Easily discover all CVOEO events, workshops, and learning opportunities via the calendar below.
Taking the leap to hire your first employee as a business owner is both thrilling and daunting. From onboarding, handling taxes, and addressing unemployment claims, business owners navigating the complexities of employment laws find challenges.
Instagram can feel overwhelming, but it doesn't have to be. In this beginner-friendly webinar, you'll learn how to create a professional Instagram presence, figure out what to post, and use the platform to build real relationships with potential customers. We'll walk through profiles, posts, Stories, Reels, hashtags, and captions, plus simple strategies to help you show up consistently without spending hours each day. Every attendee will walk away with a free Instagram cheat sheet to help them put what they've learned into action right away.
AI is becoming more and more involved in business. This class will go over new AI tools, what they are used for, and how they can be utilized.
Learn the basics of artificial intelligence! This class will discuss the fundamentals of what AI is, how it works, and how it has impacted everyday life.
Stay informed about AI-Related scams! This class will cover how AI is making scams more convincing using deepfake technology, image generation, and how we can protect ourselves in the digital world.
In this class, you will learn about what internet privacy is, how you are being tracked, two-factor authentication, and how to manage your privacy online.
Learn how to set up a monthly budget using Google Sheets. This class will cover important skills including creating and formatting spreadsheets, using formulas and functions, and data validation.
Are you ready to build a solid financial foundation but not sure where to start? This free workshop is designed for beginners who want to gain confidence in managing their personal finances.
Meet experts in the field who can answer your questions on personal loans.
Registering one's creative or innovative work, and knowing when to ask for permission to use someone else’s work, can help a business build its assets and secure its rights. In this webinar, a panel of experts from Vermont Law and Graduate School's Small Business Law Clinic will demystify intellectual property, and identify tools you can use for your small business.
Dreaming of owning a home but worried it’s out of reach? Join us for a friendly, informative session that will walk you through the entire home buying process - from finding the right property to closing the deal. We’ll break down the process, discuss local programs that can help, and give you the tools you need to move forward with confidence.
Step away from the daily hustle and into a space designed for clarity. Business Through the Looking Glass brings womxn+ entrepreneurs together for a half-day of structured problem-solving using design thinking tools and peer collaboration.
Interested in vending in Summer 2026 but unsure which market may be the best fit? Join us January 29th at 12pm for an online info session highlighting the market vending opportunities in and around Burlington. Hear from the City of Burlington, CVOEO- Micro Business, Mercy Connections, Burlington Farmers Market, and Winooski Farmers Market and learn which market may be the best fit for you and your business.
Join us to meet local banks that can help your business and learn about business resources. You’ll have a chance to ask questions and meet other business owners. We'll provide lunch and have a relaxed conversation.
A team of experts from the Vermont Small Business Law Center at Vermont Law and Graduate School will discuss separating personal and business matters using tools like business entities, contracts, and insurance.
Join us for an informative session on the homebuying process, where Casey will guide you through the essential steps to becoming a homeowner. NSB’s Mortgage Banking Officer will cover key topics such as how to choose a lender, preparing for a meeting, and the process from start to finish, ensuring you are well-equipped to make informed decisions on your journey to homeownership.
This free course will cover a wide range of topics related to how businesses obtain credit.
This workshop is designed to provide small business owners and entrepreneurs with a comprehensive understanding of business entities. When should a business create an LLC? What’s the difference between an LLC and a corporation? What does it mean to be a “sole proprietorship”? What about a “partnership”?
This session takes place at 255 S Champlain St., Burlington, VT 05401 Having a good business plan is essential to creating and running a business. It provides you, the owner, with a roadmap for success, and a business plan is always required when applying for a grant or bank financing. Join us for an in-person, interactive workshop with our business counselor, John Gergely, who will guide you through a process for writing your business plan, help you understand the components of a business plan, and identify ways to improve upon your existing business plans, if you already have one. Email us your business plan (growingmoney@cvoeo.org) ahead of the class for an opportunity to have it reviewed in real time!
