FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
THURSDAY, APRIL 8, 2004

CONTACT: Steve Dolan
(619) 594-5664
sdolan@mail.sdsu.edu

SAN DIEGO, Thursday, April 8, 2004 - Do you have aspirations of being your own boss? Do you already own a small retail business and need help in making it grow?

You can learn the business skills you need to start or expand your retail business by taking some of the Extension Courses offered by San Diego State University's College of Extended Studies.

One such class is How to Start and Manage a Small Business. Topics will include the business plan - what it is, why you need it, and how to prepare it; market research techniques and resources that will help your business grow. You'll also learn how to finance your business, sources of capital, debt, equity, and bootstrap techniques.

The course additionally covers legal issues including business structure; intellectual property including copyrights, trademarks, and patents; insurance, licenses, and permits. One field trip to the Small Business Administration Business Resource Center will allow you to test your idea and research the industry and competition.

At the conclusion of the class, you will have two hours of one-on-one counseling at the Small Business Development and International Trade Center where you will have access to CPAs, and legal and marketing experts to follow-up and implement or refine your strategy to open a retail business.

You can learn how to become an importer in a one-day seminar titled Importing as a Small Business, which is highly rated for the instructor's experience, pace, candor and humor. You will be guided through licensing, selecting products, finding suppliers, working with governments, bankers, brokers, and carriers, plus financing, costing and pricing, and gaining orders for your products.

This knowledge can become the basis for an export business as well. Travel! Work out of your home to start! Free post-seminar assistance via e-mail with the instructor and past students is included.

If you own a small retail business, there are also accounting basics you need to know.

In the seminar on The Basics of Small Business Bookkeeping, you will learn how easy record keeping can be, plus minimize your tax liability with sound, simplified record keeping. This class will show you how, where, and when to begin a bookkeeping system, learn what systems are available, which work best, and where to buy them. Topics discussed include how to keep track of cash receipts, income, debts, billing statements, cash disbursements, expenses, and age analysis of money owed to you.

General business tips are covered to make your tax records easier to maintain. Whether you are just starting a retail business or are already established, you will benefit from this seminar.

The Tax Workshop for the Small Business Owner is another valuable seminar. Whether you're beginning a business, currently own or run a small business, or even if your business tax returns are done by an outside professional, you should learn which tax options are available to you. A simplified small business tax return will be explained. Additional topics include tax forms, self-employment tax/estimated tax, expense deductions, depreciation, new tax law highlights, and record keeping methods.

SDSU's College of Extended Studies offers a wide variety of lifelong learning classes, seminars, and certificate programs. Career advancement courses are offered in many areas of management, leadership, and quality improvement while self-enrichment courses range from astronomy to web design. Additionally, the College offers over 25 certificate programs, online courses, and many other learning opportunities. For more information on the cutting-edge opportunities offered in the retail industry, or other programs, visit the College's Web site at www.NeverStopLearning.net.