First Steps to Starting a Business

Details

Thinking of starting a business but don’t know where to begin?

Join us for one of our upcoming three-part virtual First Steps to Starting a Business classes. Taught by experienced business owners, the sessions will cover the following topics:

  • Coming up with your business idea
  • Prescreening your idea
  • Market research
  • Business feasibility
  • Business model canvas
  • Business plan creation
  • Financing

Participants will receive a variety of materials to help start their business in addition to being introduced to several resources that can help them along the way. 

Sessions will include:

  • Pre-Planning/networking
  • Assessment, personal, financial, timing
  • Business idea generation and development
  • The problem you’re solving, the need you’re providing for?
  • Using benchmark data for business feasibility
  • Business modeling
  • Panel discussion, Q&A​

Registration Information

Registration Fee: The class is offered at no cost, but advanced registration is required. 

2026 Webinar Dates

The three-part workshop sessions will be held the first three Wednesdays of the listed month, from 7 – 8 p.m. Please register for only one month. 

  • ​​January 7, 14, 21​ (Registration has closed for this series.)
  • May 6, 1​3, 20 
  • August 5, 12, 19​ 
  • November 4, 11, 18 (Registration will become available in a few months)​

Advance Course Available

Want to dive in deeper into business concepts that were introduce in First Steps to Starting a Business and move your business forward? Consider our Entrepreneurial Training Program. 
Our in-depth Entrepreneurial Training Progra​m is 9-week program, offered periodically each fall and spring. Visit the Entrepreneurial Training Program page for scheduled dates and additional information. 

Entrepreneurial training program

Program Coordinated by

The Wisconsin SBDC Network is a proud part of the Institute of Business and Entrepreneurship in the Universities of Wisconsin. Funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance. Please contact the SBDC at 715-346-2270 ​or uwspce-sbdc@uwsp.edu

SBDC conferences and training opportunities
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