Starting A Business Classes

Discovering Your Side-Hustle

A side-hustle, or business you operate on the side while working full-time at another job, may be a good way to supplement your income. This free class covers some important things to consider while discovering what side-hustle will be the best fit for you.

Upcoming Dates
January 30, 6 pm – 7 pm at Meridian Technology Center Stillwater – Center for Business Development. Cost: $0 (Free).

Classes are held in-person. To register, click here.
Questions? Contact us at 405.377.2220 or email BES@meridiantech.edu

Starting Your Business

In this free class for entrepreneurs, we cover the 7 basic questions you need to answer when deciding to open a business, paying particular attention to market research and financials, two significant areas that cause trouble for all new businesses.

Classes are added regularly; check back with us – or send us an email and we can add you to our list (be sure to state which community you are in!)

Upcoming Dates
February 8, 1 pm – 3 pm at Meridian Technology Center Stillwater – Center for Business Development. Cost: $0 (Free).
March 4, 6 pm – 8 pm at Meridian Technology Center Perry Classroom. Cost: $0 (free).
March 6, 6 pm – 8 pm at South Division Campus, Guthrie – the Peak. Cost. Cost: $0 (free).

Classes are held in-person. To register, click here.
Questions? Contact us at 405.377.2220 or email BES@meridiantech.edu

Small Business Training Classes

Retailing Workshop

Join our hands-on retailing workshop designed for local small business owners to master essential retail skills. Topics include optimizing store hours, enhancing marketing and signage, improving customer service, and effective selling strategies. Perfect for building a strong foundation to attract and retain customers! (Coffee and donuts provided)

December 5, 10:00 am – 11:30 am at South Division Campus, Guthrie – the Peak. Cost: $0 (free).

Classes are held in-person. To register, click here.
Questions? Contact us at 405.377.2220 or email BES@meridiantech.edu

Social Media Marketing

This workshop focusses on improving social media marketing strategies for local retailers. We will discuss selecting the best social media platforms, creating campaign plan, and identifying metrics to evaluate campaign results. Our instructor is Dr. June Park, from OSU Design & Merchandising Department

December 11, 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm at Meridian Technology Center Stillwater – Center for Business Development. Cost: $0 (free).

Classes are held in-person. To register, click here.
Questions? Contact us at 405.377.2220 or email BES@meridiantech.edu

Valuing and Selling Your Business

Learn how to assess your business’s true value in this course. Business owners will explore essential steps in valuation, from gathering key documents to understanding factors that affect worth. Gain the knowledge needed to make informed decisions and prepare for growth, investment or sale. This course is ideal for small business owners looking to understand and enhance the value of their business.

January 22, 11:30 am – 1:00 pm at Meridian Technology Center Stillwater – Center for Business Development. Cost: $25 (Lunch Included).

Classes are held in-person. To register, click here.
Questions? Contact us at 405.377.2220 or email BES@meridiantech.edu

Essential Marketing for Small Business

Explore essential marketing strategies tailored for small business, focusing on cost-effective methods to boost visibility and drive growth. This class covers digital marketing, guerilla marketing, social media and customer engagement tools.

January 28, 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm at Meridian Technology Center Stillwater – Center for Business Development. Cost: $15.
February 19, 11:45 am – 1:00 pm at South Division Campus, Guthrie – the Peak. Cost: $25 (Lunch Included).

Classes are held in-person. To register, click here.
Questions? Contact us at 405.377.2220 or email BES@meridiantech.edu

Financial Basics for Small Business

Learn fundamental financial principles essential for managing and growing a small business, including budgeting, financial statements, and cash flow management. This course provides practical tools and knowledge to help entrepreneurs make informed financial decisions and ensure long-term success.

February 11, 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm at Meridian Technology Center Stillwater – Center for Business Development. Cost: $15.
March 12, 11:45 am – 1:00 pm at South Division Campus, Guthrie – the Peak. Cost: $25 (Lunch Included).

Classes are held in-person. To register, click here.
Questions? Contact us at 405.377.2220 or email BES@meridiantech.edu

HR Basics Series:

Discover the importance of a structured hiring process and how to cultivate a dynamic and cohesive business team. Each class may be taken separately or together.

HR Basics: Building Your High Performance Team
Discover the importance of a structed hiring process and learn best practices for interviewing, onboarding and managing employment paperwork.
March 26, 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm at South Division Campus, Guthrie – the Peak. Cost: $15.

HR Basics: Managing Your High Performance Team
Discover the essential principles of cultivating a dynamic and cohesive business team, emphasizing strategies for employee retention, performance management, and team-building.
April 2, 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm at South Division Campus, Guthrie – the Peak. Cost: $15.

Classes are held in-person. To register, click here.
Questions? Contact us at 405.377.2220 or email BES@meridiantech.edu

 

 

Links to Additional Resources
Grow with Google Startup
How to write a business plan in under an hour from Liveplan.com