Tuesday, August 17, 2021:  12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.

--- CLASS WILL BE HELD VIA ZOOM. ZOOM INFORMATION WILL BE EMAILED TO REGISTRANTS PRIOR TO CLASS START TIME ---

In this introductory workshop, learn the basic steps to starting your business, plus get tools and resources for in-depth training on what you "didn't know you needed to know" about business, including the opportunity to connect with business counselors from the City of Los Angeles BusinessSource Centers.

Class covers:

• Developing a business idea and writing a business plan
• Identifying a market and reaching customers/clients
• The elevator pitch: Uncovering your unique selling proposition, connecting emotionally with potential clients, and creating a first impression that leads to success
• Obtaining proper licenses and permits, and complying with tax requirements
• Funding your business – including funding opportunities available for business affected by COVID-19
• Exercising your legal rights and avoiding common legal issues

Participants are encouraged to join by video as class may involve sharing of visual information and writings, participation via the chat function, and the opportunity to interact with others. Virtual networking reception to follow class.

Presented by: Michael Chavez and Lai Xu with the support of Hollywood Business Source, Angelica Urquijo of The Imagen Group, and Ryan Metheny:

Michael Chavez is the Program Specialist at the City of Los Angeles Business Source Center – Hollywood Region. There he has helped launch and fund numerous businesses in the greater Los Angeles Area by providing free services to anyone looking to start or grow their business in Los Angeles. These services include: help with permits and licenses, educational workshops, access to capital, financial planning/restructuring, profitability analysis, S.W.O.T analysis, and loan packaging. Within the past year alone, the Hollywood Business Source Center has sourced over $4,000,000 in commercial lending to small businesses in Los Angeles. The Center has also created 112 new jobs in the City of Los Angeles as a direct result of the services they provided, and was also responsible for helping to preserve 14 jobs that Los Angeles was in danger of losing this past year.

Lai Xu is one of the Business Consultants at the Los Angeles Business Source Center – Hollywood Region. He holds an MS in Financial Risk Management from University of Connecticut along with a BBA in Finance and Risk Management and an Insurance Certificate from University of Iowa. With a strong knowledge base of both finance and financial risk management systems, Lai has been responsible for identifying options for clients and suggesting recommendations for change, as well as helping with additional resources to implement solutions. As a recent example, Lai assisted two startup clients with getting a $125,000 working capital loan and acquiring needed inventory backup for their Los Angeles-based business developing board games.

Angelica Urquijo is the principal of The Imagen Group. After serving as a news anchor for 10 years, she now works to provide visibility solutions for companies that want to engage, persuade and mobilize consumers through Passion Branding.

Ryan Metheny is the Managing Librarian, Legal Education at LA Law Library. After graduating from UCLA School of Law, Ryan practiced First Amendment law at a public interest firm in Berkeley. He transitioned to librarianship to focus on his passions of research and education, and earned a master's degree in library and information science from the University of Washington. When not on the reference desk, Ryan coordinates the educational programming at the law library, the law student internship program, and the Members Program. He also teaches legal research at the University of Southern California Gould School of Law.

Registration fees: FREE - sponsored by the Friends of the Los Angeles County Law Library through the generous support of Pacific Western Bank.
Classes fill up fast, register today to reserve your seat! All registrants must check-in 10 minutes prior to class time to ensure your seat is not reassigned to waiting-list and walk-in attendees when classes are full.

Photography / Videography:
If you register for this class, you may be photographed or recorded. By registering for this class you are giving the LA Law Library your consent to photograph, videotape, record and broadcast your picture, likeness, voice and statements.  

No legal advice:
LA Law Library does not provide legal advice. LA Law Library provides legal resources and assistance with legal research as an educational service. The Law Library is pleased to offer our patrons the opportunity to obtain assistance from third party legal service providers at this and other events within the Library. However, the Library does not control and is not responsible for the content or scope of any assistance given by those providers.