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Course Catalog

SoMa      Bayview      East Palo Alto      Redwood City      Richmond     Daly City

2012 Renaissance SOMA Course Catalog                               

Orientation: Kickstart Your Small Business

This workshop helps prepare attendees to embark on the journey of entrepreneurship. Topics covered include the 7 key factors for business success, common misconceptions of owning a small business, local resources and the full services Renaissance provides to help small businesses get going and growing.

Fee: Free
Instructor: Program Staff
Course Length: 1.5hrs
Frequency of Course: Offered one or two times a month on either Monday or Wednesday from 12-2:30pm or 6-7:30pm                                                                                                                                                 

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Start Smart

In this action oriented, two session class, clients will develop the tools that will result in a one page preliminary business plan by clarifying a business vision, creating a business mission, identifying objectives and developing a business strategy.

Fee: $60 (financial assistance available)
Instructor: Vaneese Johnson
Course Length: 2 sessions, 3 hours per session, plus an optional additional consulting session
Frequency of Course: Offered four times a year on Thursdays from 9:30am-12:30pm or 6-9pm

Business Planning Class*

This 14-week Business Planning Class addresses every aspect of starting and developing a small business including marketing, management, operations, finance, and record keeping. The program includes individual consultations, excel classes, financial coaching and a business plan review session.

Fee: $375-$750 (financial assistance available)
Instructors: Paul Terry, Claudio Miranda and others
Course Length: 14 weeks, 2 sessions per week, 3 hours per session
Frequency of Course: Offered four times a year on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:30am-12:30pm or 6-9pm
*All applicants must fill out a Business Planning Application

Start Your Own Fashion Business

This 5-session class provides an overview of business development and is specific to the fashion sector. It includes training on defining price points, testing and troubleshooting business strategies, choosing manufacturers, and techniques to sell products and conduct a SWOT Analysis. Clients will complete the class with a preliminary business plan.

Fee: $120
Instructor: Julie Arvan
Course Length: 5 sessions, 3 hours per session
Frequency of Course: Offered twice a year on Wednesdays from 6-9pm

QuickBooks (Advanced Finance)

This 3-part course is designed to train small business owners in how to set-up a company file in QuickBooks and manage the day to day tasks required to successfully run a business.

Fee: $60
Instructor: Mike Doherty
Course Length: 3 sessions, 3 hours per session
Frequency of Course: Offered twice a year on Mondays from 6-9pm

Advanced Marketing

This 6-part online marketing course covers website optimization, search engine optimization and social media marketing. Clients will learn techniques and tools to drive traffic to their websites, get their businesses listed above larger companies and how to use Facebook, Twitter, Yelp and other social media outlets to grow their businesses.

Fee:  $60 for each 2-part workshop
Instructor: Claudio Miranda
Course Length: 3 two-part workshops, 3 hours per session
Frequency of Course: Offered twice a year on Monday or Wednesday from 6-9pm

Legal Series

Legal workshops include topics such as Intellectual Property, Independent Contractor Agreements, Contract Negotiations, Basic Commercial Law for Retailers, Before You Sign That Lease, Business Law Fundamentals, Managing the Legal Risk of a Multiple Owner Small Business, Legal Structures for Our New Economy and Protecting Your Good Name among others.

Fee: Free
Instructor: The San Francisco Community Business Law Center
Course Length: 2hrs
Frequency of Course: Once a month on Wednesdays from 12-2pm

Incubator

A supportive dynamic entrepreneurial community designed to help the growth and development of emerging small businesses.

Services include:
• Individual offices and cubicles
• Shared conference and meeting rooms
• Internet connection
• Reception services
• Underground parking (extra fee)
• Great location in SoMa
• Business management services
• Monthly consultations with experts in finance, sales, marketing, and intensive strategic growth services
• Monthly small business training workshops and peer luncheons
• Access to business opportunities

Fee: $250-$650 (price dependent upon location, square footage, and financial need)
*All applicants must fill out an incubator application

Virtual Incubator Program (VIP)*

A month-to-month program that offers access to supportive services helping to jumpstart new businesses.

Services include:
• Personalized monthly consultations
• Access to a conference room and large classroom for meetings and/or presentations
• Free enrollment for all Renaissance skill-building workshops
• Access to Renaissance's small business network resources

Fee: $75-$150 (based on financial need)
Consultant: Various consultants (including Paul Terry, Gwendolyn Wright and others based on client need)
Course Length: Month to month program
Frequency of Course: Ongoing
*All applicants must fill out a VIP application.

