Budding entrepreneurs and small business owners can connect with free resources at the main branch of the Columbus Metropolitan Library, 96 S. Grant Ave. Downtown. The Library’s Learning Lab hosts a series of classes throughout the year, covering topics from developing a business plan to researching companies and competitors. Local entrepreneurs and resource providers also share their personal experience and expertise during the Library’s Business Speaker Series.
New this fall to the lineup of classes is a Business Plan Builder Workshop. Presented with support from ECDI, the three-part series walks participants through the step-by-step of developing a business plan.
Browse the list of classes and times below. Registration is not required unless otherwise noted. Can’t make a class? The Learning Lab is ready to help Monday – Thursday from 12 – 3 p.m. and Friday – Sunday from 1 – 5 p.m.
Starting a Small Business
Learn how to use the library’s online resources to write your business plan, choose industry codes and research companies and competitors.
Tuesday, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
- October 8
- November 5
Market Research for Entrepreneurs
Learn how to use the library’s online resources to identify potential customers, target your market and find industry reports.
Tuesday, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
- September 17
- October 15
- November 12
Grants for Nonprofits & Individuals
Learn about resources for individual grant-seekers or for growing and sustaining a nonprofit organization.
Monday, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
- October 7
- November 4
Tuesday, 9:30 – 11:30 a.m.
- September 24
- October 22
- November 19
Experience Entrepreneurship – Business Speaker Series
Join fellow entrepreneurs for a presentation by a guest speaker on special business topics.
Social Media Marketing – Tia Ramey, Ramey Marketing
Tuesday, September 24 | 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Ramey is a digital and social media strategist and owner and president of Ramey Marketing, LLC. She’ll discuss social media marketing and the many tools that can help your business gain and maintain a presence on social media.
The Startup Experience – Anne Deis & Devin Dingey, Happy Sloth Co.
Tuesday, October 22 | 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Deis and Dingey created the leisure apparel company Happy Sloth. They’ll discuss how their individual skills allowed them to build a six-figure, revenue-generating social enterprise company in less than two years.
Elements of a Business Plan – John Rhind, SCORE Columbus
Tuesday, November 19 | 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Rhind is a communications leader and Columbus SCORE volunteer with over 35 years of experience helping businesses succeed. He’ll outline the elements of a business plan and discuss how they’re instrumental tools for building a successful business.
Business Plan Builder Workshop
Wednesday, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
October 9 | October 16 | October 23
The Library partners with Cynthia Sloan of ECDI for a three-part workshop providing a step-by-step approach to starting your business plan.
Participants should plan to attend all three sessions and participating in Starting a Small Business and Market Research for Entrepreneurs classes beforehand is strongly encouraged.
Registrations is required for the the Business Plan Builder Workshop and can be completed at columbuslibrary.org/events or by calling 614-645-2275.
For more information, visit columbuslibrary.org.