QEDC

Ready, Set, Go!
2024-08-13 19:00 - 20:00, 2024-07-09 19:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York)
About the Webinar:

Ready, Set, Go! is a 90-minute free workshop that covers all the things you need to think about when going into business. It provides a general overview of what it takes to start a business; legal considerations and what it takes to fund a new venture.

About the Speaker:

Roy Pellicano ran an IT services company for over 15 years working with small and mid-sized businesses across all industries, from the single computer Mom & Pop to the 63 location company. In addition to supporting IT, Roy advises business teams developing and implementing strategy across the business lifecycle from start-up to exit, including how to implement business and technology transformation.

Virtual Legal Clinic
2024-07-25 16:30 - 18:15
NELP’s virtual legal clinics provide microentrepreneurs with free personalized legal advice on business-related matters from volunteer attorneys during a 45-minute consultation.
Please note that the Neighborhood Entrepreneur Law Project does not assist with non-profit entity formation, litigation, collection matters or disputes.
Appointment times at our virtual clinics are i) 4:30-5:15 pm and ii) 5:30-6:15 pm. The events typically accommodate 10 clients in total (5 clients at the 4:30 pm slot and 5 clients at the 5:30 pm slot).

Get Business From NYC and NYS Government: M/WBE Certification
2024-07-24 18:30 - 20:00
Learn about getting certified as a Minority / Woman-owned Business Enterprise with NYC & NYS, what you will need to do to obtain government contracts, and how you can leverage your certification to get more business at this free online webinar.
About the Speaker
Since coming to QEDC, Ricardi Calixte has worked with many neighborhoods’ business organizations to help improve the local economy. He spearheaded the development of Corona Plaza, transforming an under-utilized area into one of the borough’s foremost pedestrian plazas. He works closely with merchant groups, foundations, and government agencies to help local communities reach their potential.
A native of Haiti, Ricardi graduated from New York City public schools and has a BA degree in Economics, an MA in Africana Studies, and an MRP in Urban Planning from SUNY Albany. He is a CORO Fellow. He lives Queens and is the proud father of a daughter and son.

Get Business From NYC and NYS Government: M/WBE Certification
2024-06-19 18:30 - 20:00, 2024-05-15 18:30 - 20:00, 2024-04-17 18:30 - 20:00, 2024-03-20 18:30 - 20:00, 2024-02-21 18:30 - 20:00
Learn about getting certified as a Minority / Woman-owned Business Enterprise with NYC & NYS, what you will need to do to obtain government contracts, and how you can leverage your certification to get more business.
About the Speaker
Since coming to QEDC, Ricardi Calixte has worked with many neighborhoods’ business organizations to help improve the local economy. He spearheaded the development of Corona Plaza, transforming an under-utilized area into one of the borough’s foremost pedestrian plazas. He works closely with merchant groups, foundations, and government agencies to help local communities reach their potential.
A native of Haiti, Ricardi graduated from New York City public schools and has a BA degree in Economics, an MA in Africana Studies, and an MRP in Urban Planning from SUNY Albany. He is a CORO Fellow. He lives Queens and is the proud father of a daughter and son.

Before Due Diligence
2024-06-14 12:00 - 13:00
This workshop is intended for well-established businesses, whose owners are contemplating the sale of their business or another exit strategy. The information provided will help the owner put all its books and records in order; identify “hidden liabilities” that should be addressed; and otherwise put the business in a position to expedite the due diligence investigation. It is useful mostly for Sellers but can give Buyers valuable information, too.

Ready, Set, Go!
2024-06-11 19:00 - 20:00, 2024-05-14 19:00 - 20:00, 2024-04-09 19:00 - 20:00, 2024-03-12 19:00 - 20:00
About the Webinar:

Ready, Set, Go! is a 90-minute free workshop that covers all the things you need to think about when going into business. It provides a general overview of what it takes to start a business; legal considerations and what it takes to fund a new venture.

