Kansas City Entrepreneur Classes, Workshops Can Move Your Business to the Top of the Class
Going back to school isn’t just for kids. Now, you too can join the class that will help you get your business started on the right foot.
KCSourceLink’s 230+ Resource Partners offer a variety of free and low-cost sessions and workshops. Whether you want to see if your idea has legs or need to dig into the nitty-gritty of federal contracting, there’s something for you. Read on to find the classes that will help answer your questions and meet your entrepreneurial goals.
UMKC Alumni Association | The Little Desk: Conversations on Entrepreneurship
Who’s it for? Founders who want to explore the entrepreneurial ecosystem and mindset.
What is it? Each session will have a specific topic and speakers:
- Oct 2: The Entrepreneurial Mindset with Dontavious Young, Equal Minded Café
- 9: Navigating the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem with Jameilla Robinson, KCSourceLink
- 16: Design Thinking with James Spikes and Taylor Burris, AI Hub
- 23: Goal Execution with Dan Smith, Porter House KC
- 30: Intentionality Through Entrepreneurship with Shanita McAffee-Bryant, The Prospect
When: Mondays, Oct. 2 – Oct. 30, 6 – 7:30 p.m.
Where: Oct. 2: Equal Minded Café; Oct. 9: Porter House KC; Oct. 16: AI Hub; Oct. 23: UMKC Bloch Executive Hall; Oct. 30: Vine Street Brewing. All locations are in Kansas City, Missouri.
Cost: Free
Missouri SBDC at UMKC | ELEVATIONLAB™ New Venture
Who’s it for? Aspiring entrepreneurs who need to look at all aspects of their business idea.
What is it? This five-week course is fast paced, interactive and fun. The accelerated schedule helps potential entrepreneurs get started on their businesses as soon as possible. Professional business counselors provide coaching and materials include FastTrac and GrowthWheel®.
When: Tuesdays, Oct. 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 and Nov. 7, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Where: Missouri SBDC at UMKC, Kansas City, Missouri
Cost: $649; $150 with scholarship
SCORE KC | Simple Steps for Starting Your Business — Basics
Who’s it for? Aspiring entrepreneurs who want to explore business ownership.
What is it? This workshop will provide an overview of the skills and tools you need to start a business. You’ll learn the advantages and disadvantages of owning a business, as well as the most profitable form for your business. The session will also cover organization, marketing, cash flow and funding sources.
When: Tuesday, Oct. 3, 6 – 8:30 p.m. or Saturday, Nov. 4, 9:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Where: Oct. 3: Kauffman Foundation Conference Center, Kansas City, Missouri; Nov. 4: UMKC Innovation Center, Kansas City, Missouri
Cost: Free
Apply here for Oct. 3. Apply here for Nov. 4.
1 Million Cups Kansas City
Who’s it for? Entrepreneurs who want to connect with other business owners and gain insight on how to improve their ventures.
What is it? Local entrepreneurs give short presentations about their startups to potential partners, mentors and investors. Then, there’s a discussion with feedback and questions. The people presenting and those listening learn about what it takes to build a successful business.
When: Every Tuesday, 9 a.m.
Where: Online and Plexpod Westport Commons, Kansas City, Missouri
Cost: Free
APEX Accelerators | Government Contracting 101
Who’s it for? Entrepreneurs interested in working with the government.
What is it? This session will cover the first steps to winning government contracts. Learn how to get started with federal, state and local government registrations and certifications. After attending this seminar, a business is eligible for services from APEX (formerly Missouri Procurement Technical Assistance Centers).
When: Wednesday, Oct. 4 or Nov. 1, 9 – 10:30 a.m.
Where: Online
Cost: Free
Apply here for Oct. 4. Apply here for Nov. 1.
Keystone Innovation District | Keystone Sessions
Who’s it for? People interested in new ideas.
What is it? This casual meetup features three 45-minute sessions on a wide range of topics. You’ll listen to speakers, engage with panels and meet one-on-one with leaders in the community. The goal is to create a collision of ideas.
When: Every Wednesday, 5 – 8 p.m.
Where: Keystone CoLAB, Kansas City, Missouri
Cost: Free
SCORE KC | Everything HR — for new and existing businesses
Who’s it for? Business owners who need to prepare before making their first hire.
What is it? This session provides workable strategies to manage HR. Topics include when to hire, HR objectives and onboarding. You’ll learn about employee handbooks, discipline, discrimination, payroll, benefits and more.