This fully online, self-paced version of Setting Money Goals provides the tools and information you need to take steps toward your financial empowerment.
Location: 255 S Champlain St, Burlington, VT, 05401 (CVOEO Headquarters) Are you interested in learning more about saving and investing for the future? Then this is the class for you! Join this free session and receive knowledge, books, and light refreshments!
Improperly separating your business and personal life can put your personal property at risk and leave you vulnerable to legal and tax risks. A team of experts from the Vermont Small Business Law Center at Vermont Law and Graduate School will discuss separating personal and business matters using tools like business entities, contracts, and insurance. We will also discuss the benefits and risks of going into business with, or taking money from, family and friends. Whether you're a solopreneur or looking to grow, this webinar will help you protect yourself along the way.
Social media doesn’t have to be overwhelming! In this beginner-friendly webinar, we’ll break down the basics of using platforms like Facebook and Instagram to connect with your customers and grow your business. You’ll learn what to post, how to engage your audience, and simple tips to stay consistent without feeling overwhelmed. Perfect for small business owners who want to build their brand online with limited time and resources.
Email marketing is one of the most powerful ways to stay connected with your customers and drive sales, but many small business owners don’t know where to start. In this webinar, we’ll cover the basics of setting up an email list, creating emails that people want to open, and how to turn subscribers into loyal customers. This session is designed to be simple and actionable, even if you’re not tech-savvy.
LinkedIn isn’t just for job seekers – it’s a powerful tool for self-employed professionals to build credibility and attract clients. In this beginner webinar, you’ll learn how to create a strong LinkedIn profile, make meaningful connections, and use LinkedIn to showcase your expertise. This session is perfect for small business owners, freelancers, and anyone looking to build their professional brand online.
An event in celebration of Black History Month. Conversations on accessing capital with traditional and non-traditional lenders from Burlington Revolving Loan Fund, Opportunities Credit Union, and the Vermont Community Loan Fund. Bring you questions and come ready to share your experiences. Lunch will be provided! In-Person at Winooski High School.
Understand the critical differences between W-2 employees and 1099 contractors, and learn which taxes apply to each. This course will help you streamline your payroll process and avoid costly mistakes from compliance to payroll tax management.
Finding the right bookkeeper can make or break your business's financial health. In this class, learn what qualities to look for, key questions to ask during interviews, and how to spot potential red flags. Empower your hiring decisions and ensure your business's finances are in expert hands!
Learn the essential building blocks of bookkeeping to keep your business financially sound. This class covers critical bookkeeping terms, different types of crucial reports to understand business financial standing and basic bookkeeping practices. This class is perfect for business owners looking to gain a foundation in their small business bookkeeping.
Creating a Financial Future (1 session): Learn about investing for long term goals. Short term v. long term savings, planning ahead for emergencies, vacations, and retirement.
Are you curious about business structures that aren't your typical corporations or LLCs? Join us for a presentation on alternative business entities that offer unique legal, tax, and operational advantages. We'll explore options like sole proprietorships, cooperatives, and nonprofit organizations and similar forms—each with its own set of rules, benefits, and challenges. Learn how these entities can simplify (or complicate!) operations and reduce liability, while staying true to your business's mission and ethical goals. Whether you're starting a new venture or considering a change, this session will equip you with the knowledge to choose the best structure that matches your values and business needs.
Come join us for an informative session on preventing fraud with a financial counselor from Opportunities Credit Union who has worked with many victims of scams. We will be focusing on how to avoid employment, rental, and credit repair scams. These types of scams are more popular than ever and can be hard to spot. We will cover what red flags to look for, how to verify the validity of a company, and what to do if you have been the victim of fraud. Don't miss out—protect yourself and your money in today's digital world!
Join us for 15 minutes or for the whole 2 hours! A panel of faculty and students from Vermont Law and Graduate School's Small Business Law Clinic will be hosting virtual drop-in office hours, where we invite you to stop by and ask any questions you might have about the law and your business. As a reminder, the VLGS team are unable to give legal advice; however, they may provide information and resources to help address your specific legal questions.
