The Federal Government buys over $600 billion per year on goods and services, 23% of that spend is allocated for Small Business. This is a huge opportunity for firms, who qualify, to grow their business and become part of the challenging world of Government Contracting through set-aside opportunities. In order to get noticed by small business offices, you must first create a winning capability statement. This is the most importing marketing piece you will create for your business. A properly formatted capability statement will help you get noticed and differentiate you from your competition.

Key Takeaways:

• Proper formatting of the statement

• Information to include and not include

• Differentiators, Core competencies and past performance content

• You will be provided an editable template to use for your own capability statement

• How to use the statement

Speaker(s): Lisa Wood, Director of Virginia APEX Accelerator

QuickBooks can make running your business easier—once you know how to use it.

In this hands-on session, you’ll learn how to get started in QuickBooks and set up your system to track your income, expenses, and invoices the right way from the beginning.

You’ll 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.

Each year, the State buys goods and services totaling more than $7 billion – learn how your company can be a part of that!

This webinar is designed to educate small business owners about opportunities to sell their goods and services to the Commonwealth of Virginia and many local governments.

The workshop will provide information about the Virginia procurement process (the eVA system) and the benefits of SWaM certification.

Speaker: Angela Barber, Business Services Manager, Virginia Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity, Eastern VA Region

By registering for this seminar, you grant the Virginia SBDC permission to share your contact information with the speaker.

Are you thinking about starting a business or have you recently launched your business, and want to be sure you’re on the right track? Join us for Smart Start!

Businesses that start with a solid foundation of research, planning, and setup are up to 89% more likely to remain open three years later. That’s a percentage worth betting on!

Smart Start is an interactive introductory workshop designed to answer your start-up questions and help you take the right first steps with clarity and confidence. In this session, an SBDC business advisor will share the core building blocks of a successful business and provide practical guidance to help you move from idea to action. Whether you’re still shaping your concept or ready to formalize your plans, Smart Start offers trusted tools and insights to support informed decision-making.

Smart Start also introduces you to the support available through the SBDC. The topics covered in this class create a strong foundation for your next conversation with an SBDC advisor.

What you'll explore during Smart Start:

• If entrepreneurship is right for you

• How to pick the perfect customers

• How to best validate your idea

• Keys to growing an iconic brand

• Steps to laying the foundation for a legitimate business

• What resources are available to you

• Determine what stage you are in and what your next steps are

Smart Start participation is required for individuals who have not yet started a business before scheduling a one-on-one advising appointment with an SBDC Business Advisor. This ensures advising sessions are focused and productive.

Already using QuickBooks but want to take it further?

This intermediate-level training will help you get more value from the platform by showing you how to use advanced tools, spot errors, and build better reports to support your business decisions.

You’ll learn:

• How to reconcile accounts and fix common mistakes

• How to customize and analyze reports (income/P&L, balance sheet, cash flow)

• How to manage customers, vendors, and products/services more effectively

• Tips for cleaner books and smoother reporting

• Answers to your specific questions during Q&A

This session is perfect for QuickBooks users who are ready to go beyond setup and start using the platform more strategically.

Agripalooza
Where Technology Meets Tradition

An event by Your Virginia SBDC Greater Roanoke & NRV Team in partnership with Ferrum College and Franklin County.

Join us for Agripolooza, Where Technology Meets Tradition, the must-attend event for agriculture business owners and entrepreneurs! This engaging conference focuses on blending innovation with tradition to address the challenges and opportunities facing the agriculture industry today. Whether you're running an established operation or just starting out, this event is designed to provide the insights, tools, and connections you need to succeed. Don’t miss this opportunity to engage with a thriving agriculture community and take your operation to the next level.

Featured Keynote Speaker: Virginia Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry, Katie Frazier

Conference Highlights

• Interactive Breakout Sessions

• Networking Opportunities

• Actionable Takeaways and

• Resource Connections
  
  Full event details can be viewed at www.https://www.roanokesmallbusiness.org/agripalooza

Strong growth starts with offering products or services that truly resonate with your customers. In this workshop, business owners will use the GrowthWheel framework to evaluate how well their products or services align with customer needs, expectations, and buying behavior. Participants will explore ways to refine design, pricing, and positioning—while identifying opportunities for future offerings that drive value and profitability.

