FREE May Business Seminars

The Paychex Seminar Series presents two valuable topics in one FREE seminar.  Learn the benefits of offering a 401(k) plan for businesses of any size and how payroll- and non-payroll integrated 401(k) plans work.  You'll also learn about today's ever-changing regulatory environment and requirements from federal agencies like the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the Department of Labor (DOL).

This seminar will be held on Tuesday, May 8, 2012, from 9 am to 12:00 pm at your local Paychex office or a nearby location.  A continental breakfast will be served. To register, visit www.paychex.com/localseminars or call toll free 877-321-8581.

"What Every Business Should Know About 401(k) Plans" is another FREE seminar offered online by Paychex.  The next session will be held on Thursday, May 17, 2012, from 2:00 pm to 2:45 pm ET.  To register, visit www.paychex.com/print/401(k)-seminar.

A Cornucopia of Business Events

What:  Connectionopolis.  Learn how to acquire new prospects, expand your business contacts, and identify business trends.  Presented by the Sacramento Business Journal with speaker Alejandro Reyes, founder of Winning Local.

When:  Tuesday, November 15, 2011, from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm.

Where:  Hampton Inn and Suites, 2305 Longport Ct., Elk Grove.

How:  Pre-register at http://www.bizjournalevents.com.  For more info, call 916-558-7881 or email rbazaz@bizjournals.com.

What:  Small Business Success and Sustainability Symposium & Luncheon.  Interact with business leaders, change agents, and key innovators to prepare your company for a world where profit, people, and the environment connect. 

When:  Thursday, November 17, 2011, from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm.

Where:  Cal EPA Headquarters, 1001 “I” Street, Sacramento.

How:  Register by November 10 for only $20 (lunch included).  Visit http://jadegreencommunity.com/Contact-Us.html

What:  Utilize the Library as a Powerful Business Resource.  A seminar on how to best use library resources to identify potential customers and competitors, research neighborhoods and companies, access market research, and more.   Presented by two librarians from the Sacramento Public Library.

When:  Thursday, November 17, 2011, from 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm.

Where:  Sacramento Metro Chamber, One Capitol Mall, Suite 300, Sacramento.

How:  For more info or to register, call 916-319-4273 or visit http://www.saclibrary.org

What:  The 10 Components to Creating Business Success.  Presented by the Sacramento Business Journal.  Interactive training with sales expert Jason Everett.  $99 fee includes dinner and a one-year Business Journal subscription.

When:  Thursday, November 17, 2011, from 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm.

Where:  The Citizen Hotel, 926 J St., Sacramento.

How:  Pre-register at http://www.bizjournalevents.com.

Catch Me If You Can

The Sacramento Employers Advisory Council and the Employment Development Department are hosting a full-day seminar to show employers how to minimize the loss and liability associated with technology. 

“From Twitter to Facebook:  Avoiding the Risks of Today’s High-Tech Workforce” will be held on Monday, October 24, 2011 from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, at the Holiday Inn Capitol Plaza at 300 J Street, Sacramento.  Register at www.saceac.com.

FREE September Seminars for Businesses

Get two valuable topics in one FREE seminar from Paychex on Tuesday, September 13, 2011, from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm.  A continental breakfast will be served.  For seminar locations and reservations, visit www.paychex.com/localseminars or call toll free 1-877-321-8581.
Top HR Issues:

• Hiring Practices
• Fair Labor Standards Act
• Employee Handbooks
• Harassment
• Family and Medical Leave Act
• Workers' Compensation
• Employee Discipline and Termination
• Protected Activities and Retaliation

Safe Harbor for 401(k) Plans:

• Non-discrimination testing
• Employer options
• Tax-deductible employer contributions

Can't attend a local seminar?  Then check out Paychex's FREE Web seminars, both live and recorded at http://www.paychex.com/.

• What Every Business Should Know About 401(k) Plans, Thursday, September 15, 2011, 2:00 pm to 2:45 pm ET.  Topics include the basics of 401(k) plans, advantages for businesses and participants, steps to set up an effective plan, and how a third-party administrator can simplify the process.

• Navigating Health Insurance Options for Businesses, Wednesday, September 28, 2011, 2:00 pm to 2:45 pm ET.  Learn about whether group or individual insurance best meets your needs and budget, how offering health insurance can benefit you and your employees, and the key considerations for an effective health insurance plan.

