The Dept. of Business Affairs and Consumer Protections (BACP) offers free business education workshops or webinars every Wednesday afternoon and Friday morning. Due to COVID-19, all programs are currently being offered as webinars. Topics include business licensing, operations, financial resources, marketing, and more. Programs are free and open to the public and taught by industry professionals, not-for-profit agencies, and government agencies.
To register visit www.chicago.gov/businesseducation
Wednesday, 9/28 Webinar at 3:00 PM
10 Legal Tips for Small Business
Presented by Lema Khorshid, Fuksa Khorshid, LLC
Running a small business takes a lot of work. Often, a handful of employees fill a variety of roles, meaning that everyone has to bring serious hard work, dedication, self-motivation, and multitasking skills to the table. Amid all this, it can be easy to forget about the legal aspects of running a business. However, attending to these matters sooner rather than later is likely to save you time, stress, and expense in the long run. Join us in this workshop to learn our top 10 legal tips for small business success.
Friday, 9/30 Webinar at 9:30 AM
Instagram for Business 101: How to Create a Cohesive Feed
Presented by Stacey Pitts Caldwell, MBA | Business Coach | Business Meets Real Life™(BMRL)
In this workshop you will learn how to brand yourself, put together a cohesive and fascinating-to-look-at feed and come up with a consistent IG strategy that breeds trust. Instagram engagement for business should be strategic, so this workshop will focus on:
- The 6 areas you need to focus on to create a solid & consistent Instagram presence for your business.
- The most crucial part of your Instagram strategy
- How to quickly and easily develop a recognizable, signature look and style
- The best image editing apps for achieving the look you’re after–plus a look at the ultimate Instagram feed “DONT’s”
- Deciding what, when and how to post content–so it always reaches the right audience, at the right time.
Wednesday, 10/5 Webinar at 3:00 PM
City Inspections - Ask Questions, Get Answers
Presented by the City of Chicago
The Chicago Department of Business Affairs & Consumer Protection, Department of Public Health, and the Department of Buildings will provide insight on how operate a compliant business in the City of Chicago. Topics covered will include how to prepare for inspections, building permits and sign display requirements, food inspection overview and necessary certificates, and zoning review procedures. Learn how to operate safely and avoid common setbacks.
Friday, 10/7 Webinar at 9:30 AM
Grants, Incentives, and FREE Assistance for your Business
Presented by Andrew Fogaty, Executive Director 36Squared Business Incubator
Every year the City, County, State and Federal government spend MILLIONS of dollars to provide grants, incentives and free assistance to Chicago area companies. Was your company one of them?
Come to this FREE informative event and learn how your business can access assistance for everything from building improvement and property acquisition to export assistance and government contracting.
Please email BACPoutreach@cityofchicago.org with any webinar questions.
Reminders and Resources:
Tips to Protect Chicago's Businesses
The City of Chicago is working diligently to ensure that our business community is prepared for the potential for events, large demonstrations, protest activity and civil unrest. You can view the proactive steps businesses can take to stay protected which include signing up for ChiBiz Emergency Alerts, joining Chicago's Public Private Partnership Initiative, and staying alert.
Neighborhood Business Development Centers
Chicago-based chambers of commerce and business support organizations, often referred to as Neighborhood Business Development Centers (NBDC), assist in the development of small businesses in Chicago, serve as liaison between local businesses and the City of Chicago, and provide neighborhood business development services. They have have a strong neighborhood network and coordinate efforts with local aldermen, the City, and other community partners. They can help start-up entrepreneurs and existing business owners. Find your local NBDC by visiting chicago.gov/NBDC.
Business Education Resources:To view upcoming webinars, visit www.chicago.gov/businesseducation
To view past webinars, visit www.YouTube.com/ChicagoBACP