About the Speakers:

Thomas Farrell is a lawyer with a great deal of experience with contracts, employment matters, and regulatory compliance. He offers a combination of programs and practices to owners of small- and medium-sized businesses, largely designed to prevent them from being sued or from being investigated by government agencies.
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Roy Pellicano ran an IT services company for over 15 years working with small and mid-sized businesses across all industries, from the single computer Mom & Pop to the 63 location company. In addition to supporting IT, Roy advises business teams developing and implementing strategy across the business lifecycle from start-up to exit, including how to implement business and technology transformation.

THE LEGAL SIDE OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP
2024-06-04 18:00 - 2024-06-27 20:00
We are happy to announce our next intensive TEES course starting in June, which will focus on helping you to understand the legal aspects of business ownership. Our instructors for this course consist of a range of legal, business, and tax professionals teaching individual classes based on their areas of expertise. Running a business requires a familiarity with a number of legal areas, from licensing to hiring staff and acquiring proper insurance coverage. We look forward to you joining us in this virtual course.
Objectives:

Understand the legal implications of running a business
Learn how to decipher legal agreements, and decide on how to best protect your business and personal assets.
Be able to find key resources that you can refer back to when you need them.

Class Dates: June 4 through June 27
Course Schedule:
(Unless noted, each class will be from 6-8PM):
Class 1 June 4– Licenses and Permits in NYS (Kitty Chan & Andrea Tan)
Class 2 June 6 – Business Registration: The different structures broken down (Thomas Farrell)
Class 3 June 11 – Important Tax Numbers: EIN and Sales Tax (Latasha Bryan)
Class 4 June 13 – Taxes 101 (Latasha Bryan)
Class 5 June 18 – Intellectual Property 101 (Melanie Cunningham)
Class 6 June 20 – Contracts 101 (Melanie Cunningham)
Class 7 June 25 (12-1:30 PM) – W2 vs 1099? (Thomas Farrell)
Class 8 June 27 – Insurance – (Bob Bleistein)
Price: Free! There will be no cost to this program.
If you attend all eight sessions In this course, you will receive a certificate of completion.

Contracts
2024-05-23 12:00 - 13:00
This is a primer on Contract language: basic elements, some language to be familiar with, and what I call “litigation traps”–the stuff in the small print that can mean big trouble. The object is to “de-mystify” contracts, putting SMBs in a better position to negotiate and to communicate with their professionals. Part 1 introduces basic contract principals and terminology; Part 2 covers more sophisticated concepts and clauses.

Queens Taste 2024
2024-05-21 18:00 - 21:00
May 21 @ 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
The Queens Economic Development Corporation and Queens Tourism Council will host Queens Taste 2024 at the New York Hall of Science in Flushing Meadows Corona Park on Tuesday, May 21, from 6 pm to 9 pm.
We expect to attract more than 500 attendees with 50 restaurants and beverage purveyors, who will offer samples of their products. Thus, attendees will be able to bounce from table to table, tasting treats from tangy to fiery, crunchy to velvety, and sweet to briny.
Queens Taste is also a celebration of the borough — and a great way to network. Almost all the anticipated 500 attendees either live in Queens or do business there. Many are executives and captains of industry. The atmosphere is always festive, almost giddy, creating an ideal scene for meeting and greeting.
Get Your Tickets Here!
Here’s the list of the entities that have expressed interest so far: 10-63 Meal; 80s Rabbit; Althea’s Tropical Delights; Applebee’s Grill + Bar; Arepalicious; Bevo’s Kitchen; Bocaito Café; Brooklyn Brewery; Culiraw; Condesa Gin; F. Ottomanelli Burgers & Belgian Fries; Fogo de Châo; Fuzi Pasta Co.; Glaze Donuts; Harlem Baking Co.; Heart of Gold; Little Chef Kitchen; Manhattan Beer; Mansi; Mayahuel Astoria; MumsKitchens NYC; Muncan Food Corp; Neir’s Tavern; Oso Cacao, Paellas Y Tapas NY, QNSY Sparkling Cocktails; Queens Community House; Queens Curry Kitchen; Rincon Salvadoreño; RW Prime; Rudy’s Bakery & Café; Santa Chiara Alta Pasticceria; Schmidt’s Candy; SingleCut Beersmiths; Sassy Sweet Vegan Treats; Sydney’s Sweets; Taste of Surabaya; The Soup Lady; The Wine Room of Forest Hills; Tipsy Scoop; and Zhego NYC.
Sponsors

