Free Online Skills Training: Better Taxes, Social Media Success

Verizon Small Business Digital Ready provides exclusive networking opportunities and digital skills training, from courses to live coaching sessions to personalized learning plans. The program also provides $10,000 small business grants at certain times of the year, with the latest round of grants now open for applications until Dec. 13, 2024.

Interested? If you have not yet joined the Digital Ready program (it’s free and easy), you can do that here. That’s your first step.

Even if you don’t secure a grant, joining Digital Ready is a smart investment in your future. The real value of Verizon Small Business Digital Ready lies in the tools and resources the program provides small businesses so they can thrive in today’s digital economy.

These events and courses are for the weeks of Dec. 1 and Dec. 8. They are just a sample of the program’s benefits.

Join Verizon Small Business Digital Ready and enroll in the free courses and events you need to help build your small business.

Join for free!

Setting Up Accounting Software

• Dec. 2 | 11:00AM- 1:00PM ET
• While you may not find data entry and bookkeeping thrilling, it is a necessary part of operating a healthy business. Knowing and understanding your numbers is critical to making savvy business decisions that grow your business. Accounting software can be easy to set up and maintain, once you understand the fundamentals of bookkeeping. Our expert will show you WHY accounting software is set up the way it is, give you tips to stay out of hot water with your taxes, and a lot more. Meet other small business owners and learn from your peers as you build your professional network.
• Join and register for free

Better Taxes Next Year

• Dec. 3 | 1:30PM- 3:30PM ET
• Now that the 2023 tax season is over, it is time to reflect on how we can save time and money setting up more efficient systems for next year’s taxes. Whether you prepare the return yourself or pay someone to do it for you, you will still need systems to organize expenses, track deductions, and prepare for next year’s big day. Don’t miss this opportunity to talk to a tax preparer on how to set things up right!
• Join and register for free

Employee Retention: Building a Culture That Keeps Talent

• Dec. 4 | 12:00PM- 1:00PM ET
• Employee retention is key to a business’s success. However, high turnover rates continue to challenge small businesses and impede their ability to grow. Join Small Business Majority and Spotted Elephant Consulting as we explore the critical issue of employee retention and share strategies for creating a work culture that fosters loyalty and engagement.
• Join and register for free

Peer learning

• Dec. 4 | 3:00PM- 4:00PM ET
• Meet other small business owners and learn from your peers as you build your professional network. Peer Learnings are opportunities to meet with other like-minded small business owners. These peer learning events allow you to make connections in your community, industry or to branch out and meet new peers facing the same challenges and triumphs as you.
• Join and register for free

Common Social Media Mistakes

• Dec. 5 | 11:00AM- 1:30PM ET
• You may be actively marketing your business using social media, but are you getting the results you want? Are you making the most of your social media activity? In this Ask the Expert session, we’ll discuss the most common social media mistakes that will prevent you from growing an engaged audience and strengthening your online presence. We will share strategies for using social media to effectively market your business. If you are a newbie when it comes to using social media for your business, this session is for you. Don’t miss this opportunity to take your social media to the next level.
• Join and register for free

Social Media Algorithms

• Dec. 5 | 1:30PM- 3:30PM ET
• You know social media is important for marketing your business, but do you ever wonder how to keep up with the ever-changing platforms? In this Ask the Expert session, you’ll learn how to navigate the latest algorithm changes, ensuring your content is as effective as possible. If you want to utilize social media to increase your audience reach and customer leads, this is the session for you.
• Join and register for free

Step-by-step projections

• Dec. 9 | 11:00AM- 1:00PM ET
• Many businesses take time to ramp up and become profitable, however if the economics don’t take a turn for the better in the near future, you basically have an expensive hobby. Not having a good understanding of the economics of your business can lead you down the path to financial ruin. Understanding the financial position of your company is essential to your ability to grow, your access to capital, and your overall long-term success. In this Ask the Expert session, we will walk through our Financial Projections template, including Gross Margin and Profit and Loss calculations, to help you understand what all the numbers mean. We’ll cover financial management terminology and key indicators of business financial health.
• Join and register for free

MWBEs: What your certification can do for you

• Dec. 9 | 2:30PM- 4:00PM ET
• Could getting a government or corporate contract help take your business to the next level? If the answer is “YES!” then this is the session for you. While the process of getting certified as an MWBE (Minority/Woman Business Enterprise) may seem intimidating, being prepared and having the right information at your fingertips can streamline the process. Through this virtual Ask the Expert session, we’ll discuss what it means to be contract ready and best practices to ensure successful contract performance. If you want to do business with the government or large corporations, this is the session for you.
• Join and register for free

Understanding your numbers: How to read financial reports

• Dec. 10 | 3:00PM- 5:00PM ET
• You have set up your business and started keeping the books. Now comes the fun part – interpreting the data! Your accounting software produces profit and loss statements, balance sheets, and cash flow reports. Do you know how they differ and what they show? Do you know how to use them to guide financial and other decisions for your business? In this Ask the Expert session, you will learn what reports are available to you, how to read and interpret them, and benefit from their wisdom!
• Join and register for free

Track your finances: Strategies to strengthen and streamline your financial foundation

• Dec. 12 | 9:00AM- 10:00AM ET
• This event will equip small business owners with strategies to streamline financial management and build financial resilience. Join to gain practical techniques to manage expenses, leverage your P&L Statement, and establish business credit. Additionally, understand the impact of taxes on your business success and discover best practices to minimize risk and enhance profitability. With a strong financial foundation, you will feel empowered to make data-driven decisions, identify growth opportunities, and optimize your business performance.
• Join and register for free

In Spanish: Comprende tus números

• Dec. 9 | 2:30PM- 4:00PM ET
• Ya estableciste tu negocio y has comenzado a llevar los libros contables. ¡Ahora llega la parte divertida: interpretar los datos! Los software de contabilidad producen los estados de pérdidas y ganancias, balances generales y reportes de flujo de fondos. ¿Sabe cómo se diferencian y qué reflejan? ¿Sabe cómo utilizarlos para orientar sus decisiones financieras y otras decisiones importantes para su negocio? En esta sesión de “Pregúntale al Experto”, aprenderás qué informes están disponibles para ti, cómo leer e interpretarlos, ¡y cómo beneficiarte de su sabiduría!
• Regístrese ahora!