A milestone was reached for a group of current and would-be entrepreneurs Wednesday evening. After completing a six-week Small Business Workshop offered by the Greater Stamford Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, they received their Certificate of Training.
We talked about everything concerning how to start a business and build a business plan, said chamber President Agustin Saravia. The workshop was specifically geared toward Hispanics, who may not be familiar with statutory requirements. That was a major emphasis, said Saravia.
People were concerned mostly about the legal aspects, he said, adding that cultural barriers might prevent some from attempting to become business owners. That was something they were really concerned about.
To help break down barriers, experts in a number of fields spoke with workshop participants. In addition to legal issues, topics ranged from preparing taxes to forming an LLC versus a corporation, to writing a business plan to obtaining a loan. Some workshop participants werent certain how to approach a bank, noted Saravia.
They learned about a lot of the things a bank requires before you ask for a loan.
For Andres Martinez, learning how to put together a business plan was one of the most helpful elements of the workshop. A native of Columbia, he came to the United States just recently and is mulling several ideas for a small business.
Im new in this country and wanted to know about the norms and rules, Martinez said through his friend, Ada Acosta, who interpreted for him. How to create a business plan, where to get help to create it and present it to get a loan were all practical business aids he learned during the workshop, Martinez said.
The workshop was presented in collaboration with the Small Business Administration.
Do you own a small business? What was for you the most intimidating aspect of starting or expanding it?
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