Sales Conversations: How to Win
2024-04-25 13:00 - 14:00
In this workshop, you will learn how to win sales conversations. Professional sales people will help you practice your sales conversations 1 on 1.
By the end of the workshop, you will be able to guide your customer through the sales conversation. More importantly, we will show you how to simplify the conversation, so you can take more time to listen.
You will learn:

How to organize a sales call

How to win sales calls whether the customer buys or not

The exact questions to ask to get a decision in 20 minutes or less

In just 1 hour, you will transform how you speak with your customers – and win more deals.
About the Speaker
Derrick Duplessy, since 2009, has dedicated himself to helping develop the sales process for women, immigrants, and minority business owners, allowing them to achieve remarkable success, collectively generating over $20M in sales in the last 5 years.
His skill as a sales coach has grown after conducting over 1,000 1-on-1 coaching sessions. Derrick’s work has been featured in the Boston Globe, NPR, and the Doctors television show.
Derrick’s vision is to identify and support 1,000 diverse business owners, each reaching $1M in annual revenue by 2040.
When he is not working, he is teaching his 3-year-old son, DJ, Haitian Kreyol.
––
Here are some career highlights:
Marie Saint Cyr (2022) – Employed 90 artists in 2022. Went from $49k to $1M+ revenue in less than 2 years. Haitian immigrant who runs mural company, Saint Cyr Art Studio.
Karla Morales (2021) – She went from cleaning houses to cleaning stadiums in less than 2 years. 21 yr old Puerto Rican secures contract with Red Sox AAA team stadium. Her company, Your Home Detox uses all environmentally friendly products and procedures.
Mishell Brookins-Ekunsirinde (2022) – In 2 years, she went from selling at kiosks to Target, Nordstrom, and Buy Buy Baby. Stina & Mae, her baby accessory brand, sells gift boxes for new moms.

Avoid a $500 a Day Fine: The New Law Affecting All Businesses
2024-04-24 12:30 - 13:30
Since January of this year, all businesses need to comply with a new law, and failure to do so can result in fines up to $500 a day. This new law, the Corporate Transparency Act, requires businesses like yours to submit a report (called a Beneficial Ownership Information Report, or BOI Report) to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN). For businesses registered before 2024, this must be done by the end of year, or else you will start accruing daily fines. If you registered your business this year, you only have 90 days from your business registration to submit this report. Even if you have never had to submit any form of report for your business, you are still required do so now. There are no exemptions for small businesses, new businesses, or businesses with little to no revenue. Even if you consider your business inactive, you are still required to comply.
To assist you in meeting this requirement, QEDC has developed a comprehensive webinar designed to guide you through the registration process step by step. This resource is invaluable for both new and existing businesses, and it is time-sensitive. We encourage all business owners to take advantage of this opportunity to ensure compliance and avoid any potential penalties.

About the Speaker
Digna Cueto is a business professional with over 20 years of experience in the corporate retail sector. As an entrepreneur, she leads a successful business offering comprehensive services such as tax preparation, accounting, and payroll. Additionally, she is a distinguished instructor at a renowned tax preparation school, where she shares her knowledge and experience with future professionals in the field.

