Starting, owning and running a small business is a complex process that may seem daunting to entrepreneurial visionaries at any level. There are plenty of great educational resources in Los Angeles that offer small business owners all kinds of tips and information that will not only help you run your business more efficiently, but also help you maximize growth and profit potential. California’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and SCORE Los Angeles are two great organizations that offer free or low-cost workshops geared to help local small business owners succeed. The five workshops below provide a wealth of useful information for both aspiring and existing business owners. Financial Calculations that Answer Key Business Questions (SBDC) July 11, 2017 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. $25 Small business owners are often faced with the responsibly of making key decisions that can have a long-term impact on the financial health of their company. Hosted by Pasadena City College, this SBDC webinar explains how performance measurements, simple mathematical calculations, can be used to answer some key questions. Performance measurements can be used to monitor sales, overhead and profitability. Starting A Small Business (SBDC) July 12, 2017 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Free This California’s Small Business Development Center (CA SBDC) seminar is hosted by Long Beach City College. Essential startup topics are discussed, including researching your business ideas, outlining your business plan, learning about startup expenses and financing, legal aspects, and general management issues. How to Write an Effective Business Plan (SCORE Greater Los Angeles) July 19, 2017 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Pre-register, pre-pay fee is $45 or $60 at the door Having a well-organized business plan can be an essential part of helping your business succeed. SCORE Greater Los Angeles offers this three-hour interactive workshop geared to help business owners develop an effective plan to promote business growth. Key learning targets are achieved via step-by-step exercises. Networking 101 – 15 Second Elevator Pitch (SBDC) July 20, 2017 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Free Now more than ever our attention span has become limited, especially with the advent of the internet. A 15-second sales pitch is what is needed to be able to capture the attention of potential customers. This SBDC workshop will help you create your own elevator pitch and speak it with conviction. Learn how to improve your communication skills with clients and customers, increasing the opportunity for sales. Social Media and Web Marketing Basics (SCORE Greater Los Angeles) July 28, 2017 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Pre-register, pre-pay fee is $45 or $60 at the door Social networking and understanding how to use website tools are extremely important today for the growth of a small business. Propel your business to the next level by learning how to establish a social media strategy, and how to create a strong online profile for your business with this workshop offered by SCORE Greater Los Angeles. The role of a website, the differences among social networking sites and the elements of a successful social media plan are some of the key topics discussed. This article was written for Small Business Pulse For more tips and inspiration for small business owners, visit Small Business Pulse Los Angeles.