Programs focus on small business support

From conceptualizing a business plan to managing finances, much work goes into owning a small business. Naperville Public Library will show its support for entrepreneurs during its second year of hosting Small Business Week.

In connection with National Small Business Week, the library will present four programs dedicated to small businesses. The first workshop, Raising Venture Capital, will take place from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. May 5 at Nichols Library, 200 W. Jefferson Ave. The session will identify basic requirements to qualify for venture capitalization of a business idea. The workshop, Writing a Business Plan, will take place from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. May 6 at Nichols Library and will guide small business owners in the process of creating a business plan. Managing Cash Flow, which will take place from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. May 7 at Nichols Library, will cover profit and loss as well as explore strategies to speed up a cash-flow cycle. The last workshop from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. May 8 at Nichols Library, Marketing through the Records Information Database, will highlight new features of this long-standing information resource.

“Our goal in Small Business Week is to provide workshops focused on key success activities for small businesses,” Kent Palmer, business librarian, said.  “We also try to connect small business owners with some of the resources available at the library that will support their business pursuits.  This week is all about managing a successful business.”

Experienced business professionals will present the workshops that will focus on specialized areas of owning a business.

“Getting this kind of education for free is really a bonus for any business owner or manager,” Palmer said.  “This kind of education usually comes through the school of hard knocks.  It is much easier to learn these lessons this way than through that other school.”

Later this year, Palmer said the library will host Entrepreneurs’ Week that will focus on starting up a business. For more information, go to Naperville-lib.org.