The Federal Government buys over $600 billion per year on goods and services, 23% of that spend is allocated for Small Business. In order to be successful in government contracting you must know how to respond to a solicitation with a winning proposal. A properly formatted proposal will help you get noticed and differentiate you from your competition and show you are a responsible and responsive bidder. In this presentation you will learn:

• Proper formatting of a proposal

• How proposals are graded

• What are some common mistakes in proposal writing

Speaker(s): Lisa Wood, Director, Virginia APEX Accelerator

SBDC Day is observed the third Wednesday of March every year. Since its inception in 2017, the celebration recognizes the work of the nationwide network of small business development centers (SBDCs) and their collective accomplishments in helping America’s small businesses succeed. SBDC Day unites the nearly 1,000 SBDCs across the country and the hundreds of thousands of clients they serve by sharing, in real time, the success stories and notable impacts SBDCs have on the small business community at large. Wednesday, March 18, 2026 marks SBDC Day 2026.

SBDCs Support of America’s Small Businesses

SBDC’s are the foundation that supports America’s small business community. On this 10th annual SBDC Day we recognize their work in empowering individuals to turn their business dreams into reality. Through their work, the SBDC advising programs nurtured the dreams of American entrepreneurs to drive prosperity and growth across many communities throughout the United States and the territories.

With support from America’s SBDCs, small businesses are seeing remarkable returns, generating nearly ten times the value for every dollar invested. These businesses have secured $5.2 billion in financing and produced $5.1 billion in sales, achieving sales growth at twice the rate of average U.S. businesses. SBDC clients created 68,003 new full-time jobs, and 96% of them would recommend SBDC services to other businesses.

With an optimistic outlook for the future, 2026 presents strong opportunities for aspiring entrepreneurs, especially in fast-growing sectors like medical care and wellness services where demand continues to rise. Whether it’s advancing the manufacturing sector with innovative solutions or helping other firms adopt new technologies and AI, the possibilities for small businesses are expanding rapidly. The entrepreneurial landscape is also strengthening as younger generations increasingly view business ownership as an aspirational path. At the start of this year, the Census Bureau reported 532,319 new business applications, a 7.2% increase from December 2025, signaling a surge in entrepreneurial momentum nationwide. With support from SBDC’s, anyone looking to launch a business today has access to the guidance and resources needed to navigate challenges and thrive in this dynamic market.

Join the SBDC Day Celebration

Join the celebration on March 18, 2026 by following #SBDCDay on your favorite social media channel and join the conversation by sharing your SBDC small business success story. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

Read more about the real-world impact of SBDCs.

Read the 2025 Virginia SBDC Client Success Stories

We are STRONGER TOGETHER.

Does your business need a mobile app?

In this webinar, you will learn if your small business will benefit from having a mobile app, and the steps to successfully deploy and market your app on the app stores. Areas covered include:

• Market Research

• App Scoping

• Finding a Developer and Budget

• App Business Planning

• Marketing Approach

• Building a Prototype

• Launching an App

• Promoting App

Presenter: Cameron Nelson, CEO of Tenzing Startup Consultants

Small Business Administration loans can be used for a wide variety of needs including working capital, purchases of inventory and equipment, refinancing business debt, buying a business, and the purchase or construction of owner-occupied commercial real estate.

During this webinar, we will discuss the three main SBA Loan Programs - 7(a), 504 and Microloans. You will receive guidance on….

• what to do before approaching a lender

• what the SBA application process looks like

• how to find SBA lenders

Getting your finances organized is the first step toward scaling your business or applying for funding. In this session, we’ll 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.

You’ll 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.

Are you thinking about starting a business or have you recently launched your business, and want to be sure you’re on the right track? Join us for Smart Start!

Businesses that start with a solid foundation of research, planning, and setup are up to 89% more likely to remain open three years later. That’s a percentage worth betting on!

Smart Start is an interactive introductory workshop designed to answer your start-up questions and help you take the right first steps with clarity and confidence. In this session, an SBDC business advisor will share the core building blocks of a successful business and provide practical guidance to help you move from idea to action. Whether you’re still shaping your concept or ready to formalize your plans, Smart Start offers trusted tools and insights to support informed decision-making.

Smart Start also introduces you to the support available through the SBDC. The topics covered in this class create a strong foundation for your next conversation with an SBDC advisor.

What you'll explore during Smart Start:

• If entrepreneurship is right for you

• How to pick the perfect customers

• How to best validate your idea

• Keys to growing an iconic brand

• Steps to laying the foundation for a legitimate business

• What resources are available to you

• Determine what stage you are in and what your next steps are

Smart Start participation is required for individuals who have not yet started a business before scheduling a one-on-one advising appointment with an SBDC Business Advisor. This ensures advising sessions are focused and productive.

