Seminar promises to spark up businesses

While working with the Nevada Small Business Development Center, Kathy Carrico is still amazed that she finds that many businesses operate without definitive direction.

"The No.

1 reason that businesses fail is because of a lack of planning," said Carrico, the NSBDC's state training director.

"We're always surprised that businesses operate without knowing where to get help."

For entrepreneurs who might need assistance in dealing with the sometimes overwhelming issues of running a business, the Sparks Chamber of Commerce and the NSBDC have teamed up to introduce an eight-week seminar series titled "Spark Up Your Business." The course will tackle the subjects that are paramount in maintaining a successful business entity and how to find the resources to make them come to reality.

Each class will focus on issues from understanding legal issues to learning how to protect intellectual property to figuring out the maze of different types of business insurance as well as managing bookkeeping and recordkeeping.

Other seminars delve into how to develop better time-management skills and how to plan a business exit strategy.

A different instructor who has extensive expertise on the given topic will teach each class.

The seminar is intended to also introduce businesspeople to resources such as the University of Nevada, Reno, business library to find information they might need.

"This is designed for the entrepreneur who wears all the hats," Carrico said.

Nancy Muniz, president of the Sparks Chamber of Commerce, said the chamber looked to the NSBDC to provide such a valuable course for area businesses.

She also noted that promotion of the event has started with about 5,000 brochures being mailed while Charter Communications will do some free television spots as well.

The course is from 5:30-9 p.m.

Tuesdays from April 6 to May 25 at the William Raggio Building on the UNR campus.

Course fees are $250 for Sparks chamber members and $295 for non-members.

For reservations or for more details, contact Carrico at 784- 6879 or the Sparks Chamber at 337- 3044.