Atlanta Small Business Conference Set For March

ATLANTA - Startup businesses were responsible for sixty percent of all new jobs created in 2009, according to a recent article in Entrepreneur Magazine. Finding financing for a new business is one of an owner’s biggest headaches and is likely to be more challenging in the years ahead.

Now, small business owners and prospective entrepreneurs can gain insight into the best ways to manage finances and fund their enterprises at the “Stepping Up To Business” Conference in Atlanta, Wednesday, March 16, 2011 at the Cobb Galleria Centre. Early conference registration is $90.00 before January 31, 2011 and $100.00 afterwards.

The conference is organized by Small Business Finance Institute (SBFI), a new non-profit organization based in Atlanta. The day-long educational event will offer an unprecedented opportunity for entrepreneurs to learn about business financing from experts in banking, finance and accounting.

The full-day of education will feature seasoned speakers, workshops, resource materials, a financing panel discussion and one-on-one business counseling. “Participants will learn best practices for presenting deals to funders with a well-written business plan, and insights into how lenders and investors evaluate a business proposal,” said SBFI Executive Director Charles H. Green. “They will learn to better understand financial statements and cash flow planning. They’ll come away with proven strategies to find funding sources, including angel investors, SBA loans, working capital lines of credit and micro loans”, Green continued.

Workshop participants will learn specific financial skills, such as cash flow planning, how to build a successful loan proposal, the best loan acquisition strategies, and how to start a business with little or no money.

In a networking session, business owners will meet one-on-one with lenders, financiers and investors.

The Conference agenda and registration information are available at www.SBFI.org/registration or email Registration@SBFI.org.

The seminar organizer, The Small Business Finance Institute, is a non-profit business education enterprise with the mission to empower and educate entrepreneurs to create jobs, improve communities, and change lives through enterprise, with better financial management and access to funding. SBFI was founded by veteran Atlanta banker Charles H. Green, former president of Sunrise Bank of Atlanta and author of the bestseller, The SBA Loan Book (Adams Media).

Conference partners include GA Dept. of Economic Development, GA SBDC Network, GA Micro Enterprise Network, Atlanta Development Authority, Atlanta Urban League, Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, SCORE, The Edge Connection, DeKalb County Chamber of Commerce, South Fulton Chamber of Commerce, Clayton County Chamber of Commerce, ACCION, GA Lenders Quality Circle and Asian American Chamber of Commerce.