Financial Resource Center

Free one-on-one consulting to help business owners understand their growth options, loan packaging and access to small business loans from banks, nonprofit loan funds and private sources. Loans range from $5,000 - $250,000.

Fee: Free
Consultant: Gwendolyn Wright
Office Hours: Wednesdays and Thursdays
Contact: 415.348.6222 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Contact Information for Program Staff

Paula Connelly
Program Manager, Women's Business Center Director
415.348.6248
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Antoinette Sanchez
Program Coordinator
415.348.6212
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Jasmine Williams
Program Assistant
415.348.6227
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2012 Renaissance Bayview Course Catalog

Business Basics

Ten sessions, intense, business planning class helps participants determine whether their business idea is feasible and has the potential to meet their personal and business goals.  Participants begin building their business plan and learn the fundamentals of marketing, operations, and finance. Based on market analysis, operational plans, and financial projections, they will decide if their business idea has potential for success.

Fee:  $35.00
Instructor:  Program Staff
Course Length:  10 sessions, 3 hour per sessions
Frequency of Course:  Offered three times a year on Monday’s and Thursday’s from 6:00pm-9:00pm

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Finance:  Tracking your Expenses

For semi-experienced Excel users and graduates of Technology 201 and 202.  Fee:  $5.00.  Students learn to use Excel to track and project expenses.  Learn how to create formulas and format data for printing.

Fee: Free
Instructor:  Program Staff
Course Length:  1 session, 2 hour session
Frequency of Course:  Offered four times a year from 6:00pm-8:00pm

Finance 101 & 102

This workshop will help you better understand financial terms, learn three categories of business expenses, understand the value of a Profit and Loss statement, and learning the components of a  Profit and Loss statement.

Fee: Free
Instructor:  Program Staff
Course Length:  2 sessions, 2 hour sessions
Frequency of Course:  Offered four times a year from 6:00pm-8:00pm 

Get Organized

Do you want to save time, money, and be more effective in your small business?  Learn how by getting more organized!  Our organizing expert will teach you effective ways of managing your paper, your “stuff,” and your time, to maximize your productivity and professionalism.

Fee: Free
Instructor:  Program Staff
Course Length:  1 session, 2 hour session
Frequency of Course:  Offered four times a year from 6:00pm-8:00pm

Getting Your Business Certified

This two hour workshop will help you to understand the different business certifications there are for business owners. Come and learn how to get certified through San Francisco Redevelopment Agency and Human Rights Commission and other agencies.

Fee: Free
Instructor:  Program Staff
Course Length:  1 session, 2 hour session
Frequency of Course:  Offered four times a year from 6:00pm-8:00pm

Launching Your Own Business

This workshop helps prepare attendees to embark on the journey of entrepreneurship.  Topics covered include the 7 key factors for business success, common misconceptions of owning a small business, local resources and the full services Renaissance provides to help small businesses get going and growing.

Fee:  Free
Instructor:  Program Staff
Course Length:  2.0 hrs
Frequency of Course:  Offered one or two times a month on Monday from 6:00-8:00pm

QuickBooks Pro I, II and III

This 3-part course is designed to train small business owners in how to set-up a company file in QuickBooks and manage the day to day tasks required to successfully run a business.
This 3-part consecutive 3 hour classes. In this hands-on workshop you will learn how to set up a company in QuickBooks, how to select the best version of QuickBooks for your business, how to manage all regular ongoing bookkeeping tasks, and also how to customize and optimize QuickBooks for your own use.

Fee:  $60.00
Instructor:  Program Staff
Course Length:  3 sessions, 3 hour per sessions
Frequency of Course:  Offered twice a year on Wednesday from 6:00pm-9:00pm

Renaissance IDA, I, II, III

Find out how to build assets and get two dollars for every dollar you save.  This orientation and its follow-on financial management workshops will show you how to be the primary investor in your dream business by building assets.

Fee:  Free
Instructor:  Program Staff
Course Length:  3 sessions, 3 hour per sessions
Frequency of Course:  Offered four times a year on Wednesdays from 6:00pm-9:00pm

Start and Grow Smart

In this action oriented, two session class, clients will develop the tools that will result in a one page preliminary business plan by clarifying a business vision, creating a business mission, identifying objectives and developing a business strategy.

Fee:  $25.00
Instructor:  Program Staff
Course Length:  2 sessions, 3 hours per session, plus an optional additional consulting session
Frequency of Course:  Offered four times a year on Thursdays from 6:00pm-9:00pm

Technology 201 and 202 

For the first-time user.  Introductory workshop for first-time computer users.  Covers accessing Word, Excel and the Internet.  Entrepreneurs will learn about common programs and how to create, save and edit business correspondence.