Special Class: Become a Power User of ChatGPT
2024-04-22 18:30 - 2024-05-13 20:30
This four part course is for small business owners who want to stay ahead of AI innovations. In this course, you’ll learn how to make the most of ChatGPT and ensure your business isn’t left behind in the rapidly evolving world of artificial intelligence.
The four classes in this course will cover the following:

Mon, April 22, 6:30 – 8:30 PM EST: Who is a Power User of ChatGPT? In this module, you’ll explore the concept of a power user, discover the capabilities of ChatGPT, and gain insights into the history of computers and innovations. You’ll also learn about the future of AI-powered apps and their potential impact on businesses and jobs.
Mon, April 29, 6:30 – 8:30 PM EST: What do I need to become a ChatGPT Power User? This module introduces you to the tools and resources necessary to become a ChatGPT power user. You’ll learn about OpenAI, GPTs, APIs, and prompts. You’ll also explore the differences between GPT-3.5 turbo and GPT-4.0, understand the importance of internet access and data for prompting, and discover various prompting techniques, including few-shot learning. Additionally, you’ll take a guided tour of the available resources using OpenAI and receive bookmarked resources and quick explainers.
Mon, May 6, 6:30 – 8:30 PM EST: How do I become a ChatGPT Power User? In the third module, you’ll learn the steps to become a ChatGPT power user. You’ll discover how to write effective prompts, train models using few-shot techniques, and use and create GPTs. The module also covers exceptions to the rules, such as when to use the API versus a GPT and when to buy versus build.
Mon, May 13, 6:30 – 8:30 PM EST: Capstone – Build a GPT: In the final module, we will learn exceptions to the rules. And then pick a real-world scenario to build a GPT for. And course participants will build their own custom GPT.

By the end of this course, you’ll have the knowledge and skills necessary to become a ChatGPT power user and leverage AI technology to drive your business forward in the ever-changing digital landscape.

Instructor: Jai Bhagat

Jai is an engineer and professor focusing on human computer interaction and AI research. Upon doing his research, Jai has decided to dive into the world of applied AI by exploring the wellness industry via breathwork. He’s testing how he can teach at scale using AI as the backend of his business.

How to Find Your Ideal Customers
2024-04-18 13:00 - 14:00
In this workshop, you will learn how to find your ideal customers. They can pay. They have a problem you can solve. You don’t have to twist their arm to get to ‘yes’.
You will learn:

Where to consistently find your potential customers

What questions to ask to see if they are ‘your ideal customer’

How to find referral partners who can refer multiple customers to you

Sign up for this workshop to stop wasting time chasing the wrong people.
About the Speaker
Derrick Duplessy, since 2009, has dedicated himself to helping develop the sales process for women, immigrants, and minority business owners, allowing them to achieve remarkable success, collectively generating over $20M in sales in the last 5 years.
His skill as a sales coach has grown after conducting over 1,000 1-on-1 coaching sessions. Derrick’s work has been featured in the Boston Globe, NPR, and the Doctors television show.
Derrick’s vision is to identify and support 1,000 diverse business owners, each reaching $1M in annual revenue by 2040.
When he is not working, he is teaching his 3-year-old son, DJ, Haitian Kreyol.
––
Here are some career highlights:
Marie Saint Cyr (2022) – Employed 90 artists in 2022. Went from $49k to $1M+ revenue in less than 2 years. Haitian immigrant who runs mural company, Saint Cyr Art Studio.
Karla Morales (2021) – She went from cleaning houses to cleaning stadiums in less than 2 years. 21 yr old Puerto Rican secures contract with Red Sox AAA team stadium. Her company, Your Home Detox uses all environmentally friendly products and procedures.
Mishell Brookins-Ekunsirinde (2022) – In 2 years, she went from selling at kiosks to Target, Nordstrom, and Buy Buy Baby. Stina & Mae, her baby accessory brand, sells gift boxes for new moms.

Commercial Lease Strategies
2024-04-18 11:30 - 13:00
This workshop gives pointers on how to successfully negotiate a lease that serves the business owner’s interests and minimizes his or her risk. There will be discussion of how to negotiate, what to negotiate, and what information can be useful before you negotiate. In addition, there will be some information about the impact of COVID-19 on existing leases and lease negotiations.

