Raleighnc.gov logo
Thank you for printing this page from the City of Raleigh's Official Website (www.raleighnc.gov)
https://raleighnc.gov/doing-business/services/small-business-event-calendar
08/27/2025 2:03 pm

Downtown Raleigh skyline

Small Business Event Calendar

Events held by local small business partners

Updated: Aug 27, 2025

The City of Raleigh enjoys an ecosystem of support organizations that focus on the success of small business owners. This calendar highlights small business-related events offered by these partners in the City of Raleigh. Event types include:

  • Training & resources
  • Public affairs, annual meetings & expos
  • Grant & funding application dates
  • Vendor or foot traffic opportunities
  • Networking events

  • Sep
    9

    Partner Event: Orientación sobre su negocio y Prospera

    5 p.m. • Tuesday
    Add to Calendar 2025-09-09 17:00:00 2025-09-09 18:30:00 Partner Event: Orientación sobre su negocio y Prospera Hosted by ProsperaObtenga información básica sobre cómo comenzar un negocio de forma correcta y exitosa. Aprenderá sobre:• Licencias y permisos básicos• Requisitos del estado• Opciones de financiamiento• Cómo Prospera le puede proveer asistencia para comenzar o expandir su negocio City of Raleigh America/New_York public
  • Sep
    9

    Partner Event: Welcome To Entrepreneurship

    5:30 p.m. • Tuesday
    Add to Calendar 2025-09-09 17:30:00 2025-09-09 19:30:00 Partner Event: Welcome To Entrepreneurship Hosted by SCOREThis class is a must for anyone that is thinking about starting a business or has recently launched a business and has questions that need to be answered. We encourage you to bring with you any questions you might have. The class will be presented by Mr. Fred Lorber, a certified SCORE mentor and class instructor. Mr. Lorber is a seasoned entrepreneur, business development expert, and accomplished speaker with over three decades of experience in sales, strategic planning, and customer relationship management. Lorber’s areas of expertise include new business development, strategic planning, B2B sales, and negotiation, all honed through a diverse career that spans industries such as e-commerce, website development, hospitality, and retail. Mr. Lorber has consistently delivered results, including growing businesses from start-up to profitability, improving customer engagement metrics, and training teams to achieve operational excellence. During this two hour in-person session you will learn about: Personal characteristics of an Entrepreneur Legal entities—LLC vs. Sole Proprietorship Federal ID Number Business Feasibility Analysis Capital—Equity vs. Debt Basic Bookkeeping Made Easy Business Modeling Insurance Taxes—Filing requirements for Federal and State Lastly, you will be introduced to SCORE and the invaluable work that their Mentors provide to new start-ups. City of Raleigh America/New_York public
  • Sep
    9

    Partner Event: Photographing Your Work

    6 p.m. • Tuesday
    Add to Calendar 2025-09-09 18:00:00 2025-09-09 20:00:00 Partner Event: Photographing Your Work Hosted by Triangle ArtWorksAre you an artist who wants to take better photos of your work?  Do you want some tips and best practices for photographing your artwork?   Join Brady Connelly in this workshop where they focus on the components of successful professional images and product photos.  Brady will discuss practical tips and best practices for shooting, lighting and editing. Whether participants have a DSLR camera or are using a smartphone, they will walk away with a strategy to optimize their photography set up in their own studios.  Participants will be provided a workshop overview and a takeaway handout with notes and best practices. EARLY BIRD PRICING THROUGH SEPT 3, $38 GENERAL PRICING THROUGH SEPT 8, $48 DAY OF WORKSHOP PRICING $53 This virtual class meets on Tuesday, September 9th, 2025 from 6:00-8:00pm. The class meets on Zoom and you will receive login information before the class. Don't miss this opportunity to gain knowledge on how to improve your product photography! This programming is being presented with the support of Arts Catawba and participants who reside in Catawba County may be eligible for free or reduced registration fees. If you think you qualify, please contact Arts Catawba here to determine eligibility and registration procedures.  City of Raleigh America/New_York public
  • Sep
    10