Fee: Free
Instructor:  Program Staff
Course Length:  1 session, 2 hour session
Frequency of Course:  Offered four times a year from 6:00pm-8:00pm

The Keys to Achieving Your Goals

Succeeding in business begins with succeeding at who you are being.  How do you show up everyday for yourself and the people around you?  Do the people and things around you support where you want to go?  The Keys to Achieving Your Goals class reveals the 7 vital steps you need to know for personal and business success.

Special Programs: Contractor’s Series 

This Series will cover the basic theories of Blue Print reading and analysis; in order to complete an acceptable estimate.  Then focus on the basic disciplines of Construction Scheduling.  Take all or one of these hands on workshops, and come away with a better understanding on how to land that construction job; through tighter numbers and clearer proposals.Incubator
A supportive dynamic entrepreneurial community designed to help the growth and development of emerging small businesses.Services include:
•    Individual offices and cubicles
•    Shared conference and meeting rooms
•    Internet connection
•    Reception services Fee:  $50-$500
*All applicants must fill out a BAC application

Contact Information for Program Staff

 

James Moore
Third Street Cooridor Manager
(415) 647-3728 ext.6411

 

Yamilet Gonzalez
Program Assistant
(415) 647-3728 ext.3728

 

 

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2012 Renaissance Mid-Peninsula Course Catalog

Launch Your Successful Business (Redwood City & Daly City only)

This brief introduction to the collaborative learning process utilized by Renaissance.  It is also an orientation to the services offered by Renaissance on the Mid-Peninsula.  The class presents the challenges of entrepreneurship and several key factors of successful business owners as well as several useful tools to help participants assess their business ideas.  Offered in English and Spanish. 

Fee: Free
Instructors: Georgina Peraza, Carlina Davila 
Course Length:  1 session, 2 hours Frequency: 
Varies by location, check calendar                                                                                                                    

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Personal Business Readiness

Personal Business Readiness (PBR) is intended to help participants decide whether business ownership is right for them at this point in their careers. In two, 3-hour sessions, the course paints a realistic picture of what it takes to start a business and helps participants assess their personal skills/assets and understand the risks and rewards of entrepreneurship. Offered in English and Spanish.

Fee: Free
Instructors: Georgina Peraza, Vaneese Johnson, Carlina Davila 
Course Length:  2 sessions, 6 hours Frequency: 
Varies by location, check calendar

Start and Grow Smart 

In two 3-hour sessions, participants plan the launch or expansion of their businesses at their own pace. Course objectives include creating mission and vision statements, crafting goals as well as strategies to achieve them and an action plan to launch or expand businesses.  Optional group follow-up sessions and individualized consulting for business owners are designed to support clients throughout the process of starting and/or growing. Offered in English and Spanish.

Fee: $60 (scholarships available, based on income)
Instructors: Vaneese Johnson, Carlina Davila, Kim Carlton, Mayra Mizrachi
Course Length:  2 sessions, 6 hours Frequency: 
Varies by location, check calendar

Business Preparation

This course is designed to test the feasibility of clients’ businesses/ideas for business. Participants are prepared to write business plans by learning the fundamentals of marketing, operations and finance in 3 hour sessions. Based on market analysis, operational plans and financial projections, they decide if their business or idea has potential for success. Enrollment requires a clearly defined business or concept and staff approval. Offered in English and Spanish.

Fee: $25 (scholarships available, based on income) 
Instructors: Carlina Davila, Kim Carlton, Mayra Mizrachi
Course Length:  8 sessions, 24 hours Frequency: 
Varies by location, check calendar

Business Implementation (East Palo Alto only)

In this course, small groups of entrepreneurs meet weekly for 3-hours a facilitator to take steps towards launching or growing their businesses. Participants complete their business plans by creating sales and marketing plans, detailed financial projections and an implementation plan. Participants also attend sessions focused on different and vital aspects of launching a business. Enrollment requires completion Business Planning or that client be working for him/herself and staff approval.  Offered in English and Spanish.

Fee: $25 (scholarships available, based on income) 
Instructors: Carlina Davila, Vaneese Johnson
Course Length:  6 sessions, 18 hours Frequency: 
Varies by location, check calendar

Contact Information for Program Staff

Luis Vizcardo
Program Coordinator, Spanish
(650) 321-2193 ext.14

Ty Pittman
Program Coordinator
(650) 321-2193 ext.11

Tim Russell
Program Coordinator
(650) 321-2193 ext.10

Joel Valencia
Program Assistant
(650) 248-5300

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Classes & Workshops - All Locations