When: Thursday, Oct. 5, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Where: Kauffman Foundation Conference Center, Kansas City, Missouri
Cost: Free
Square One | Getting Started with Google Business Profile
Who’s it for? Entrepreneurs who want their businesses to get noticed on Google.
What is it? Learn how to amp up your digital presence. This session will cover how to register your business with Google and how to make your business stand out. Utilizing the search engine optimization features on Google will also be covered.
When: Thursday, Oct. 5, 6 – 7 p.m.
Where: Online and Mid-Continent Public Library Withers Branch, Liberty, Missouri
Cost: Free
VetBiz | Activate
Who’s it for? People who have an idea for a small business.
What is it? Jump start your entrepreneurial journey with this virtual cohort. Weekly sessions offer formal instruction from industry leaders and guidance from guest speakers. Topics include cultivating a business mindset, understanding your target customer and small business financial management.
When: Thursdays, Oct. 5, 12, 19, 26 and Nov. 2, 6 – 8 p.m.
Where: Online
Cost: Free
Missouri SBDC at UMKC | Winning Federal Research Grants: SBIR/STTR Workshop
Who’s it for? Entrepreneurs interested in funding for their growing tech businesses.
What is it? This session will introduce the SBIR program for federal research and research development that has the potential for commercialization. You’ll learn about this highly competitive program and how your business could qualify.
When: Tuesday, Oct. 10, 11:30 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Where: Online
Cost: $49
SCORE KC | Franchising: Start a Business – Keep Your Day Job!
Who’s it for? People exploring the options for starting a business.
What is it? Learn about semi-absentee ownership and how to decide if franchising is right for you. This session will provide examples of franchise concepts and recession-resistant and/or essential service models. You’ll learn how to research franchise opportunities and cut through the clutter.
When: Wednesday, Oct. 11, 9 – 11 a.m.
Where: Online
Cost: Free
Kansas SBDC at JCCC | Business Basics in a Day
Who’s it for? Potential entrepreneurs who want to learn how to get started.
What is it? This day-long workshop will cover starting a business from A to Z. Learn how to determine the feasibility of your idea, create a lean canvas and choose a legal entity. The hands-on session will also discuss financial projections, marketing and bookkeeping and include guidance from expert presenters.
When: Thursday, Oct. 12, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Where: Johnson County Community College, Overland Park, Kansas
Cost: $75
Square One| Which Social Media Platform Is Right for Your Business?
Who’s it for? Business owners who want to be smart about social media.
What is it? This workshop will explore the difference between social media platforms and which ones work for different business types. You’ll identify the platform where you should focus your energy and get a good idea of how to move forward.
When: Thursday, Oct. 12, 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Where: Online and Mid-Continent Public Library Withers Branch, Liberty, Missouri
Cost: Free
SCORE KC | Developing Your Online Presence
Who’s it for? Business owners who need to harness the power of the web.
What is it? From branding your business to connecting with customers online, this workshop will help you find the people who need your products. You’ll learn what you need to start or improve a website, the basics of search engine optimization, the basics of social media and more.
When: Wednesday, Oct. 18, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Where: Kauffman Foundation Conference Center, Kansas City, Missouri
Cost: Free
Square One | SEO, Algorithms and Analytics — Oh My
Who’s it for? Entrepreneurs who want to drive traffic to their websites.
What is it? By focusing on search engine optimization (SEO), algorithms and analytics, this session will show how to track website performance. You’ll get hands-on experience with the tools and techniques that can improve your website’s visibility and get more people to your site.
When: Thursday, Oct. 19, 12 – 1 p.m.
Where: Online and Mid-Continent Public Library Colbern Road Branch, Lee’s Summit, Missouri
Cost: Free
Square One | Tracking Money for Your Small Business
Who’s it for? Small business owners who need to get or keep their finances organized.
What is it? This working session will get back to basics. It will cover how to avoid defaulting on payments, make sure you get what you’re owed, and stop unnecessary bank charges. You’ll also learn how to track daily spending and read monthly summary reports.
When: Monday, Oct. 23, 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Where: Online and Mid-Continent Public Library Riverside Branch, Riverside, Missouri
Cost: Free
Kansas SBDC at JCCC | QuickBooks Fundamentals for Online Users
Who’s it for? Beginners who need to set up their accounting the right way.
