QEDC

Get Business From NYC and NYS Government: M/WBE Certification
2026-03-18 18:30 - 20:00, 2026-04-15 18:30 - 20:00, 2026-05-21 18:30 - 20:00, 2026-06-17 18:30 - 20:00, 2026-07-22 18:30 - 20:00, 2026-08-19 18:30 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Online, NY, United States
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.

Queens Tech + Innovation Challenge: Networking & Finalists Announcement
2026-03-31 18:00 - 20:30 | Flushing Town Hall, 137-35 Northern Boulevard, Flushing, NY, 11354, United States
​​​​​​​​Come meet your fellow Queens innovators – and learn who’s advancing to the final round of this year’s Queens Tech + Innovation Challenge!
Join innovators and entrepreneurs from across Queens for a networking night and the announcement of this year’s finalists for the Queens Tech + Innovation Challenge.
Light refreshments will be served.

Access to Capital
2026-04-09 10:00 - 13:00 | Queens Borough Hall, Helen Marshall Cultural Center, 120-55 Queens Blvd., Kew Gardens, NY, 11424, United States
On April 9, 2026, the Queens Economic Development Corporation is hosting our second Access to Capital event in Queens, bringing together small business owners and funding institutions for real conversations about financing.
Whether you’re a startup preparing for your first loan or an established business planning to grow, this event gives you the opportunity to meet directly with banks, CDFIs, and alternative lenders to understand:

What funding you may qualify for
What documentation you need
How to position your business for funding success

This year we’re expanding the funding pathways represented – from traditional SBA loans and lines of credit to community-based and alternative financing options, including digital fundraising platforms.
If accessing capital is on your radar in the next year, this is a room you’ll want to be in!

Ready, Set, Go!
2026-04-14 19:00 - 20:00, 2026-05-12 19:00 - 20:00, 2026-06-09 19:00
About the Webinar:

Ready, Set, Go! is a 60-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.

Fraud, Risk, Business Protection
2026-04-22 14:00 - 15:00 | Online, NY, United States
Fraud and scams are becoming more sophisticated — and small businesses are increasingly targeted. In this session, we’ll break down the most common fraud tactics affecting business owners today and share practical steps you can take to protect your accounts, payments, and customer data. Walk away with clear safeguards you can implement immediately to reduce risk and strengthen your financial security.

QTIC Winner Announcement & Networking Night
2026-04-28 18:00 - 20:00 | New York Hall of Science, 47-01 111th St, Corona, NY, 11368, United States
Come meet your fellow Queens innovators – and learn the winners of this year’s Queens Tech + Innovation Challenge!

Join innovators and entrepreneurs from across Queens for a networking night and the announcement of this year’s winners of the Queens Tech + Innovation Challenge.

Financial Health Coaching for Impact
2026-05-04 18:00 - 19:00 | Online, NY, United States
Build a strong foundation for long-term business growth by developing the mindset and habits of an effective entrepreneur. This session focuses on resilience, adaptability, and making thoughtful decisions that support sustainable success.
In this session, you’ll cover:

Thinking like an entrepreneur
Establishing a foundation for business growth
Developing agility and resilience
Putting people first

Click Here to Register

Separating Personal & Business Finances
2026-05-05 18:00 - 19:00 | Online, NY, United States
Create clarity and stability in your business by properly separating your finances. This session walks through common mistakes, tax implications, and practical systems to help you stay organized and in control.
In this session, you’ll cover:

Why separating personal and business finances is essential
Common mistakes small business owners make
How mixing finances affects your business and taxes
Simple steps to separate your money the right way
How to pay yourself properly as a business owner
Easy ways to track your income and expenses
Benefits of having organized financial records
Practical examples and real-life scenarios

Windows of Opportunity: Supplier Diversity (Chase)
2026-05-11 18:00 - 19:30 | Chase Bank, 96-19 101st Ave, Ozone Park, NY, 11416, United States
Learn how to access corporate and government contracting opportunities through supplier diversity programs. This session breaks down how to get certified and position your business to take advantage of these opportunities.
In this session, you’ll cover:

What is supplier diversity?
How to navigate government contracting
How to access corporate supplier diversity programs
Working toward certification
Making the most of your certification

Click Here to Register

Queens Taste 2026
2026-05-12 18:00 - 21:00
Join us on May 12 for the biggest, tastiest, and longest-running culinary showcase in the most vibrant food destination in the world: Queens Taste 2026.
We’re once again bringing together more than 50 of the borough’s best restaurants, foodmakers, breweries, and confectioners under one roof for an evening of unlimited sips and samples. But for the first time, that roof is the stunning Sound River Studios in LIC – perched right on the East River with soaring ceilings and breathtaking skyline views.
All tickets are tax-deductible, with proceeds going directly towards QEDC’s business programs and neighborhood initiatives that make this borough so tasty to begin with.

