Steamboat Pilot & Today

Steamboat Springs — Ambitious entrepreneurs can learn from the experts during a workshop in Steamboat Springs next month.

The Next Steps Workshop entrepreneurial seminar is meant to help develop entrepreneurial skills. The seminar is from 12:30 to 6 p.m. June 14 and 15 at Colorado Mountain College. The cost is $100, but participants who previously have attended a First Steps seminar receive a $40 credit toward the Next Steps seminar.

Two free First Steps seminars are taking place before the entrepreneurial seminar. The first is from 6:30 to 9 p.m. June 5 at Hayden Town Hall, and the second is 6:30 to 9 p.m. June 7 at Oak Creek Town Hall.

The two-day Next Steps seminar is taught by volunteers with the Yampa Valley chapter of SCORE, a nonprofit organization that counsels potential and existing entrepreneurs.

Participants will learn the fundamentals of small-business management. That includes evaluating business ideas, business plans, financial management, legal organization, insurance, permits, licenses, location, lease terms, financing, measurement tools and adapting to the changing marketplace.

"This program is very informative for start-ups and for recently started businesses," said Randy Rudasics, who oversees the CMC Small Business Resource Center, which is home to about 20 small businesses.

Rudasics also facilitates the local SCORE chapter.

"We are confident we can improve someone's chance of success with attendance," Rudasics said.

A big part of the seminar is helping people figure out whether their business idea has any legs.

The First Steps and Next Steps seminars are organized by CMC, SCORE and the Routt County Business Resource Director.

According to Routt County Business Resource Director Noreen Moore, skills people picked up from the seminars in 2004 created 21 new jobs, 14 companies and projected sales of $5.5 million.

- To reach Matt Stensland, call 871-4210

or e-mail mstensland@steamboatpilot.com