Unfamiliar with patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets? Learn about intellectual property (IP) basics and potential ways to protect your innovations as you transition from idea to product. The session will cover:

• What is the USPTO?

• An overview of intellectual property types: patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets

• Why innovators and entrepreneurs should consider protecting their IP

• How to get started in protecting your intellectual property.

Webinar presented in collaboration with the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

QuickBooks can make running your business easier—once you know how to use it.

In this hands-on session, you’ll learn how to get started in QuickBooks and set up your system to track your income, expenses, and invoices the right way from the beginning.

You’ll 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.

Cybersecurity isn’t just an IT issue—it’s a business survival issue. This webinar introduces the core cybersecurity risks impacting small businesses in 2026 and what owners can do today to protect their operations.

Key topics include:

• Common cyber-attacks affecting small businesses

• Financial and operational impacts of cyber incidents

• Data protection and privacy basics

• Managing vendor and partner risk

• Simple cybersecurity best practices that work

Designed for non-technical audiences, this session emphasizes clarity, confidence, and practical next steps.

Speaker: Quiana Gainey, Virginia SBDC Cyber Industry Expert

In most instances, Virginia companies that produce alcohol aren’t just manufacturers – they welcome customers into their facilities as hospitality and tourism businesses. As such, there’s a world of tourism support available to those who know how and who to ask.

In this webinar, Craft Beverage Assistance Manager Chris Van Orden will ask Laura Messer, Destination Development Manager at Virginia Tourism Corporation about the bevvy of resources that producers can leverage to improve the volume and experience of visitors coming to their taprooms and tasting rooms.

Confused about when to pay, how much to pay, or whether you even need to?

Learn the basics every business owner should know. Who must make estimated payments, how to calculate them in real life, and how to avoid IRS penalties without draining your bank account.

Taught by Tom Tanner, Licensed IRS Enrolled Agent & Business Advisor, Greater Roanoke & NRV SBDC Business Advisor

Join us for an informative virtual session led by the Virginia Tourism Corporation (VTC) Grants team!

VTC offers several funding programs to assist the Virginia travel industry. This webinar will focus on the Marketing Leverage Program grant, for travel industry partners including small businesses, DMOs, private sector attractions, accommodations, museums, lodging and events - which opens in mid-February 2026.

Join Staci Martin, Grants Director, Noah Salaah ad-Deen, Grants Manager, and Shruthi Manimaran, Grants Coordinator for a deep dive into this program.

You will leave with a better understanding of

• the program

• the marketing focus

• who is eligible

• in-kind and cash management requirements

• timelines and deadlines

• and how to apply

Are you thinking about starting a business or have you recently launched your business, and want to be sure you’re on the right track? Join us for Smart Start!

Businesses that start with a solid foundation of research, planning, and setup are up to 89% more likely to remain open three years later. That’s a percentage worth betting on!

Smart Start is an interactive introductory workshop designed to answer your start-up questions and help you take the right first steps with clarity and confidence. In this session, an SBDC business advisor will share the core building blocks of a successful business and provide practical guidance to help you move from idea to action. Whether you’re still shaping your concept or ready to formalize your plans, Smart Start offers trusted tools and insights to support informed decision-making.

Smart Start also introduces you to the support available through the SBDC. The topics covered in this class create a strong foundation for your next conversation with an SBDC advisor.

What you'll explore during Smart Start:

• If entrepreneurship is right for you

• How to pick the perfect customers

• How to best validate your idea

• Keys to growing an iconic brand

• Steps to laying the foundation for a legitimate business

• What resources are available to you

• Determine what stage you are in and what your next steps are

Smart Start participation is required for individuals who have not yet started a business before scheduling a one-on-one advising appointment with an SBDC Business Advisor. This ensures advising sessions are focused and productive.

Ready to turn big sales goals into focused, doable action? AI for Sales Planning invites growing businesses to use AI to bring clarity to forecasting, prioritize the right opportunities, and stay consistent with follow-through. Join us to build a simple, practical framework that turns annual revenue targets into confident, week-by-week sales momentum.

A Practical Planning Session for Business Owners Ready to Scale

Growth doesn’t happen by accident — it happens through clear goals, honest reflection, and intentional execution.

Vision 2026 is an interactive, in-person working session designed for established business owners who are ready to scale with purpose over the next 12–24 months. Using the Greater Roanoke & NRV SBDC Goal Setting Workbook, participants will step back from daily operations to assess where their business is today, define what meaningful growth looks like, and build a realistic plan to get there.

