Opportunities for Growth

Marketing as a small business can feel overwhelming, but this course provides a solid foundation for long-term marketing success. By focusing on your brand identity and marketing strategy first, you’ll ensure that your marketing resonates with your target audience, creates consistency and drives breakthrough results. Plus, it allows you to measure and refine your efforts over time to continuously improve your outcomes.

In this session, you’ll begin by understanding what brand identity is, why it matters, and the essential components that make up your brand “DNA.” Once you have clarity on your brand, we’ll dive into creating a marketing strategy tailored to your business. Key topics include setting clear objectives, identifying your target audience, prioritizing messages, and more. You’ll also learn time-saving tips and AI tricks that will simplify your marketing efforts.

By the end of the session, you will have a brand identity and marketing plan template in hand, leaving you well on your way to effective, results-driven marketing.

Dates: July 15 OR October 28
Times: 9:00am – 12:00 p.m.
Fee: $79
Format: In-Person
Make your payment on our Marketplace

With a 360° perspective, businesses can avoid blind spots and make smarter decisions. This workshop introduces the GrowthWheel® Framework with participants taking home tools, Decision Sheets and 30-60-90 Day Plans.

How can GROWTH 360 help your business?

• Supports the decision making we do every day.
• Supplies a visual toolkit for dialogue, focus, agenda setting, decision-making and action- taking.
• Provides a simple action oriented process to help you grow.
• Stays true to the way most entrepreneurs think and work.
• Helps companies determine which areas to focus on to strengthen and grow their business.
• Gives an alternative to the conventional business plan.

Please note the qualifications and email us if you have any questions:

At least 2 years in business
$50,000 or more in revenue prior year
Owner working full time in business

Dates: Beginning on May 30 OR September 8, 2025
Time: 9:00am – Noon on Fridays (May session), Mondays (Sept session)
  Attendance at all 10 weeks of classes is expected
Fee: $899
Format: In-Person

Register here!
Scholarships may be available.

GROWTH360 (en persona) **Estas sesiones serán co-facilitadas por hablantes nativos de español.

Con una perspectiva de 360°, las empresas pueden evitar puntos ciegos y tomar decisiones más inteligentes. Este taller presenta el Marco GrowthWheel®, y los participantes se llevan a casa herramientas, Hojas de Decisión y Planes de 30, 60 y 90 días.

¿Cómo puede GROWTH 360 ayudar a tu empresa?
Apoya la toma de decisiones que realizamos a diario.
Proporciona un conjunto de herramientas visuales para el diálogo, la concentración, la definición de una agenda, la toma de decisiones y la acción.
Proporciona un proceso sencillo y orientado a la acción para ayudarte a crecer.
Se ajusta a la forma de pensar y trabajar de la mayoría de los emprendedores.
Ayuda a las empresas a determinar en qué áreas centrarse para fortalecer y hacer crecer su negocio.
Ofrece una alternativa al plan de negocios convencional.

Tenga en cuenta los requisitos y contáctenos por correo electrónico si tiene alguna pregunta:

Al menos 2 años de experiencia en el sector
$50,000 o más en ingresos del año anterior
Propietario trabajando a tiempo completo en el sector

Fechas: Comienza el 30 de mayo o el 8 de septiembre de 2025
Horario: De 9:00 a. m. a 12:00 p. m. los viernes (sesión de mayo) y los lunes (sesión de septiembre)
Se requiere asistencia a las 10 semanas de clases
Costo: $899

¡Inscríbase aquí!
Podría haber becas disponibles.

In this 3-part, virtual, training series, you’ll learn how to avoid a common pitfall of entrepreneurship—no customer, no business. You’ll validate your idea through customer discovery and ensure your business concept solves real problems for real, paying customers before investing a lot of time and money.

Entrepreneurs often jump straight into building and branding their business, only to find themselves stuck in the Startup Loop of Despair—facing low sales or market indifference. In “Proof to Profit,” you’ll learn how to gather proof through interviews, surveys, observations, and small experiments. We tap into the wisdom of All in Startup by Diana Kander to learn the how to do customer discovery, prove your concept, and turn it into sustainable profit.

This class is a prerequisite to StartSmart.

Sr. Business Development Consultant, Joel Barrett, leads the course.  He is a serial entrepreneur and business owner. Since 2017, he has coached hundreds of entrepreneurs annually and taught a wide array of training sessions at the SBDC.

Included with the class:

• A digital copy of All In Startup by Diana Kander
• Group discussion and coaching
• Tools and resources to gather proof of concept
• One-on-one business coaching sessions

Session Dates: begins May 20 OR September 2, 2025.
Times: 3:00pm – 6:00pm
Fee: $199
Format: Virtual

Register here!

Learn how to identify key business information that is captured on an income statement and balance sheet in this basic financial class. Participants will learn to calculate several ratios and understand what those ratios mean in terms of business productivity and success. Leave this session with a greater understanding of how to read and interpret financial documents and how to use that information to drive business decisions.

Dates: July 1 OR October 14, 2025
Times: 3:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Fee: $79
Format: Virtual
Make your payment on our Marketplace. 

This series of classes are for those businesses that have the ability to reach well over $1M revenue or, if already there continue the upward trajectory.

