Take an Online Class today. We are just beginning another semester, and we offer a full cadre of opportunities for online learning through the SBDC and Northland Pioneer College. Our online classes include such offerings as:

SBM 111 Effective Communication Class (3 credits) provides an introduction to effective business communications, writing, oral and intercultural communication
SBM 112 Native American Entrepreneurship (3 credits) introduction to concepts of small business ownership, entrepreneurship and startup issues for small businesses on the reservation
SBM 113 Building Your Winning Business on the Reservation (3 credits) provides training on small business skills and builds business plan, for startup and new businesses on the reservation
SBM 150 Building Your Winning Business Class (1 credit) covers entrepreneurial issues and build an outline for a future business plan
SBM 152 Small Business Management Accounting (2 credits) builds skills in using accounting to successfully manage a small business
SBM 154 Marketing: From Product to Profit (1 credit) understand basic small business marketing
SBM 156 Small Business Legal Issues and Insurance (1 credit) introduces key concepts in law and insurance for small businesses
SBM 157 Team Building for Native American Enterprise (1 credit) introduces key concepts in recruiting, orienting, training and building teams for employment and small businesses
SBM 160 Managing the Company Budget (1 credit) how to use budgeting, report financial results, and plan for the future for a small business
SBM 162 How to write a Business Plan (1 credit) learn skills to writing a quality plan, starting with a feasibility analysis
SBM 164 How to Write a Marketing Plan (1 credit) learn the basics of what a good marketing plan entails
SBM 165 Politics & Tribal Government (1 credit) provides an overview of current tribal issues, common governmental structures, and political realities
SBM 166 Small Business Finance (1 credit) learn how to prepare a financing proposal, sources of loans, and how to work with financial institutions
SBM 167 Budgeting for the Native American Enterprise (1 credit) learn what is required to budget and track performance for small businesses
SBM 169 Native American Grants (1 credit) provides an overview of identification and writing grant applications for Native American projects
SBM 175 Financing for Native American Enterprise (1 credit) Learn what is required to obtain a loan and write a financing proposal for a bank or investor decision
SBM 177 Feasibility Studies (1 credit) learn to identify a product/service and analyze the market and competitive position, focusing on its strengths and market potential
SBM 199 Tax Strategies for Small Business (1 credit) become familiar with tax benefits for various legal structures
SBM 199 Small Business Training Class (3 credits) provides training on small business skills and builds business plan, for startup and new businesses
SBM 199 Home-Based Business Training Class (3 credits) same as Small Business Training Class, but specially for home-based businesses

For more information about how to sign up for a class, go to www.npc.edu or www.npcsbdc.com.

Websites used to be an accessory for most direct mailers, functioning almost like electronic brochures. Sometimes they looked good, but they didn't have a lot to say and most fell well short of what should have been the ultimate goal-sell a product, get a donation and further the customer/donor relationship. Times obviously have changed, radically. People now live part of their lives on the web; they read the news, pay their bills, correspond with friends, book their vacations and buy things, many things, there. They also waste a lot of time surfing, searching and scouring for anything remotely related to their interests at that moment.

Market research can sound intimidating to anyone embarking on a new business venture, especially those technical wizards who understand science but not the art of building a science-based business. As tempting as it might be to hire someone else to do this job, it's probably beyond the reach of most new businesses, which typically operate on a shoestring and - until they secure capital or other funding - consist of the founder and perhaps one or two part- time technical professionals. Most new ventures can't afford to pay a consultant to research the industry in which they plan to work or to delegate the task to an employee.

At the SBDC we often get inquiries from people interested in working from their homes, using their computer, to make an income. The statistics show that there are 64 bogus offerings online for every legitimate offering, so you might get lost in the process trying to find a real business opportunity.

Wall Street Journal lists the ten best, real opportunities for work at home jobs as:
1. Virtual Assistant - check out homewiththekids.com for a listing of ten different types of businesses looking to hire this type of help.
2. Medical Transcriptionist - Involves transcribing notes for doctors or other professionals.
3. Translator - acting as a language intermediary for doctors, lawyers and other businesses.
4. Web Developer / Designer
5. Call Center Representative
6. Tech Support Specialist
7. Travel Agent
8. Online Teacher
9. Writer / Editor
10. Franchise Owner

For more information go to workathomesuccess.com, or contact the SBDC for help with researching an idea that might be right for you.