QuickBooks can make running your business easier—once you know how to use it. In this hands-on session, we walk through how to get started in QuickBooks and set up your system to track your income, expenses, and invoices the right way from the beginning.

Learn:

• How to navigate QuickBooks and choose the right version
• How to connect your bank account and categorize transactions
• How to create a chart of accounts tailored to your business
• How to record expenses, send invoices, and run basic reports
• What to do each week/month to stay on track

This session is best for small business owners who are new to QuickBooks or want a reset on how it’s set up.

Brought to you by Capital Pathways, a no-cost program from the Virginia SBDC that helps small businesses get the funding they need to grow. The program is designed for very small (fewer than 10 employees), emerging, and growth-ready businesses that face challenges accessing traditional financing. It offers hands-on group learning, guided implementation, and extended one-on-one support focused on strengthening your finances, loan applications, and legal setup.

Building strong credit is a foundational step toward financial stability, access to affordable financing, and long-term growth opportunities.

In this session, we walk through clear, practical steps to help you understand how credit works and how to fix common issues so you can pursue your personal and business goals. This webinar explains personal and business credit scores and reports and breaks down real-world strategies small business owners can use to improve credit, correct common report errors, and prepare for future funding. We connect credit habits directly to loan readiness and explain what lenders look for in your applications.

Learn:

• What credit is, how personal and business credit differ, and why both matter
• How the three major credit bureaus collect information and calculate scores
• How to access, read, and monitor your personal and business credit reports
• How to identify and dispute errors using your rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act

This session the first step in a program that is ideal for business owners and entrepreneurs who want to take control of their credit before applying for loans. To participate in the program you must schedule an intake call for our one-on-one advising by emailing us at capitalpathways@virginiasbdc.org

Brought to you by Capital Pathways, a no-cost program from the Virginia SBDC that helps small businesses get the funding they need to grow. The program is designed for very small (fewer than 10 employees), emerging, and growth-ready businesses that face challenges accessing traditional financing. It offers hands-on group learning, guided implementation, and extended one-on-one support focused on strengthening your finances, loan applications, and legal setup.

Building and maintaining strong business credit is essential for securing funding, lowering borrowing costs, and positioning your company for long-term success. In this session, we break down how personal credit influences early-stage financing – how business credit works – what lenders evaluate – and the practical steps small business owners can take to strengthen their credit profile.

Learn:

• The key similarities and differences between personal and business credit reporting practices

• How personal creditworthiness connects to business credit, and how to navigate the transition

• How to verify that the data on your credit report is accurate and up to date

• What lenders look for when assessing creditworthiness and financing applications

• Key credit reporting regulations and industry standards

• How personal and business credit scores are calculated and used

• Business credit products and practical steps for establishing credit in your company’s name

• What to prepare and present when applying for credit

This session is ideal for business owners who want to understand their current credit standing, move confidently from personal to business credit, and create a clear roadmap for long-term financial health.

Brought to you by Capital Pathways, a no-cost program from the Virginia SBDC that helps small businesses get the funding they need to grow. The program is designed for very small (fewer than 10 employees), emerging, and growth-ready businesses that face challenges accessing traditional financing. It offers hands-on group learning, guided implementation, and extended one-on-one support focused on strengthening your finances, loan applications, and legal setup.

Getting a small business loan can feel confusing—but it doesn’t have to be. In this session, hear directly from a banking expert about what lenders really look for when reviewing loan applications.

Learn:

• What banks consider when deciding on a loan
• What makes a strong application
• How to improve your chances of getting approved

Brought to you by Capital Pathways, a no-cost program from the Virginia SBDC that helps small businesses get the funding they need to grow. The program is designed for very small (fewer than 10 employees), emerging, and growth-ready businesses that face challenges accessing traditional financing. It offers hands-on group learning, guided implementation, and extended one-on-one support focused on strengthening your finances, loan applications, and legal setup.

Getting your finances organized is the first step toward scaling your business or applying for funding.

In this session, we walk through simple, practical steps to help you structure your finances, build better habits, and prepare for next steps—whether that’s going after a loan or growing your operations.

Learn:

• How to separate personal and business finances
• What basic bookkeeping looks like (even using a spreadsheet)
• Simple systems to track income, expenses, and receipts What reports like an income statement can show you
• How to set goals and forecast your cash flow

This session is ideal for business owners who are ready to get structured before diving into accounting software.

Brought to you by Capital Pathways, a no-cost program from the Virginia SBDC that helps small businesses get the funding they need to grow. The program is designed for very small (fewer than 10 employees), emerging, and growth-ready businesses that face challenges accessing traditional financing. It offers hands-on group learning, guided implementation, and extended one-on-one support focused on strengthening your finances, loan applications, and legal setup.

Getting a small business loan can feel confusing—but it doesn’t have to be. In this session, hear directly from a banking expert about what lenders really look for when reviewing loan applications.

Learn:

• What banks consider when deciding on a loan
• What makes a strong application
• How to improve your chances of getting approved

Brought to you by Capital Pathways, a no-cost program from the Virginia SBDC that helps small businesses get the funding they need to grow. The program is designed for very small (fewer than 10 employees), emerging, and growth-ready businesses that face challenges accessing traditional financing. It offers hands-on group learning, guided implementation, and extended one-on-one support focused on strengthening your finances, loan applications, and legal setup.

Understanding your tax and compliance obligations is essential for protecting your business and avoiding costly surprises.

In this session, we break down the core filings every small business owner should know—local, state, and federal—so you can stay compliant and confidently manage your responsibilities throughout the year.

Learn:

• What local taxes and licenses your business may need
• How county-level business property tax and meals tax may apply to you
• Which businesses must collect and remit state sales and use tax
• What state unemployment tax means for employers
• Industry-specific taxes (fuel, tobacco, and others) you may encounter
• When and why your business needs an EIN
• The difference between W-2 and 1099 income—and how self-employment tax works
• Federal unemployment requirements and filing expectations

This session is ideal for business owners who want to clearly understand their tax landscape before tax season arrives.   

Brought to you by Capital Pathways – Southwest Virginia, a no-cost program from the Virginia SBDC that helps small businesses get the funding they need to grow. The program is designed for very small (fewer than 10 employees), emerging, and growth-ready businesses that face challenges accessing traditional financing. It offers hands-on group learning, guided implementation, and extended one-on-one support focused on strengthening your finances, loan applications, and legal setup.

If your bookkeeping is up and running, the next step is understanding what your numbers are telling you.

In this 90-minute bootcamp, we demystify the core financial statements every small business owner should know—and show you how to use them to make better decisions. You learn: 

• What an income/profit & loss, balance sheet, and cash flow statement actually show
• How to spot trends and red flags in your reports
• How to make sense of these numbers in QuickBooks or a spreadsheet
• How to use your financial data to plan, pivot, or seek funding

This session is ideal for business owners who already track their finances and want to become more confident and strategic in how they use that information.

Brought to you by Capital Pathways, a no-cost program from the Virginia SBDC that helps small businesses get the funding they need to grow. The program is designed for very small (fewer than 10 employees), emerging, and growth-ready businesses that face challenges accessing traditional financing. It offers hands-on group learning, guided implementation, and extended one-on-one support focused on strengthening your finances, loan applications, and legal setup.