Classes & Training

SBDC Spring & Summer 2023 Class Catalog

Our Spring & Summer 2023 Class Catalog includes courses to help you START a new business, MANAGE your business operations, and GROW your leaders.

See below for links to individual classes for additional information and to register.

First Steps to Starting a Business

Thinking about starting a business? Start here!

First Steps to Starting a Business is a FREE, interactive program available online any time. This course helps you navigate where you are in the process of starting a business in terms of your entrepreneurial mindset, your business idea, financial readiness, and next steps.

SBDC Class Categories

Starting a New Business?
START classes focus on helping you through the earliest stages of starting a business, from early ideation to business basics and creating a feasible business plan.

Operationalizing Your Business?
MANAGE classes help you navigate the changes that arise when you begin to operationalize your work, generally within years 1-4 of operating. These classes include topics like financial management, marketing, and human resources.

Building Leadership?
GROW classes help your aspiring and emerging leaders build practical skills to support your team. Whether you are hiring your own employees or transitioning to a leadership role in a larger organization, these classes help you build your leadership toolbox.

Spring/Summer 2023 Classes

Note: Register for 2 or more paid classes, and receive a 10% discount with code SBDC10

December 2022

Communication & Delegation Skills (IP) – 12/1/2022 – part of the Learning to Lead Series

2023 Classes – Dates still TBD

February 2023

SHRM Certification Preparation Course (hybrid) – 2/15/2023-4/26/2023

March 2023

Launch into Leadership (IP) – 3/1/2023

Entrepreneurial Training Program (IP & LV components) – 3/2/2023-4/14/2023

Buy-Sell Agreements (W) – 3/9/2023

Fearless Performance Management (IP) – 3/23/2023

April 2023

Maximizing Your Leadership Potential (IP) – 4/5/2023 – part of the Learning to Lead Series

Communication & Delegation Skills (IP) – 4/12/2023 – part of the Learning to Lead Series

Positive Power Plays: Skills for Conflict & Negotiation (IP) – 4/19/2023 – part of the Learning to Lead Series

Value Planning for the Future (W) – 4/19/2023

Hire Badgers: Student Staffing Opportunities for Small Businesses (LV) – 4/20/2023

Financial Management – Sprint! (LV) – 4/24/2023-5/22/2023

May 2023

Leading with Emotional Intelligence (IP) – 5/4/2023

HR Basics for Non-HR Professionals (IP) 5/11/2023

Digital Marketing and Social Media Conference (IP) – date and presenters TBD

July 2023

Biz Smart Sprint (LV) – 7/13/2023-8/17/2023

Maximizing Your Leadership Potential (IP) – 7/13/2023 – part of the Learning to Lead Series

Positive Power Plays: Skills for Conflict & Negotiation (IP) – 7/20/2023 – part of the Learning to Lead Series

Communication & Delegation (IP) – 7/27/2023 – part of the Learning to Lead Series

August 2023

FORWARD FEST: Demystifying the Pro Forma (W) – Date TBD (part of Forward Fest, week of August 21-25, 2023)

FORWARD FEST: From Side Hustle to Small Business (W) – Date TBD (part of Forward Fest, week of August 21-25, 2023)

October 2023

Financial Management: Building Financial Confidence (IP) – 10/18/2023-11/8/2023

Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance. Contact the UW-Madison SBDC office at sbdc@bus.wisc.edu to request accommodations or to ask general questions about the SBDC, classes and consulting.

[I appreciated] getting a handle on some of the main terms that I need to really understand, such as reading a Balance Sheet and Profit and Loss [statement]... [I also] really loved that [the class] was recorded. The time didn't work for me, but I loved that I could watch it later.
—TARA WILLIAMS, PRONTO SPANISH SERVICES, 2022 FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT - SPRINT! PARTICIPANT

For the Fall 2022 semester, we will be offering our courses in a variety of formats, including:

Webinars (noted with a W) – these shorter, virtual sessions typically provide a broad overview of a topic, or more detailed information on a more narrow topic. Webinars generally include opportunities for Q&A but do not include a lot of additional audience interaction due to their shorter timeframes.
Live Virtual (noted with an LV) – these longer sessions – ranging from 1.5 hours to multiple days – include a live instructor and almost always include opportunities for the participants to engage with each other and/or the course content.
In-Person (noted with an IP) – these courses are located at the Wisconsin School of Business – on UW-Madison’s campus in Grainger Hall – unless otherwise noted.*

This variety of session types will be able to provide you with different opportunities to engage with the content, your peers, and expert instructors.