NELP Virtual Legal Clinic
2024-04-11 16:30 - 18:30
NELP’s virtual legal clinics provide microentrepreneurs with free personalized legal advice on business-related matters from volunteer attorneys during a 45-minute consultation.
Common small business legal topics covered in our clinics include Entity Formation, Business Contracts, Labor and Employment, Commercial Leasing, and Intellectual Property. Please note, however, that the Neighborhood Entrepreneur Law Project does not assist with non-profit entity formation, litigation, collection matters or disputes.
Appointment times at our virtual clinics are i) 4:30-5:15 pm and ii) 5:30-6:15 pm. The events typically accommodate 10 clients in total (5 clients at the 4:30 pm slot and 5 clients at the 5:30 pm slot).
Please fill out NELP’s online registration form and list QEDC under the ‘How did you hear about NELP?’ question.

2024 Sales Planning
2024-04-11 13:00 - 14:00
In this workshop, you will learn how to set and reach your sales goal. In one hour, you will have the same process many in our community have used to double their sales in one year.
You will learn:

How to shrink 12 months of sales goals into 12 weeks
How to know if you are going to meet your sales goal months in advance
How to avoid the “December rush” to meet your annual sales goal

Sign up to create a clear process to meet your sales goal this year.
About the Speaker
Derrick Duplessy, since 2009, has dedicated himself to helping develop the sales process for women, immigrants, and minority business owners, allowing them to achieve remarkable success, collectively generating over $20M in sales in the last 5 years.
His skill as a sales coach has grown after conducting over 1,000 1-on-1 coaching sessions. Derrick’s work has been featured in the Boston Globe, NPR, and the Doctors television show.
Derrick’s vision is to identify and support 1,000 diverse business owners, each reaching $1M in annual revenue by 2040.
When he is not working, he is teaching his 3-year-old son, DJ, Haitian Kreyol.
––
Here are some career highlights:
Marie Saint Cyr (2022) – Employed 90 artists in 2022. Went from $49k to $1M+ revenue in less than 2 years. Haitian immigrant who runs mural company, Saint Cyr Art Studio.
Karla Morales (2021) – She went from cleaning houses to cleaning stadiums in less than 2 years. 21 yr old Puerto Rican secures contract with Red Sox AAA team stadium. Her company, Your Home Detox uses all environmentally friendly products and procedures.
Mishell Brookins-Ekunsirinde (2022) – In 2 years, she went from selling at kiosks to Target, Nordstrom, and Buy Buy Baby. Stina & Mae, her baby accessory brand, sells gift boxes for new moms.

Women's History Month: Bootstrapping to $1 Million Dollars
2024-03-28 11:00 - 13:00
We’re thrilled to invite you to a power-packed Women’s History Month event where success stories, valuable insights, and networking opportunities await. Here’s a glimpse of what’s in store:
Agenda:

Quickfire networking pitches from each business – we will share our business story, products/services, connect and exchange contact info for future collaborations.
Hear insights from women entrepreneurs who started their business from scratch and are now growing and scaling.
Hear from experts in Accounting, Marketing and Funding (BOC Capital)
Gain invaluable advice on the planning, operations, marketing, and funding strategies to scale your business.

We will also have a bonus Breakout Group Counseling Session with WBC Directors.
Specialized sessions will include:

Ecommerce/Branding/Fashion
MWBE Certification
Licensing/Launching your Business.
Business Planning
Operations/Sales

2024 Queens Tech + Innovation Challenge Finalists Announcement
2024-03-26 18:00 - 20:00 | Tactics and Strategies for Succeeding in the New World of AI-Powered Business
​Join us to find out who made to the final round in the 2024 Queens Tech+Innovation Challenge and for an evening of inspiration & connection.
​After 5 months of virtual programming, we’re excited to host an in-person gathering to announce the 15 finalists for the 2024 Queens Tech + Innovation Challenge. All participants are invited! It will be a special evening celebrating the local entrepreneurs, founders and creators in Queens tech and innovation community.
​Drinks and appetizers will be provided.

