Small Business Collaboration Training and Development Program

MODULE 1 - Business Communication and Protocol (6 hours)

1. Listening, Speaking, and Nonverbal Skills
2. Writing Skills
3. E-Mail
4. Planning and Delivering a Presentation
5. Documentation and Follow-up

MODULE 2 - Legal Business Structure and Contracts (6 hours)

1. Definition of a Contract
2. Understanding Contract Language
3. What Makes a Contract Legally Binding
4. How to Avoid Liability
5. Construction Law
   The Legal Context of Construction
   Competing for the Contract
   The Uniform Commercial Code and the Construction Industry
   Subcontract Administration and Dispute Avoidance
   Schedules, Delays, and Acceleration
   Inspection, Acceptance, Commissioning, and Warranties
   Construction Insurance
   
6. The Three Basic Legal Business Structures
   Sole Proprietorship
   Partnerships
   Corporations
   (a) Types of Corporations
   (b) C Corporation
   (c) S Corporation
   (d) Limited Liability (LLC)
   
7. Comparison of Legal Structures (Advantages and Disadvantages)
   Ownership
   Liability
   Taxation Issues
   How Profits are Distributed
   Voting on Policy
   Life of Legal Structure
   Capitalization
   
8. Business Ethics and Due Diligence
   
9. Ombudsman Perspective - Good Business Practices, Preventative Maintenance, available resources and tools offered by the City of Jacksonville.

MODULE 3 - Procurement Processes (6 hours)

1. What is Purchased and How
   Professional Services Application
   Vendor Application
   
2. The City's Bid Processes
   Completing the Bid Proposal
   Submitting the Bid Proposal
   Protest Procedures
   Advertising for Bids
   Equal Business Opportunity Office
   Informal Bidding
   Formal Bidding
   Requesting a Bid Invitation
   
3. Bid Acceptance and Payment Processes
   
4. Certification/Recertification Process, JSEB Application

MODULE 4 - Understanding Your Business (6 hours)

1. Marketing Strategy - General Markets
2. Marketing to Government
3. Joint Venturing/Subcontracting/Other Options for Doing Business
4. Human Resource Management
5. Customer Service and Operations Management
6. Project Management

MODULE 5 - Finances and Accounting (6 hours)

1. Basic Bookkeeping: Why You Need It
   Getting Down to Bookkeeping Basics
   Outlining Your Financial Roadmap with a Chart of Accounts
2. Keeping a Paper Trail
   Ledgers: One-Stop Summary of Your Business Transactions
   Keeping Journals
   Computer Options for Your Bookkeeping
   Controlling Your Books, Your Records and Your Money
3. Tracking Day-to-Day Operations with Your Books
   Buying and Tracking Your Purchases
   Counting Your Sales
   Employee Payroll and Benefits
   Employer-Paid Taxes and Government Payroll Reporting
4. Preparing the Books for Year’s or Month’s End
   Depreciating Your Assets
   Paying and Collecting Interest
   Proving Out the Cash
   Closing the Journals
   Checking Your Accuracy - By Trial and Error
   Adjusting the Books
5. Reporting Results
   Developing a Balance Sheet
   Producing an Income Statement
   Completing Year-End Payroll and Reports
   Satisfying Tax Requirements
   Prepping the Books for a New Accounting Cycle
6. Cost Estimating