OXFORD, Miss. – Aspiring entrepreneurs and business owners in Lafayette and Panola counties are invited to attend a live webinar at 6 p.m. Aug. 25 on “How to successfully set up a small business in Mississippi.”
Offered by the Mississippi Small Business Development Center, the session will teach participants how to establish a legal business in the state. Attendees will get step-by-step guidance on business licenses, necessary reports, permits, state and local taxes, and more. The event is part of the MS-SBDC’s Mississippi Entrepreneurial Launchpad Program.
The webinar will feature Mitch McDowell, MS-SBDC assistant state director, and Jim Harper, MS-SBDC director at Hinds Community College. They will walk participants through the process of getting a business set up correctly so that it is recognized by state and federal government agencies.
“One of the issues we ran into lately was that some business owners that applied for the federal SBA relief loans for COVID-19 were not eligible because they didn’t have their businesses set up correctly,” Harper said. “We’d like to help everyone who is doing business, or would like to do business, to make sure they have all the proper paperwork and licenses in place so they are a legal entity.”
During the hourlong event, staff from the Mississippi Secretary of State’s office will spend a few minutes explaining the resources and services that are available through their office. The discussion will also touch on scams to avoid, and the importance of filing annual reports.
The event is free. Space is limited and interested parties are urged to sign up quickly at https://clients.mssbdc.org/workshop.aspx?ekey=28400051.
Although preference will be given to Lafayette and Panola county residents, registration will open to the general public on Aug. 15 to fill any remaining space.
Since 1981, the Mississippi Small Business Development Center has served the entrepreneurs and small business owners of the Magnolia State. By way of eight centers located throughout the state, including the headquarters at the University of Mississippi, the center’s business counselors offer one-on-one counseling, technical support and workshops designed to assist the small business communities in Mississippi. All counseling services and workshops are 100% confidential and no-charge.
For more information, contact Michelle Thompson, communications specialist, at mthomp@olemiss.edu.