Using AI In Your Business Marketing
2024-03-04 18:00 - 2024-03-27 20:00
This is class #5 in TEES. Marketing is a cumbersome chore and tools like ChatGPT and MidJouney have proven to be effective in coming up with a marketing strategy, organizing and creating content, and even generating images and videos! When used correctly, these tools are a time saver and game changer. This intensive will cover multiple AI tools that you can utilize in your daily life to market your business more easily and efficiently, and elevate your marketing materials
By the end of this intensive, you will achieve the following:

You will understand how important and valuable AI will be in the world
You will organize your content pillars and generate social media posts much faster
You will utilize ChatGPT and Google Bard and know when to use one over the other
You will practice engineering prompts and how to manipulate them to get the best possible response
You will save countless hours trying to figure this out all on your own

Class Dates: March 5th, 2024 – March 28, 2024 6-8PM EST*
Class Schedule:
3/4 – Class 1: AI 101: Understanding AI’s impact and Use Examples – Jai Bhagat
3/5 – Class 2: Generating Pictures for your Business Using AI – Mitch Tobol
3/7 – Class 3: Generating Videos for your Business Using AI – Mitch Tobol
3/14 – Class 4: Planning Content and Strategy Using AI – Femi Lewis
3/19 – Class 5: Storytelling for Your Media Platforms Using AI – Femi Lewis
3/21 – Class 6: Developing Email Sequences and Lead Magnets Using AI – Femi Lewis
3/28 – Class 7: Analyzing Popular AI Tools for Efficient Use – Joe Apfelbaum
* 3/28 class is 6:00pm – 7:00pm EST

Small Business Tax Deductions – 2023
2024-02-28 12:30 - 13:30
We invite you to a free webinar, led by a small business tax professional.

Topics to be discussed include:

Top 25 Small Business Deductions
How tax deductions work
What can be presented as business expenses
Tax deductions that can be taken at 100%
What is a Form 1099

Bio:
Digna Cueto is a business professional with more than 20 years of experience in corporate retail. She is an Entrepreneur of a business that offers tax preparation, bookkeeping, payroll services. Also, she works as an instructor at a tax preparation school. She graduated with degrees in Engineering and Business Administration and has also completed 18 credits in accounting. Certifying as RTP and CAA with the IRS, her specialty is handling difficult and controversial cases that many individuals bring to the IRS for not filing their taxes correctly. ATAX Franchise’s support, partnership, and resources enable it to provide high-value service to customers located in Queens NY. She is the owner of ATAX Elmhurst NY, in Queens NY. Beyond being a professional, Digna Cueto is a dedicated person committed to helping others.

2024 Queens Tech+ Innovation Challenge Application Assistance Session
2024-02-26 13:00 - 14:00
​​​The 2024 Queens Tech + Innovation Challenge is due on March 1, 2024 at Midnight. As the deadline is approaching, we’re hosting two Q&A sessions in February to assist you during the application process. Our program director Sarah Liu will be leading each session and answer any questions you have and hopefully provide the resources you need to complete the application.

Deducciones Fiscales para Pequeñas Empresas – 2023
2024-02-21 12:30 - 13:30
Les invitamos a un seminario web gratuito, dirigido por una profesional en impuestos de pequeños negocios. Los temas a tratar incluyen:

Las 25 principales deducciones para pequeñas empresas
Cómo funcionan las deducciones de impuestos fiscales
Qué se puede presentar como gastos comerciales
Deducciones fiscales que se pueden tomar al 100%
Qué es un formulario 1099

Biografía:

Digna Cueto es una profesional de negocios con más de 20 años de experiencia en retail corporativo. Emprendedora de un negocio que ofrece servicios de preparación de impuestos, bookkeeping, payroll. Además, instructora de una escuela de preparación de impuestos. Se graduó con títulos de Ingeniero y Administración de Empresas y cuenta con Certificaciones del IRS: RTP, ERO y CAA. Su especialidad es manejar casos difíciles y controversiales que muchos individuos llevan con el IRS por no haber llenado sus impuestos correctamente. Ella es la propietaria de ATAX Elmhurst NY, en Queens NY. Más allá de ser profesional, Digna Cueto es una persona dedicada, luchadora y comprometida a ayudar a los demás.