What is it? This seminar will teach you how to create a chart of your accounts, set up customers and vendors and generate invoices. The class will also cover reconciling accounts, sales tax, financial statements and more.
When: Tuesday and Thursday, Oct. 24 and Oct. 26 or Nov. 7 and Nov. 9, 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Where: Johnson County Community College, Overland Park, Kansas
Cost: $199
Apply here for October. Apply here for November.
SCORE KC | Business Credit
Who’s it for? Entrepreneurs who need capital.
What is it? Whether you’re paying business expenses out of your own pocket or just flat out need more funding, this webinar is for you. Learn how to set up and build your business credit. This session will discuss using business credit as leverage with investors and how to prepare for credit limits.
When: Tuesday, Oct. 24, 6 – 7:30 p.m.
Where: Online
Cost: Free
Square One | Create Your 30-Day Social Media Calendar
Who’s it for? Business owners who have social media but need help with content creation and scheduling.
What is it? Learn how to brainstorm, create and schedule social media content for your business. This class will discuss the difference between content that provides value and content that has a call to action. You’ll brainstorm ideas, then organize and plan content.
When: Tuesday, Oct. 24, 6 – 7:30 p.m.
Where: Online and Mid-Continent Public Library Colbern Road Branch, Lee’s Summit, Missouri
Cost: Free
Missouri SBDC at UMKC | Pitching to Investors
Who’s it for? Entrepreneurs who need to prepare for meeting investors.
What is it? In this workshop, you’ll learn what investors need to know and want to see before providing capital to a business.
When: Thursday, Oct. 26, 4:30 p.m.
Where: Missouri SBDC at UMKC, Kansas City, Missouri
Cost: $49
SCORE KC | Financial Statement Basics
Who’s it for? Small business owners who want to learn about basic financial concepts.
What is it? Use plain language to explore financial concepts. This workshop will discuss profit and loss statements, balance sheets, cash flow statements and how they work together. You’ll also learn about software like QuickBooks and how to track business finances.
When: Saturday, Oct. 28, 9:30 – 11 a.m. or Wednesday, Nov. 29, 6 – 9 p.m.
Where: Oct. 28: UMKC Innovation Center, Kansas City, Missouri; Nov. 29: Kauffman Foundation Conference Center, Kansas City, Missouri
Cost: Free
Apply here for Oct. 28. Apply here for Nov. 29.
SCORE KC | Sources of Funding
Who’s it for? Entrepreneurs who want to explore options for funding their businesses.
What is it? Learn about various sources of funding and the criteria for each. This session will cover traditional sources like bank loans and investors. It will also discuss nontraditional sources like equipment leasing, accounts receivable financing, crowdfunding and more.
When: Saturday, Oct. 28, 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. or Thursday, Nov. 30, 6 – 7:30 p.m.
Where: Oct. 28: UMKC Innovation Center, Kansas City, Missouri; Nov. 30: Kauffman Foundation Conference Center, Kansas City, Missouri
Cost: Free
Apply here for Oct. 28. Apply here for Nov. 30.
SCORE KC | Financial Projections
Who’s it for? People who need to assess their business profitability and establish financial goals.
What is it? Financial projections can help you set goals and stay on track. This workshop will help you understand the process behind balance sheets, income statements and cash flow statements. Learn how these documents fit into a business plan and how they can help if you’re seeking funding.
When: Saturday, Oct. 28, 1 – 3 p.m. or Thursday, Nov. 30, 7:30 – 9 p.m.
Where: Oct. 28: UMKC Innovation Center, Kansas City, Missouri; Nov. 30: Kauffman Foundation Conference Center, Kansas City, Missouri
Cost: Free
Apply here for Oct. 28. Apply here for Nov. 30.
Square One | Growing Your Business with Facebook Groups
Who’s it for? Entrepreneurs who want to take advantage of this free marketing tool.
What is it? Learn how to make Facebook Groups your next big marketing move. This session will cover the difference between Facebook Groups and Facebook Pages. You’ll figure out which type of group will work best for your business and formulate a plan for engaging group members.
When: Monday, Oct. 30, 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Where: Online and Mid-Continent Public Library Colbern Road Branch, Lee’s Summit, Missouri
Cost: Free
SCORE KC | Developing a Web-based Business
Who’s it for? Business owners interested in working with customers from all over the world.
