Are you thinking about starting your own business, but you’re just not sure where to begin? Starting one’s own business can be a daunting task, for sure. There are many resources available to assist you in the process — even in our local area, but finding them can be an overwhelming task.

Franklin Southampton Economic Development Inc., in pleased to announce we will be partnering with Chris Zobel, Senior Area Manager with the U.S. Small Business Administration (Hampton Roads Region) to bring a brand new start-up training course aptly entitled Basic Training for Entrepreneurs to our area.

Zobel has assisted in developing the brand new 8-hour training course designed to help aspiring entrepreneurs successfully navigate the path to owning his or her own business. We invite aspiring entrepreneurs — and, even current entrepreneurs — to join us at the Franklin Business Incubator on Monday, Sept. 21, and Tuesday, Sept. 22, from 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. to learn how you can make the start-up process a bit easier.

On the first day of the workshop, Zobel will discuss the meaning of entrepreneurship and the personality traits of an entrepreneur; the entrepreneurial process of taking an idea to conception; the importance of understanding one’s markets and own competitive space; and, the economics of small business start-ups.

On the second day of the workshop, Zobel will help aspiring entrepreneurs to drill a bit deeper in helping them to determine the correct legal entity for their business, based on several different considerations; options for financing the venture; variables to consider when planning a business; and, resources available to help support the entrepreneur the process moves forward. The workshop will provide a great opportunity for asking those perplexing questions that one might have, but have been afraid to ask… or, may not even know whom to ask. It will even afford an opportunity for subsequent one-on-one mentoring sessions beyond the workshop itself. And best of all, the Basic Training for Entrepreneurs course is free.

Prior to coming to the Hampton Roads area, Zobel served the Richmond area for three years after having worked in the state of Delaware. Zobel has over 35 years of sales, sales management, customer relations, and business development experience, working with both small businesses and large corporations. A native of Philadelphia, he served in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam era before returning to his hometown of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to earn his Bachelor of Economics degree from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. Zobel brings years of expertize and ideas to the Basic Training for Entrepreneurs course, making it a one-of-a-kind experience that you will not want to miss.

If you have ever considered starting your own business, there has never been a better time to do so. With the Basic Training for Entrepreneurs course, one can learn step-by-step how to go about taking a business from simply a great idea to creating a business plan for executing that business. If you are interested in enrolling in the Basic Training for Entrepreneurs course — please contact Franklin Southampton Economic Development Inc. at 562-1958 to pre-register.

Remember … it has been said that a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Are you ready to take your first step in starting your new business? If so, we’re here to help you.

NANCY PARRISH is the Small Business Development manager at the Franklin Southampton Economic Development Inc. Call 562-1958 to contact her.