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Counseling & Education
Smart Start
The Smart Start program was designed for the small business owner who needs assistance in understanding the credit process, separating personal and business finances and preparing themselves to go to a lender. Smart Start targets new business owners who are within 18 months of start-up, and entrepreneurs who are just beginning the process.
The Smart Start workshop is divided into four sections:
Budgeting: Creating Plans
Participants learn how to track, prioritize, and plan spending and asset development. This segment also focuses on the importance of business and personal records and strategies for keeping them separate.
Credit
Participants learn the importance of credit and how it impacts a small business. Time is spent understanding credit reports, and scores and ways to improve one's creditworthiness.
Financing Process
In this section, small business owners work through the financing process, including a feasibility analysis, time line and analyzing resources through the creation of a business plan. Options on various loans available and how to apply are reviewed.
Loan Documentation
Participants review the entire loan proposal and review process.
A highly recommended add-on option to the workshop is a one-on-one credit report counseling session with a CCCSDV Credit Counselor. Small business owners meet with a counselor to review their current credit report and score showing detailed information from the three main credit reporting agencies. During this intensive process, the business owner develops an Action Plan, if necessary, to improve credit score and prepare for the lending process.
We offer the Smart Start workshop in full or we can offer the four sections individually to compliment existing small business programs.
Register for an upcoming public workshop
For information on how CCCSDV can bring Smart Start to your organization, complete our Education Request Form.