Payment Processing

This one-hour webinar is designed for small business owners to learn more about credit card optimization, including reducing fees on credit cards and gifts cards.

Key Takeaways:

Choosing a Processor – What to look for when picking a company to process credit cards.
Visa/MC Interchange – Find out how the processors get charged and how it affects you.
Gift Card Programs – Will setting up a gift card program for your business help? If so, learn how to set one up.
Cash Discounting – Find out how to pass the fees to the cardholder in a way that doesn’t break Visa/MC compliance.
By registering for this seminar, you grant UMW SBDC permission to share your contact information with the speaker.

Speaker(s): Ed Hopper is the CEO of Altor Processing Systems, founded in 1999. In January 2018, he led his company in a new direction. They launched Altor/50 and now donate half of their net profits to over 20 charities. Ed says “We can usually help merchants save money and help charities at the same time. It’s a Win/Win!”

What Small Business Owners Need to Know About ARPA

Speaker Eva Scott will review the Automatic Retirement Plan Act (ARPA) that rolled out on June of 2023. She will discuss how this new regulation will affect small business owners in Virginia. The ARPA amends the IRS code requiring employers to maintain automatic contribution plans for employees.

Key Takeaways:

  • Who is affected by ARPA
  • What choices do you have as a small business owner
  • How the Department of Treasury can pay the credit as a contribution to the retirement account.
  • What is the excise tax imposed on employers if ARPA is not implemented?
  • Can the investment be portable if an employee leaves the job?
  • How to create a lifetime income for your employees in retirement
  • What plans are available and what are the contribution limits
  • What employees are eligible to participate in the retirement plans

By registering for this webinar you are allowing the UMWSBDC to share your information with the speaker of the event.

Speaker(s): Eva Scott is a Financial strategist with 20 years of experience in Financial services. She is a member of NAIFA (National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors) and has worked In the DMV area for the last 10 years with Premier Financial Alliance. Eva enjoys working with business owners and individuals starting their retirement savings journey by designing a suitable and manageable platform of benefit plans and tax free retirement strategies. She also helps retirees move and protect their accumulated savings from TSPs or 401K into safe and predictable accounts where they will not lose value in market downturns as the goal is asset preservation. Top producer in her company in the field of Fixed and Indexed annuities, a solution for market declines at retirement and the assurance of creating a lifetime income you cannot outlive. Eva also works with young families setting up college saving plans that are more flexible have higher returns and utility than the traditional 529 state sponsored plans.

Tax Free Retirement Strategies for Small Business Owners

The Speaker Eva Scott will review the different retirement plans available for entrepreneurs and explain the pros and cons of qualified versus non qualified plans. We will review the options of Saving for retirement with pre tax or after tax contributions and what it will mean in the future. A brief and basic explanation of the impending financial crisis brought on by the exponential growth of the US National Debt. How retirees can be impacted by the combination of bearish markets and increasing taxation. We will discuss the steps and proactive measures Baby Boomers can take to protect their retirement plans from the crush of higher taxes.

Key Takeaways:

The three different retirement buckets and the ideal balance to have in each one of them. Taxable bucket, tax deferred bucket and tax free bucket.
Social Security is a tax coming out of your paycheck now and how to keep it from being taxed in retirement.
How to reach zero tax liability in retirement
How to start saving in a tax free retirement plan? Is the Roth IRA, Roth 401K or LIRP right for you?
By registering for this webinar you are allowing the UMWSBDC to share your information with the speaker of the event.

Speaker(s): Eva Scott is a Financial strategist with 20 years of experience in Financial services. She is a member of NAIFA (National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors) and has worked In the DMV area for the last 10 years with Premier Financial Alliance. Eva enjoys working with business owners and individuals starting their retirement savings journey by designing a suitable and manageable platform of benefit plans and tax free retirement strategies. She also helps retirees move and protect their accumulated savings from TSPs or 401K into safe and predictable accounts where they will not lose value in market downturns as the goal is asset preservation. Top producer in her company in the field of Fixed and Indexed annuities, a solution for market declines at retirement and the assurance of creating a lifetime income you cannot outlive. Eva also works with young families setting up college saving plans that are more flexible have higher returns and utility than the traditional 529 state sponsored plans.

Cybersecurity Training

We will explain the importance of end-user education and share everything you need in order to do it right in 2023!

Speaker: Quiana Gainey, Virginia SBDC Cyber Industry Expert

A confirmation email with the Zoom login information will be sent after registration – a day before before the event – please be on the lookout for it.

The Small Business Guide to Effective Remote Work

Remote work is rapidly becoming the norm for small businesses across industries. With advantages like lower overhead, wider access to talent, improved employee satisfaction, and streamlined workflows, it’s no surprise that remote SMBs are outperforming fully in-person or hybrid companies. But where do you start as a small business owner looking to take advantage of remote work? How can you build a successful remote team and maintain productivity and engagement? Join us for this webinar as we share expert insights and practical tips for running a thriving remote small business. From setting up the right systems and processes to fostering strong communication and collaboration, we’ll cover everything you need to know to build a successful and high-performing remote team. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to take your small business to the next level.

Speaker(s): Tammy Bjelland, CEO Workplaceless

Co-Sponsor(s): Laurel Ridge SBDC

Let’s Talk About the Human Factor in Cybersecurity

Join us as we discuss tips and tricks on how to address insider threats and social engineering!

Speaker: Quiana Gainey, Virginia SBDC Cyber Industry Expert

A confirmation email with the Zoom login information will be sent after registration – a day before before the event – please be on the lookout for it.

,

ChatGPT For Your Business

This is an Live Virtual Workshop. We recommend joining from your computer/laptop for the best experience.

Workshop Description

Join us for a live interactive workshop where will delve into the world of ChatGPT and learn how to leverage its capabilities to build dynamic and engaging conversational experiences.

Through a combination of theoretical knowledge and hands-on practical exercises, you will gain a deep understanding of the:

  • underlying concepts
  • techniques
  • best practices for effectively training and fine-tuning ChatGPT models
  • and more!

Fine Print:

Our workshops, events, and programs are designed with a small business owner in mind. Actionable, sharing of ideas, and takeaways to keep things straight.

The Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce is our fiscal host. The cost of this workshop is directly allocated to Roanoke Regional Small Business Development Center (RRSBDC) programming.

The SBDC reserves the right to cancel a workshop/event/program for insufficient enrollment, weather emergencies, and other unforeseen circumstances. Should a cancellation occur we will use the email you provided to contact you. Pre-registration is highly recommended. If an event is canceled or postponed and you have not pre-registered we will not be able to contact you.

Speaker(s): Jeff Robertson, RRSBDC Team

, ,

Valley Business Summit

Join local business professionals and local and state legislators for the 10th Valley Business Summit, a time to come together to discuss the workforce opportunities and challenges in our area.

This event will feature special guest speaker Virginia Secretary of Labor Bryan Slater, as well as a panel with local delegates.

Agenda: 
8:45- Registration/ Resource Fair Open/ Networking
9:15 – Welcome and Keynote Speaker Secretary Bryan Slater
10:30 – Resource Fair/Networking
11:00 – Feedback Forum with Delegates
Noon – Event Concludes

Arboretum Walk – May Meeting

Native Plant Society will conduct a walking tour of the grounds. No rain date! Check back for cancellation information in case of rain.

Growing Mushrooms – April Meeting

Potluck supper (bring a dish), followed by a presentation by Orv Lehman on mushroom cultivation.