Help! I want to start a new business!

Any business venture has risks, and there is no way to eliminate all of them. But can you reduce your risks? How can you start your business with confidence that you have the best chance to succeed? What do I need to do to have a plan for success?

Attend one of our no cost orientations on starting a small business and you'll have a good idea of where to begin and what steps to take. The orientations are held on the first Wednesday of every month from 6:00-7:00 PM at the Bakersfield College Weill Institute, 2100 Chester Ave, Bakersfield. You can reserve a seat here, or call 661-395-4126. It's at no cost to you!

In our orientation we cover the five key indicators of successful business start-ups, and the characteristics of successful business owners. We will review the importance of preparing a Business Plan and how to get started. This orientation is the place to begin if you've ever thought about owning your own business.

Once you've attended our orientation, we'll recommend that you take our 8-week course on business startup. Or, if your Business Plan is complete, you can meet with one of our Business Advisors. If you are just investigating the possibility of starting your own business, we recommend you contact one of our partners, the Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) at 661-861-9249 with assistance in analyzing the feasibility of your business idea. Register for our 8-week course by calling 661-395-4126, or register online.

The Weill Institute of Bakersfield College SBDC, an economic development program of the Kern Community College District, is partially supported by the Small Business Administration (SBA), the University of California, Merced, and the California Community College Chancellor’s Office.