The Fall 2026 Workshop Schedule Is Out & Registration Is Now Open!
Our Fall Workshop Schedule is here, and registration is now open! Whether you’re starting a new business or ready to take your business to the next level, the Clatsop SBDC offers expert-led workshops designed to help you succeed.
Don’t wait to reserve your spot—many workshops fill quickly. Register today to invest in your business this fall!
SMALL BUSINESS MANAGEMENT: LEVEL 1 | $899
The Small Business Management program (SBM) is a unique
combination of classroom learning, one-to-one coaching from an
adviser and business networking with one goal: making you and your
business more successful. The program covers management topics
with a customized curriculum and helps you to identify and prioritize
outcomes and develop a plan to achieve them. Business owners
will benefit from classroom sessions by learning from seasoned
professionals as well as their peers who own small businesses. The
one-to-one advising provides the small business owner with coaching
by a professional business adviser.
Facilitated by: Grant Lehman
Dates: September 23 – December 16
Highlights this week:
- How To Setup An LLC As Your Small Business Structure
- The Top 8 Things You Should Be Doing To Market Your Business This Summer
- Do You Handle Your Own Bookkeeping? Here Are 5 Tips To Help You Streamline That Process and Save Time
- Seasonal Demand: Successful Retailers Know That Strong Sales Often Begin With Strong Planning
- Eye On The Horizon: A List Of Events Coming To Clatsop County
How to Set Up an LLC as Your Small Business Structure
You have an excellent idea for a product or a service, you’ve fleshed out a solid business plan, and now you’re ready for revenue to start rolling in. However, before your business gets up and running, you’ll need to choose a business structure. This will determine your registration requirements, tax obligations, and personal liability.
The most common business structures for small businesses are sole proprietorship, partnership, limited liability company (LLC), and corporation. Forming an LLC has become a popular choice for small business owners. This structure offers liability protections, potential tax benefits, and management flexibility.
Read on to learn what an LLC is, its advantages, how it differs from a sole proprietorship, and how to set up your small business as an LLC in Oregon.
START UP BOOT CAMP | $99
The Clatsop SBDC has assembled a thorough 5-session course
covering everything you need to know to successfully refine your business concept and create a solid working plan. Coupled with individual coaching from an expert SBDC advisor, this course covers the start-up journey and provides actionable insight into what you need to know to get your business off the ground.
Facilitated by: Meyer Freeman and Eric Stromquist
Meets Every Other Tuesday 3-5 PM In Towler 310
Dates: October 20 – December 15
CONTRACTOR’S BOOT CAMP | $99
This boot camp is designed for newly established residential contractors in Oregon who have been in business for three years or less. Participants may already be licensed, actively bidding work, or managing residential construction or remodeling projects.
This course is not intended for individuals exploring whether to become a contractor; it is designed for contractors who are already operating and want to improve how their business functions in the field.
Facilitated by: Shane Dean
Wednesdays 6-8 PM In Towler-310
Dates: September 30 – October 28
FOOD & BEVERAGE ENTREPRENEUR’S BOOT CAMP | $99
Are you an entrepreneur with a great recipe or product but need additional support to turn it into a successful business? The Food & Beverage Entrepreneurs Boot Camp is a 5-week program that will help new entrepreneurs build on their passions and current producers strengthen their existing businesses.
Facilitated by: Josh Allison
Tuesdays 9-11AM In Towler-310
Dates: October 13 – November 10
*This business educational program is supported in part by a grant from the Pacific Power Foundation.
Highlights this week:
- Retail Tip: Find Out What Your Best-Sellers Are To Make Better Buying Decisions
- Financial Blog: The Different Types Of Funding For Small Businesses
- Customer Experience Matters: Find Out Several Ways You Can Create Returning Customers
- Eye On The Horizon: A List Of Events Coming To Clatsop County
Inventory management directly impacts your bottom line.
Retailers lose significant revenue each year due to inventory challenges which includes out-of-stocks, overstocks, and slow-moving products.
Taking time to review what’s selling, what’s sitting, and what needs adjustment can help you make better purchasing decisions, reduce waste, and protect your cash flow. By tracking what customers buy most often you can make smarter inventory choices that drive the most sales. Understanding your top performers also helps you identify trends, improve profitability, and ensure you’re meeting customer demand about future purchasing.
Not sure where to start? Your local Clatsop SBDC can help you analyze business data and plan for growth.
Types of Business Funding For Small Businesses
Finding the right financing is one of the most crucial steps entrepreneurs can take to transform their aspirations into a profitable reality. Small business owners in Oregon have several business funding options. These range from traditional bank loans to alternative lending solutions and government-backed programs.
The best fit depends on several factors, including your business structure, your industry, and your long-term goals. Understanding whether debt financing, equity financing, or a hybrid approach is right for you can greatly impact your company’s growth trajectory.
Your business’s current financial health, creditworthiness, and cash flow will also play a key role in determining which funding sources are most accessible. By looking at all the available options, you can secure the right capital to fuel expansion, hire employees, invest in equipment, or cover day-to-day operational costs.
A strong customer experience can set your business apart.
For independent retailers, small service details can make a big difference. Greeting customers, responding promptly to questions, keeping your store easy to navigate, and following up after a purchase can help build trust and encourage repeat business.
Customer experience matters because it shapes how people feel about your business every time they interact with your brand. From the first impression to customer service after a purchase, every interaction influences whether a customer returns or chooses a competitor instead.
Providing a positive customer experience strengthens loyalty and encourages repeat business. It also helps your business stand out, creating lasting relationships with customers and contributing to long-term growth and success.
Customer experience is one area where small businesses can outcompete larger retailers by offering personal, thoughtful service.
Below Are More Events To Help You Grow and Develop Your Business
These upcoming holidays and special dates are building blocks when it comes to networking, marketing, and business development:
- Clatsop County Fair – July 22nd-26th
- Astoria Regatta Festival – August 5th-8th
- Seaside Beach Volleyball Tournament – August 5th-9th
- Cruise Ship: Crystal Symphony – August 19th
- Hood To Coast – August 28th
- Labor Day – September 7th
- Liberty Theatre Gala – September 12th
- SandFest (Seaside) – September 17th-20th
- Wheels and Waves (Seaside) – September 20th
- Cruise Ship: Serenade of the Seas – September 28th
- Cruise Ship: Norwegian Joy – October 3rd
- The Great Columbia Crossing – October 11th
- Stormy Weather Arts Festival (Cannon Beach) – Nov. 6th-8th
- Veteran’s Day – November 11th
- Thanksgiving – November 26th
- Christmas Day – December 25th
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Helping Build Oregon's Best Businesses
Clatsop Small Business Development Center
The Oregon SBDC Network is funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. Additional funding is provided by the Oregon Business Development Department and Clatsop Community College. For full funding disclosure, visit OregonSBDC.org/about. Oregon SBDC services are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis. Language services are available for limited-English-proficient individuals.
Clatsop Community College is an affirmative action, equal opportunity institution. ADA accessible. For the complete Non-Discrimination and Accommodations statements, please visit https://www.clatsopcc.edu/ada. Clatsop Community College es una institución de igualdad de oportunidades y de discriminación positiva. Para las declaraciones completas de No-discriminacion y de Ayuda a las personas discapacitadas, por favor visite https://www.clatsopcc.edu/ada.