Results of Florin Road Business Walk

The Florin Road Partnership and the City of Sacramento hosted the Florin Road Business Walk on May 19, 2011.  Fifty representatives visited nearly 165 businesses in our district asking owners and managers about their operations.  Here are some of the results:

Overall Business Conditions:
43% stated that their business is holding steady
14% stated that their business is doing well

What Merchants Like Most About the Florin Road Corridor:
49% said the area's clientele and demographics
33% said location
18% said proximity to restaurants, schools, and neighborhoods

To address the issues raised during this and other recent business walks in South Sacramento, the City of Sacramento along with the Florin Road Partnership, the Stockton Boulevard Partnership, and the Greater Sacramento Vietnamese-American Chamber of Commerce are partnering to present a business seminar this fall.  Further information will be posted soon on this blog and on our website at http://www.florinroad.com/.

Get More Business Out of Your Mailings

Learn how to grow your business with Every Door Direct Mail from the United States Postal Service.  This new offering is a cost-effective way to promote your business to customers in your area.

Learn how to saturate a target area with your marketing message by utilizing carrier routes instead of mailing lists.  There's no need to rent mailing lists or print specific names and addresses on your mailpieces.  What a great way to save time and money!

This informative seminar will be held Thursday, June 23, 2011, from 1:30 pm to 2:30 pm, at the Parkway Branch Post Office, 4301 Brookfield Drive, Sacramento.

Reserve your space today at http://www.usps.com/growyourbusinessdays.

FREE 401(k), Payroll, HR Seminars this June

Get two valuable topics in one FREE seminar, courtesy of Paychex.  Wednesday, June 15, 2011, 9:00 am to 12:00 pm.  Continental breakfast will be served.  Seating is limited so register today for a site near you at http://www.paychex.com/localseminars or telephone toll free 1-877-321-8581.

401(k) and Payroll - Working Together:

• The benefits of a 401(k) plan for businesses of all sizes
• How 401(k) plans work when they are and aren't integrated with payroll

8 Critical Areas of HR:

• Payroll
• Employee communications
• Benefits
• Worksite safety and loss prevention
• Regulations
• Interviewing and hiring
• Employee motivation and development
• Employee separation

Another FREE seminar, courtesy of Paychex, will be held on Thursday, June 16, 2011, from 2:00 pm to 2:45 pm ET.  To register for What Every Business Should Know About 401(k) Plans, visit http://www.paychex.com/seminars/401k.

Upcoming Events for Business Owners & Managers

Paychex reminds us that your annual retirement income should be at least 70 percent of your annual working income.  With the prospect of reduced pensions and social security payments, many people may face a shortfall.  A 401(k) plan can help bridge the difference.  A 401(k) plan offers a number of advantages for both your employees and your business.  Find out more through Paychex’s free webinar on Thursday, April 7, 2011 from 2:00 pm to 2:45 pm ET at www.paychex.com/seminars/401k.

Paychex is also offering a free seminar on two topics:  The Cost of Employee Turnover and Cost-Effective Retirement Plans.  This event will be held on Tuesday, April 12, 2011 from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm at various locations.  A continental breakfast will be served.  Space is limited, so make your reservation today by calling toll-free 1-877-321-8581 or visiting www.paychex.com/localseminars.

The Greater Sacramento Urban League invites you to their Business and Community Breakfast on Thursday, April 14, 2011, from 7:30 am to 8:45 am, at 3725 Marysville Blvd., Sacramento.  There is no cost to attend - gifts of support are welcomed. 

This event celebrates the League’s programs, services, and students.  To RSVP, please contact Lynnise Davis at 916-286-8612 or ldavis@gsul.org.

A new free online course focusing on accounting and cash flow is now available to small businesses in California.  The Accounting and Cash Flow Online Course is a collaborative effort by the Caltrans Contract Training Program, the Northeastern California Small Business Development Center – Greater Sacramento at the Los Rios Community College District, and The Federal Technology Center (The FTC).  

For more information, call The FTC at 916-334-9388 or toll-free at 866-382-7822 or visit www.TheFTC.org.

Lunch, Learn, and Earn...What a Combo!

What could be better than enjoying lunch while networking AND
learning strategies to increase your net worth? 

You don't want to miss the Sacramento Business Journal's three-part seminar, Network2Net Worth.  You'll learn strategies to acquire new business prospects and engage your existing clients, as well as how to use social media to identify industry trends.  This special event is Thursday, March 3, 2011 from 11 am to 1 pm, at the Hampton Inn & Suites (2305 Longport Court in Elk Grove, California).  Registration is only $20 and includes lunch.

For more information, contact Crystal Dillard by phone at 916-558-7881 or by email at cdillard@bizjournals.com, or visit http://www2.bizjournals.com/sacramento/calendar.