Start Your Business Here: Five-Session Workshop Series

SCORE Fairfield County has developed  Start Your Business Here – An Actionable Approach to Taking Your Idea to Business Launch, a five-session workshop program designed to guide aspiring business owners. Through hands-on activities, workshop participants will actively evaluate their ideas and shape them into a real business through critical thinking and planning exercises covered in the series.

Tailored for those with a business idea who are seeking guidance and coaching on how to launch their business with the most solid foundation possible, the new series was announced today by SCORE Fairfield County Co-Chairs Ashwini “Ash” Bhaskar and Tom Shimko. The initial workshop takes place at Darien Library on Monday, September 8^th at 6:00pm. Led by experienced entrepreneurs and business experts from Fairfield County, each session is two-three hours in length.

Launching a business requires more than a clever idea – it requires a clear purpose, a thoughtful plan, and a dedicated support system. The Start Your Business Here – An Actionable Approach to Taking Your Idea to Business Launch program serves as a roadmap, walking new entrepreneurs through the planning and preparation needed before launch. Each session provides actionable insights and exercises tailored to the challenges of starting a business, so attendees can progress from vision to execution with a solid foundation.

“Rather than a typical lecture series — SCORE Fairfield County has developed this program fueled by real world launch plans to help aspiring business owners enter a highly competitive marketplace in a position of strength,” said Chapter Co-Chair Tom Shimko. “With an individualized approach, we’ll be working with each participant to assess their concept and state of readiness and help them walk out of these sessions with new-found clarity, skills, and momentum to move forward.”

Added Chapter Co-Chair Ashwini Bhaskar, “SCORE’s philosophy is that no one should have to start a business alone. That is why we encourage participants to take advantage of SCORE Fairfield County’s free one-on-one mentoring services to complement the workshop series and receive additional personalized guidance as they prepare to launch.”

FIVE STEPS TO STARTING STRONG

Step 1: Spark Your Idea – September 8 @ 6:00pm

Define your goals and start shaping your business plan. This opening session helps

participants connect their personal goals with their business vision and begin outlining a

concrete action plan.

Step 2: Know Your Numbers – September 15 @ 6:00pm

Learn how to budget, forecast, and build a sustainable financial plan. Participants will

explore startup costs, pricing, revenue forecasting, and how to manage risk with smart

financial planning.

Step 3: Form & Function – September 22 @ 6:00pm

Decide how to structure your business and the tools required to operate effectively. Covers legal formation (LLC, sole proprietorship, etc.), startup options, key technologies, and common pitfalls in the first year.

Step 4: Test Before You Launch –September 29 @ 6:00pm

Validate your idea and hear directly from real entrepreneurs. Includes tools to reduce risk,

customer discovery techniques, and a live panel of successful founders sharing their personal launch experiences.

Step 5: Fund It; Launch It – October 6 @ 6:00pm

Explore how to access capital and take your next step. Covers small business loans, what

investors and lenders look for, and concludes with a networking and action-planning

session.

Location: Darien Library, 1441 Post Road, Darien, CT

Time: Mondays @ 6:00 PM

Dates: September 8, 15, 22, 29 and October 6

Cost: Free (registration required, see link below)

Who Should Attend:

v  Anyone with a business idea ready to take the next step

v  First-time entrepreneurs seeking guidance and confidence

v  Creatives, side-hustlers, and career changers

v  Retirees and professionals exploring new ventures

Register now: https:// https://www.score.org/fairfieldcounty/local-workshops

For More information: https://www.score.org/fairfieldcounty

About SCORE Fairfield County:

SCORE Fairfield County is a chapter of SCORE, the nation’s largest network of volunteer business mentors. SCORE has helped more than 17 million entrepreneurs start, grow, or successfully exit their businesses since 1964. SCORE Fairfield County is one of the largest and most active SCORE chapters in the country – ranked among the Top 5 of all 230 SCORE chapters nationally – providing free mentoring, workshops, and resources to help small businesses thrive.

SCORE Fairfield County serves small businesses and entrepreneurs in the cities and towns of: Bethel, Brookfield, Danbury, Darien, Easton, Fairfield, Greenwich, Monroe, New Canaan, New Fairfield, Newtown, Norwalk, Redding, Ridgefield, Stamford, Wilton, Weston and Westport. For more information about SCORE Fairfield County, to schedule a mentoring session, or to inquire about becoming a volunteer mentor visit: https://www.score.org/fairfieldcounty