This is a very selective opportunity for those that qualify:

• At least $250,000 in revenue in past year
• At least 2 employees with owner working full time in/on business
• At least 2 years in business
• Able to make the commitment to all 17 sessions on Thursdays from 8:30 am to Noon (approximate)

Applications for Cohort 15 (beginning Summer 2025) are now open. 

Cohort 15 begins on August 7, 2025 and runs through November 20, 2025. Deadline for applications is July 18 and decisions will be sent out by July 21.

Apply Here

Every business needs fuel to grow, and funding is one of the most critical ingredients. Whether you’re just starting out or ready to scale, this dynamic course will walk you through a wide range of funding sources to help power your business. Explore traditional options like bank loans and SBA loans, while also diving into alternative solutions such as micro-loans, crowdfunding, investors, and grants.

We’ll break down the 5 C’s of bank lending criteria so you understand exactly what lenders look for when evaluating your loan application. You’ll also discover how to leverage owner investment, credit cards, and other creative funding pathways to meet your capital needs. From determining the right fit for your business to crafting a funding strategy that aligns with your goals, this class equips you with the tools to secure the financial support you need to thrive.

Join us and take the next step toward fueling your entrepreneurial journey!

Dates: July 8 OR October 21, 2025
Times: 3:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Fee: $79
Format: Virtual
Make your payment on our Marketplace

What’s the secret to winning on social media? You need to define the right strategy for your brand, which means you need to know where, when and how to show up for your audience. It’s all about having a good, first impression (so they can find you!) and then consistently creating content that resonates with them (so they stick around for more!).

In this workshop, led by award-winning content marketer Maggie Glenski, you will learn how to determine your brand’s strategy, optimize your profiles and create content efficiently so your brand can start winning on social.

(Part 1) Determining your strategy for social
Before you get on social, you have to know why you’re on it, who you’re trying to reach and where to find them. We’ll dive into:

• Defining your objective
• Knowing your target audience
• Determining the right platforms for you

(Part 2) Optimizing your profile for success
Now that you know your key strategies, let’s make sure you’re showing up on social with a good first impression. Are your Instagram or LinkedIn profiles set up to attract and convert users?

(Part 3) Creating content efficiently
Now that you’re ready to show up, let’s tackle one of the toughest challenges for small businesses – how to consistently post on social when you don’t have a team or plenty of time.

Learn more about our speaker:

Maggie Glenski is an award-winning advertising leader who gained expertise in content strategy and development by managing some of the most memorable brands in the world – Gatorade, Tropicana, Intel, Dannon, ExxonMobil, and Toyota. After working in global ad agencies like VML, BBDO, and Dentsu for 10+ years, Maggie left her job to follow her dreams of being a mom and female founder. Through her company, Wrinkle’s Content Studio, Maggie partners with ambitious, small business founders to grow their brands through high-quality content and strategic thinking that you’d typically see from large agencies, at a fraction of the cost. She’s a content strategist who specializes in helping founders grow with intentional social media, email and blog content.

Date: July 22, OR November 4, 2025
Times: 9:00am – 12:00 p.m.
Fee: $79
Make your payment on our Marketplace

If your early-stage company has just formed a board (or are about to), Startup Boards 101 is designed for you.

This series of three workshops (attendence at all three required) helps entrepreneurs and potential board members understand the whys, whats and hows of early-stage boards.

Those selected founders will have moved beyond the startup stage, will be seriously considering the benefits of an advisory or fiduciary board and will benefit from networking with potential board members.

Spots are limited . Complete the application for consideration as a founder or potential board member.

Dates: August 7, 14 & 21, 2025
Time: 3:00pm – 6:00pm
Fee: $149
Format: In-Person

Make your payment on our Marketplace. 

When you complete the Value Builder Score questionnaire, you’ll get an estimate of value and an overall Value Builder Score out of 100 plus your score on the eight key drivers of value, which when addressed are statistically proven to increase the value of your company.

Whether you want to sell soon or just know you’re building a valuable asset for the future, improving your Value Builder Score gives you an immediate and quantifiable return on investment. In a study of over 70,000 businesses, companies that achieve a Value Builder Score of 80+ (out of a possible 100) go on to sell at a 71% premium compared to average-scoring businesses.

Scaling a business takes more than just growth—it requires a strong, aligned team. As your company expands, it’s easy for team members to lose focus or struggle in the wrong roles. Understanding how your team works best can help you improve productivity, morale, and long-term success.

The Working Genius Assessment is a simple yet powerful tool that helps employees identify their strengths and challenges. Unlike typical personality tests, this assessment focuses 80% on productivity and 20% on personality, giving you clear insights into how each team member contributes. Since no one person excels in all six “geniuses,” teams that use this tool see immediate improvements in efficiency, teamwork, and burnout reduction.

The Missouri SBDC sponsors the Working Genius Workshop, led by a certified facilitator. This engaging session includes:

✔ A 15-minute individual assessment and personalized report
✔ A team map to visualize strengths and gaps
✔ A 90-minute interactive development session (available in person or online)

Our own SBDC team has completed this workshop, and it has transformed how we collaborate, solve problems, and execute ideas.

Date/Time: TBD
Fee: Contingent on team size – contact us for more info!