You've completed your business plan, sought financing, developed your market strategy - now what? Listen to this podcast to learn about operating your business. Topics include: Choosing vendors, investors, stakeholders and advisors; Credit and collections; Hiring, firing and employment law; Timely tax reporting sales and B and O; Correct registrations and licensing; Distribution channels; Banking relationships; and Preparing, reading and interpreting financial statements.

Launching a successful business requires building a proper plan that helps to guide you toward generating sales and a positive cash flow. Proper planning is also a strong tool for presenting to potential investors and lenders. Learn the basics, including using marketing and financial data to generate a strong plan.

Whether you are purchasing a company, starting a new venture, or seeking a franchise award, you’ll learn whether starting a business is right for you at this time in your life and in this economic climate.This seminar covers the fundamentals of starting a business including incorporation, financing, stakeholder development and business planning. Jeff Levy shares practical vignettes and stories from his experience as a business owner and manager. You’ll have time to ask questions and get ideas.The seminar will help you understand:• How personal and business motivations affect success• The essential qualities of an entrepreneur• The seven centers of management attention• Differences between a startup, purchasing a business, and a franchise award• Different types of legal structures and why one might incorporate• Elements of a good business plan• Pros and cons of financing options• Local resources to help you to the next stage of business ownershipLevy is a nationally recognized consultant and coach to individuals interested in exploring self-employment. Jeff shares from his wealth of business experience as a founding member of Windswept Capital, President and COO of Spider Staging Corporation, officer at Flow International, and Executive VP and principle of SafeWorks LLC.As a business coach Jeff has helped several hundred people begin their first business. He serves on several college entrepreneurial advisory boards and is regular guest speaker at SCORE and the Women’s Business Center. He is also the co-author of “Making the Jump Into Small Business Ownership.”

SELF-e is a free platform that bridges the gap between self-published e-books and libraries. Mitchell Davis, founder of BiblioLabs (creator of SELF-e) demonstrates how the SELF-e platform works for authors. Get tips for creating and submitting your work and learn how books published on the SELF-e platform may be reviewed by Library Journal for possible inclusion in a collection available to readers in participating libraries across the nation. -- A panel discussion follows, featuring authors who have published independently and with traditional publishing houses. Panelists will offer tips on formatting, publishing and distribution processes, and ways to reach your audience of readers. Experts include: Tracy Timmons-Gray, a board member of Gay Romance Northwest who helps authors connect with readers; Boyd Morrison, best-selling author of multiple books who also co-authors with Clive Cussler; Terry Persun, indie author of thrillers, fantasy and romance; Mitchell Davis, BiblioLabs founder (who also founded BookSurge, now Amazon's CreateSpace), and Andrew Harbison, assistant director of Collection and Access Services at The Seattle Public Library. The panel will be moderated by Jeff Ayers, author, book reviewer and board member of Pacific Northwest Writers Association.

Six published crime writers unveil the mysteries of writing and publishing in today's evolving marketplace. -- Panelists include: Bernadette Pajer, Mike Lawson, Charles Philipp Martin, Waverly Fitzgerald, Judy Dailey, and Leslie Budewitz.