What is it? This class will help you make an informed decision about whether e-commerce is right for your business. Learn how to choose an existing e-commerce site, how to make search engine optimization work for you, and how to determine what payment programs are best for your business.
When: Monday, Oct. 30, 6 – 8:30 p.m.
Where: Kauffman Foundation Conference Center, Kansas City, Missouri
Cost: Free
SCORE KC | Business Planning Tools
Who’s it for? Entrepreneurs who are just starting or businesses adding new products or services.
What is it? Explore the Value Proposition Canvas and Business Model Canvas. These easy-to-use, one-page tools can help you define your business goals and what customer problems you are trying to solve. This info can then help you create a business plan, marketing plan, product development plan and more.
When: Wednesday, Nov. 2, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Where: Kauffman Foundation Conference Center, Kansas City, Missouri
Cost: Free
Missouri SBDC at UMKC | Social Media Mindset: Build Relationships not Clicks!
Who’s it for? Business owners who want to connect with current and prospective customers.
What is it? Learn how to use social media channels to create content that’s more than a passing fancy. In this session, you’ll see how the right content can create not only sales, but lifelong customers.
When: Tuesday, Nov. 7, 5:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Where: Online
Cost: $49
SCORE KC | Polishing Your Business Idea
Who’s it for? Aspiring entrepreneurs who want to know if their idea can work.
What is it? This workshop will provide step-by-step guidance on researching a business idea, the market and the competition. At the end of the session, you’ll be able to identify target markets, describe products or services, and know how to collect information for your feasibility plan.
When: Tuesday, Nov. 7, 6 – 8:30 p.m.
Where: Online
Cost: Free
Missouri SBDC at UMKC Reading and Understanding Financial Statements
Who’s it for? Business owners, managers and consultants who need to know how to turn financial statements into useful management tools.
What is it? This course will show you how to identify key business information in the income statement and balance sheet. You’ll learn how to calculate ratios and understand what they mean in terms of business productivity and success.
When: Tuesday, Nov. 14, 5:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Where: Online
Cost: $49
Kansas SBDC at JCCC | Trademark & Copyright Basics
Who’s it for? Small business owners who want to protect their name, logo and creative works.
What is it? In this workshop, you’ll learn how to safeguard your own trademarks and copyrights while also avoiding infringing upon the rights of others. The attorney leading the session will cover the patent process and provide practical information.
When: Thursday, Nov. 16, 1:30 – 4 p.m.
Where: Johnson County Community College, Overland Park, Kansas
Cost: $30
SCORE KC | Email and CRM (Customer Relationship Management)
Who’s it for? Leaders who want to turn prospects into customers.
What is it? This session will explore the most cost-effective marketing tool: email marketing. Learn how email and CRM work together and how your business can use them to build relationships and increase sales.
When: Monday, Nov. 20, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Where: Kauffman Foundation Conference Center, Kansas City, Missouri
Cost: Free
Kansas SBDC at JCCC | IRS Small Business Tax Workshop
Who’s it for? New business owners who need to understand tax basics.
What is it? A CPA will guide this class, covering topics like business use of the home, self-employment tax, payroll taxes and electronic filing. You’ll also learn the record-keeping requirements for business expenses and vehicle use.
When: Wednesday, Nov. 29, 1 – 5 p.m.
Where: Johnson County Community College, Overland Park, Kansas
Cost: $45
Kansas SBDC at JCCC | QuickBooks Fundamentals for Desktop Users
Who’s it for? Beginners who need to set up their accounting the right way.
What is it? This seminar will teach you how to create a chart of your accounts, set up customers and vendors and generate invoices. The class will also cover reconciling accounts, sales tax, financial statements and more.
When: Tuesday and Thursday, Nov. 28 and Nov. 30, 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Where: Johnson County Community College, Overland Park, Kansas
Cost: $199
More resources for KC small businesses
Kansas City is full of people, events and organizations that want to help you meet your business goals. And you can find them all at KCSourceLink. Discover all the tools and know-how you need, right here:
- Classes & Events Calendar: This ever-expanding list includes all the area happenings for KC entrepreneurs.
- Personal Action Plan: Get a customized to-do list to help you research and open your venture. Our Network Navigators will create this priceless resource for you — for free.
- Resource Navigator: This tool includes 230+ organizations that can help you meet the people, gain the skills and get the funding your business needs.