Do you know the common scans fraudsters are using to target people like you? In an informative workshop, an M&T Bank professional will help you: • Learn how to identify the signs of identity theft and fraud • Identify strategies to protect yourself from identity theft and fraud • Learn how to protect your data using safe habits
Are you thinking about selling your business, passing it to your kids, or taking a community-centered approach to ownership? Join us for a webinar where experts from Vermont Law and Graduate School will explain the legal steps involved in closing, merging, or changing your business. We'll discuss legal tools for estate planning, including how to set up a business from the start for a future transition, and what it looks like to go cooperative.
Do you know about the new Beneficial Ownership Information reporting (BOIR) requirement? As of January 1, the federal government now requires small, for-profit businesses registered with the VT Secretary of State to file information about who owns and who controls their business. In this one-hour webinar, a team of faculty and students from VLGS' Vermont Small Business Law Center will answer questions about this new requirement, and explain how to report accurately and on time so you avoid penalties. This class is appropriate for startup and existing businesses.
VT Works for Women, Mercy Connections, Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity, and Center for Women & Enterprise are hosting Sisterhood of the Dreaded Elevator Pitch on Friday, May 17, 2024 from 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM online via Zoom. Learn how to craft an elevator pitch that centers your passion and your purpose. We welcome all people who identify as women regardless of assignment at birth, or gender-expansive folks who are comfortable in a woman-centered space.
Champlain College, Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity, HireAbility, Mercy Connections, Vermont Adult Learning, and VT Works for Women are hosting our first annual Career Empowerment Day on Saturday, April 27, 2024, from 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM at the Vermont Adult Learning (77 College St) in Burlington.
I'm sure you've heard of AI and ChatGPT, but do you know how to use it to create website content, social media posts, and email blasts that are trained to sound just like your brand? Invest 90 minutes with industry expert Mike Lannen of Eternity Marketing to guide you through artificial intelligence and how it can help your business. This event is in-person at the DoubleTree in Burlington, Vermont, but may be joined via Zoom.
The Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity/Financial Futures Program, Vermont’s Small Business Administration, and The Vermont Professionals of Color Network invite you to Lunch with Lenders: Exploring Funding Opportunities for Small Businesses on Saturday, February 3rd from 10am – 1pm at the O’Brien Center in Winooski. This business-oriented celebration of Black History Month brings together community members and lenders (both traditional and non-traditional) for conversations on accessing Capital. Bring your questions and come ready to share your experience! Lunch will be provided.
Come learn about the elements of taxes and how to report them as a business owner. Some of the topics to be covered: Organizational structure and effect on taxes Types of taxes Self-employment Tax Sales Tax Income Taxes (Federal and Vermont) Do I need an EIN? What’s a Schedule C? Do I need an Accountant? John is not a CPA and cannot offer specific tax advice, but he has over 35 years of business experience and will help you understand tax basics.
VT Works for Women, Mercy Connections, Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity, and Center for Women & Enterprise are hosting Sisterhood of the Dreaded Elevator Pitch on Friday, December 15, 2023 from 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM at the O’Brien Community Center in Winooski.
Learn how to spot and avoid scams and financial fraud so you may protect yourself and your family. Knowledge is power! It is important to safeguard your personal and financial information to minimize the risk of financial exploitation and identity theft. If you are educated about the latest frauds and scams, you will be well prepared with tools to recognize potential red flags.
Sustaining the Rent focuses on strategies to financially prepare for renting, including determining what "affordable" rent would be and comparing costs of apartments, and understanding how credit affects the ability to pay rent, as well as developing the knowledge and skills needed to track spending, building a budget, and finding resources to help meet housing and basic needs.
This fully online, self-paced version of Keys to Credit provides a comprehensive overview of credit: What is credit? Which accounts are credit accounts? And why does credit matter?