Women's Business Center Growing A Business Business Assessment What’s working? Where are your current challenges? Increase Capacity Automation (Online payments, banking, registration) Social Media (Marketing, promotion, customer feedback) Hiring (Full-time, part-time, interns, volunteers, virtual assistants) Joint Ventures/Partnerships New Markets Locations, customers, products/services Government Contracting Exporting

14. New Markets: Opportunity from Trends Area of OpportunityThings to Look ForExamples Economic Forces  Spending Patterns  Disposable Income  Economic Climate  Gasbuddy.com to find cheap gas  Jetblue for low cost flights  Designer clothes for Teens with more cash Social Trends  Demographics  Education  Fads and priorities for people  Services for Baby Boomers  Social Networking  Green products  Healthy organic food Technological Advances  Emerging technologies  New uses of established technology  Cell phone Advances  Alternative energies  3D movies and games Political and Regulatory Changes  New laws  Foreign trade rules  Change in government  Products that exceed safety standards  Electronic health records  Tax on internet sales DC Women's Business Center

15. Increase Capacity: Process and Systems Streamline Sales Make your business more efficient with a sales/customer service or other process Delegate Can the business run without you? Efficient Feedback Stay in touch with your clients, partners and team by creating a communication plan Plan Ahead What are you doing today that could/should be done more efficiently when your revenue increases? How do you make that happen faster?

16. Increase Capacity Build your team Mentors Investors Professional Advisors Attorney, Banker, Accountant Friends/Family DC Women's Business Center

17. Building Your Team: Networking Networking is NOT About: Money Finding a job Making a sale Collecting business cards Networking IS About: Connecting with others Establishing community Finding others who share your vision Keep your hands open! DC Women's Business Center

18. Networking: 6 Degrees of Separation Activity Anyone you meet is 6 acquaintances away from someone you know. Write the name of someone you want to meet that could help you grow or promote your business (On the top of the page. THINK BIG!) Pass the papers Write your name on the bottom of the paper if you know the person or someone who knows the person Make a connection! DC Women's Business Center

19. Final Advice: The Most Expensive Real Estate in the World Look for new ideas Keep it simple Start small Try, try, try again! What is the most expensive real estate in the world?

20. DC Women's Business Center Keep in Touch! V kontakte! Samira Cook Gaines Vice President of Business Development Email: scook@ncrc.org Online: www.dcwbc.org, www.ncrc.org Like us on Facebook: The Washington, DC Women’s Business Center Follow on Twitter: @TheDCWBC