    Partner Event: Introduction to Federal Contracting

    10 a.m. • Wednesday
    Add to Calendar 2025-09-10 10:00:00 2025-09-10 11:30:00 Partner Event: Introduction to Federal Contracting Hosted by Wake Tech Small Business CenterThe U.S. Federal Government is the world’s largest customer - and small businesses are a critical part of its supply chain. But breaking into federal contracting can feel overwhelming without a roadmap. The Government Contracting Foundations Series is designed for small businesses that are curious about federal work but don’t know where to start. With these monthly webinars, you’ll learn the basics step by step: how the government buys, how to register, what certifications mean, how to define your company’s capabilities, and what infrastructure you need in place to compete. Whether you’re a one-person shop or a growing business, this series gives you practical, no-nonsense guidance to help you decide if federal contracting is right for you and how to get started the right way. Note: These sessions are focused on federal contracting - how to do business with U.S. federal agencies. While some concepts may apply broadly, this series is not designed for companies pursuing state or local government contracts. Wed, Sep 10, 2025 10:00 to 11:30 AM ET Foundations Session 1: Introduction to Federal Contracting Wed, Oct 8, 2025 10:00 to 11:30 AM ET Foundations Session 2: Small Business Certifications Wed, Nov 12, 2025 10:00 to 11:30 AM ET Foundations Session 3: Past Performance and Corporate Experience Wed, Dec 10, 2025 10:00 to 11:30 AM ET Foundations Session 4: Market Demand: Who Buys What You Sell Wed, Jan 14, 2026 10:00 to 11:30 AM ET Foundations Session 5: Capability Statements Wed, Feb 11, 2026 10:00 to 11:30 AM ET Foundations Session 6: The Federal Sales Cycle Wed, Mar 11, 2026 10:00 to 11:30 AM ET Foundations Session 7: Foundational Infrastructure for GovCon Wed, Apr 8, 2026 10:00 to 11:30 AM ET Foundations Session 8: Human Factors in GovCon Session 1 – Introduction to Federal Contracting Discover what federal contracting is and why it matters for small businesses. We’ll break down how the government buys goods and services, explain NAICS codes in plain language, and walk you through registering in SAM.gov and Matchforce.org. This session is your first step toward opening the door to the $600+ billion federal marketplace. Reena Bhatia of the NC Military Business Center at Wake Tech will provide a basic overview of essential topics. This webinar will be presented via Microsoft Teams platform. If you've never used Teams it will ask you to download onto your computer. We ask that you go ahead and complete this step, utilizing the same First Name, Last Name and Email address used during registration. Once you do this it will allow you access to the webinar. We recommend that you sign in to the webinar at least five minutes prior to the start of the session to ensure you don't have any technical issues. City of Raleigh America/New_York public
  • Sep
    10

    Partner Event: Never Too Late: Starting a Business at 50+

    6:30 p.m. • Wednesday
    Add to Calendar 2025-09-10 18:30:00 2025-09-10 20:00:00 Partner Event: Never Too Late: Starting a Business at 50+ Hosted by Wake Tech Small Business CenterUnleash your entrepreneurial dreams! Our seminar, Never Too Late: Starting a Small Business at 50+, is designed specifically for those ready to write their next chapter. Learn how to turn your lifetime of experience into a fulfilling and profitable business venture. If you’ve always thought of starting a small business or believe a side hustle could bring in some income now is the time! Never Too Late: Starting a Small Business at 50+ will guide you through the essential steps, empowering you with the confidence to succeed. Register today and embark on an exciting new journey! The presenter is Mike Collins, president of The Perfect Workday Company and author of The Best Small Business to Start Right Now!. Collins has written 8 books and has dozens of articles in national, regional, and local business magazines. THIS IS A LIVE SEMINAR WITH LIMITED SEATING- PLEASE PRE-REGISTER! City of Raleigh America/New_York public
  • Sep
    11

    Partner Event: Simple Steps for Starting Your Business #1

    5:30 p.m. • Thursday
    Add to Calendar 2025-09-11 17:30:00 2025-09-11 19:30:00 Partner Event: Simple Steps for Starting Your Business #1 Hosted by SCOREStart-up Basics: This introductory workshop focuses on the basics of testing your business idea and identifying the key factors that influence start-up success. Start-up Basics provides you with an overview of the skills and tools you need when deciding to start a business. In this session, you learn about: the advantages and disadvantages of owning a business, the most profitable form for your business, and the fundamentals of formation, organization, marketing, cash flow and funding sources. City of Raleigh America/New_York public
  • Sep
    11

