Libraries are trusted sources of information, making them perfect locales to host “Small Business Saturdays.” These workshops are designed specifically for unestablished entrepreneurs hoping to open their own small start-up company. By hosting these workshops at public libraries, we convey clearly that all members of the public are welcome to attend. By packaging all information into a succinct, two-hour session, we express clear appreciation for our participants’ busy schedules as well as the typical work rhythms of private sector employees, who generally have free time only on Saturday mornings. All workshops are free, so affordability is no impediment.

Since January, we have held “Small Business Saturdays” workshops once per month, with our final workshop scheduled for November. All workshops last two hours. Representatives from the Office of Small Business address dozens of hopeful entrepreneurs. They hail from all corners of Los Angeles County with one goal in common – to start a business for the first time. We provide the community meeting room space and conclude each workshop with a succinct presentation on small business resources, and other helpful services, available at the library. Participants typically engage in a helpful networking session at the end of each workshop.

When each respective “Small Business Saturday” workshop concludes, participants understand what a business plan is and why they need one; what legal entities every entrepreneur must be familiar with; how to get a business license or a tax I.D. from the Treasurer-Tax Collector and what the difference is between a personal and business tax I.D.; how to get a DBA account and apply for a loan from the Community Development Commission; as well as what small business tax breaks exist and how to take advantage of them. They also know what resources the library offers for potential small business owners.