This session is hands-on and practical. Business owners will work through guided exercises to reflect on wins and losses, identify non-negotiables, uncover bottlenecks, set measurable revenue and operational goals, and translate those goals into clear actions and timelines. Peer discussion and facilitated guidance help participants pressure-test ideas and strengthen accountability.

During this session, you will:

• Reflect on business wins, losses, and missed opportunities to inform future decisions

• Clarify your Vision for 2026 and set intentional, values-aligned goals

• Identify bottlenecks, glass ceilings, and capacity constraints limiting growth

• Break revenue and operational goals into realistic milestones

• Prioritize actions using SMART goal planning and outcome-based thinking

• Align your time, energy, and resources to support sustainable growth

• Establish accountability and feedback loops to support follow-through

Who should attend:

• Business owners with 2+ years in operation

• Entrepreneurs thinking about scaling revenue, capacity, or impact

• Owners feeling stretched and ready to grow more intentionally

• Business leaders who want structure, clarity, and accountability—not fluff

Participants will leave with momentum, having begun their planning workbook, identified priority actions, clarified their growth direction, and gained peer insights and connections to ongoing SBDC resources.

Are you thinking about starting a business or have you recently launched your business, and want to be sure you’re on the right track? Join us for Smart Start!

Businesses that start with a solid foundation of research, planning, and setup are up to 89% more likely to remain open three years later. That’s a percentage worth betting on!

Smart Start is an interactive introductory workshop designed to answer your start-up questions and help you take the right first steps with clarity and confidence. In this session, an SBDC business advisor will share the core building blocks of a successful business and provide practical guidance to help you move from idea to action. Whether you’re still shaping your concept or ready to formalize your plans, Smart Start offers trusted tools and insights to support informed decision-making.

Smart Start also introduces you to the support available through the SBDC. The topics covered in this class create a strong foundation for your next conversation with an SBDC advisor.

What you'll explore during Smart Start:

• If entrepreneurship is right for you

• How to pick the perfect customers

• How to best validate your idea

• Keys to growing an iconic brand

• Steps to laying the foundation for a legitimate business

• What resources are available to you

• Determine what stage you are in and what your next steps are

Smart Start participation is required for individuals who have not yet started a business before scheduling a one-on-one advising appointment with an SBDC Business Advisor. This ensures advising sessions are focused and productive.

Bonding can be a critical requirement when pursuing government contracts—but for many small businesses, it’s also one of the least understood. In this one-hour session, industry experts from Assured Partners will walk you through the fundamentals of bonding, including what it is, when it's required, and how to qualify. You’ll gain a clearer understanding of how bonding fits into the government contracting process and what steps you can take now to become bond-ready for future opportunities.

Whether you're new to contracting or looking to sharpen your skills this workshop for you.

This workshop is presented in partnership with Virginia APEX Center, Southwest Virginia Community College APEX Center, the Virginia Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity and the Virginia Small Business Development Center, Greater Roanoke & NRV.

To meet the growing demand of our region’s start-ups, we’ve created a course to accelerate your idea into an actionable start. Businesses that start with a solid foundation of research, planning, and setup are up to 89% more likely to remain open three years later. That’s a percentage worth betting on!

What you'll explore:

• If entrepreneurship is right for you

• How to pick the perfect customers

• How to best validate your idea

• Keys to growing an iconic brand

• Steps to laying the foundation for a legitimate business

• What resources are available to you

• Determine what stage you are in and what your next steps are

Growth isn’t just about working harder—it’s about working smarter and unlocking untapped potential.

Great businesses aren't built alone. In this interactive Grow Smart session, we’ll explore how to strategically develop partnerships and collaborations that fuel growth, reduce risk, and unlock new markets. Whether you're thinking about co-marketing, shared services, joint ventures, or formal partnerships, this session will help you evaluate opportunities and build strong, mutually beneficial relationships.

Using the GrowthWheel framework, you'll learn how to assess partnership readiness, identify potential collaborators, and set up agreements that support your long-term goals.

Scale Up NRV is a one-day, in-person event designed for growth-minded business owners who are ready to take their companies to the next level. This high-energy program combines expert-led sessions, a powerful keynote, and engaging panel discussions to deliver actionable strategies for scaling sustainably, leveraging emerging technologies like AI, streamlining operations, and accessing the capital needed to expand.