    Partner Event: Digital Networking 101: Building Your Brand Presence

    6:30 p.m. • Thursday
    Add to Calendar 2025-09-11 18:30:00 2025-09-11 19:30:00 Partner Event: Digital Networking 101: Building Your Brand Presence Hosted by Consult Your Community - NC State We’re excited to invite you to our first Small Business Seminar of the semester on Thursday, September 11th from 6:30–7:30 PM in Nelson 1212! This month’s topic is Digital Networking 101: Building Your Brand Presence. Whether you’re a returning vendor or brand new to CYC, this seminar is a chance to strengthen your business toolkit and connect with the Raleigh small business community. At the seminar, you’ll have the opportunity to:-  Gain beginner-friendly insights on digital networking and brand-building-  Connect with fellow small business owners and entrepreneurs-  Participate in an interactive workshop to craft your brand story Agenda6:30 PM → Welcome & Speed Friending6:40 PM → Digital Networking 101: Why Your Online Presence Matters6:55 PM → Interactive Workshop: Crafting Your Brand Story7:15 PM → Open Q&A 👉 Please RSVP by September 9th using this form: RSVP Form Save the Dates: This fall, we’ll be hosting monthly seminars on the second Thursday of each month, September, October, and November. Each session will cover a new topic designed to support and empower small businesses. City of Raleigh America/New_York public
  • Sep
    13

    Partner Event: Doing Business with NCDOT for the Small Business Owner

    10 a.m. • Saturday
    Add to Calendar 2025-09-13 10:00:00 2025-09-13 12:00:00 Partner Event: Doing Business with NCDOT for the Small Business Owner Hosted by Wake Tech Community College Small Business CenterThe N.C. Department of Transportation's Division of Highways, in partnership with the department’s Office of Civil Rights and Wake Tech Small Business Center is hosting an outreach workshop on 9/13/25 for Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBE) — whether a small, woman-owned or minority-owned business, NCDOT wants to work with you! In this session, you will learn how to secure contract opportunities with NCDOT. NCDOT's Division of Highways advertises and awards numerous contracts each year for all sorts of transportation work. Each project is an opportunity for NCDOT to encourage DBE participation and provide equitable and balanced access for these businesses to compete on contracts. NCDOT has multiple contract opportunities statewide, including: • Construction • Maintenance • Emergency work • Mowing • Traffic control • Tree service • Cleaning service • Litter pickup Speaker(s): NCDOT Division Planning Engineer City of Raleigh America/New_York public
  • Sep
    13

    Partner Event: Pricing Your Product or Service

    10:30 a.m. • Saturday
    Add to Calendar 2025-09-13 10:30:00 2025-09-13 12:00:00 Partner Event: Pricing Your Product or Service Hosted by SCORESetting the right price for your products or services can make or break your business. In this interactive workshop, small business owners and entrepreneurs will learn how to calculate costs, research the competition, and apply pricing models. We’ll cover the fundamentals of identifying direct and indirect costs, separating fixed and variable expenses, and ensuring your prices cover costs while delivering value to customers. We’ll also review common pricing strategies—such as cost-plus, value-based, and competitive pricing—and discuss when each approach works best. By the end of the session, you’ll have a clear process for setting sustainable, profitable prices that support your business goals and keep you competitive in your market. City of Raleigh America/New_York public
  • Sep
    15

    Partner Event: Intro to Quickbooks Part 2

    6:30 p.m. • Monday
    Add to Calendar 2025-09-15 18:30:00 2025-09-15 20:00:00 Partner Event: Intro to Quickbooks Part 2 Hosted by Wake Tech Small Business CenterJoin us for the second installment of our QuickBooks webinar series, where we dive deeper into the advanced features and functionalities of QuickBooks. This session is designed for users who are already familiar with the basics and are looking to enhance their skills and efficiency. We will cover topics such as advanced reporting, inventory management, payroll processing, and integration with third-party apps. Our expert presenter will provide practical tips, real-world examples, and live demonstrations to help you maximize the potential of QuickBooks for your business. Don't miss this opportunity to take your QuickBooks proficiency to the next level! You can bring your own laptop! City of Raleigh America/New_York public

Contact

 

Jocelyn Sanchez
Small Business and Workforce Development Analyst
jocelyn.sanchez@raleighnc.gov
984-220-2958

Subscribe

 
Back to Doing Business
Lead Department:
Economic and Social Advancement
Service Categories:
Small Business Development