Knowing Before You Inc. (or LLC)
2026-05-14 18:00 - 20:00 | Online, NY, United States
Choose the right legal structure for your business with confidence. This session breaks down key entity types and helps you understand how each option impacts taxes, liability, and operations.
In this session, you’ll cover:

Foundations of different tax entity types
Key differences between LLCs, Sole Proprietorships, and S Corporations
Pros and cons of each structure
Tax implications, liability protection, and operational requirements
How to choose the right structure for your goals

Record Keeping for Small Business
2026-05-18 14:00 - 16:00 | Online, NY, United States
Build strong recordkeeping habits that support financial health, compliance, and growth. This session focuses on practical systems and tools to help you stay organized and manage your business effectively.
In this session, you’ll cover:

Fundamentals of record keeping and why it matters
How accurate records support financial health and compliance
Best practices for day-to-day record management
Tools and software to simplify your systems

I’m an Entrepreneur… Now What?
2026-05-20 18:00 - 20:00 | Online, NY, United States
Transition from starting a business to running it with structure and intention. This session helps you build systems, avoid early mistakes, and operate with confidence as you grow.
In this session, you’ll cover:

Setting up financial systems and routines
Understanding business expenses and preparing for taxes
Common mistakes to avoid as a new business owner
Shifting your mindset from employee to entrepreneur
Building habits for smooth operations
When to seek professional support (CPA, attorney, tools)

Smart Financing: How to Use Capital to Grow Your Business
2026-05-21 18:00 - 20:00 | Online, NY, United States
Understand how to use funding strategically to grow your business. This session will help you think through capital decisions, align financing with your goals, and approach borrowing with clarity.
In this session, you’ll cover:

How to use capital strategically for growth
What makes your business a strong investment
How to evaluate financing options
Aligning funding with business goals

Elaboración de un presupuesto y planificación financiera para emprendedores
2026-05-27 18:00 - 20:00 | En línea
Únase a nosotros para una clase gratuita en línea donde aprenderá:

Cómo organizar las finanzas de tu negocio
Conceptos básicos: ingresos, gastos y ganancia
Qué es un presupuesto y cómo crearlo fácilmente
Cómo controlar tus gastos y evitar pérdidas
Entender el flujo de efectivo (cash flow)
Cómo saber si tu negocio realmente está ganando dinero
Errores financieros comunes y cómo evitarlos
Herramientas simples para manejar tu dinero
Ejercicio práctico con ejemplos reales

Por favor, haga clic aquí para registrarse.

Sobre la presentadora

Patria Batista-Bio
Patria Batista es asesora de negocios y emprendedora con más de 25 años de experiencia en desarrollo empresarial, marketing y educación. Ha apoyado a pequeños negocios y emprendedores en Nueva York y Nueva Jersey, brindando asesoría estratégica, capacitación y acceso a recursos para impulsar su crecimiento.
Además de su rol como asesora en Renaissance, Patria es fundadora de PMB Consulting, donde ofrece servicios personalizados de consultoría para pequeñas y medianas empresas. También es instructora con experiencia, habiendo impartido cursos de negocios y emprendimiento, así como talleres y seminarios para diversas comunidades.
Patria siente una gran pasión por empoderar a los emprendedores con herramientas prácticas, conocimientos y estrategias que les permitan construir negocios sostenibles y exitosos.

Información de contacto:
Teléfono: 646-481-5848
Cargo: Business Advisor–Renaissance SBS
Correo electrónico: patria@renaissancesbs.org

Paying Yourself as an Entrepreneur & Tax Planning to Avoid Tax Day Surprises
2026-06-03 18:00 - 20:00 | Online, NY, United States
Many entrepreneurs focus so heavily on growing their business that they overlook one critical area: how to properly pay themselves and prepare for taxes. This workshop will help business owners understand the financial systems behind owner compensation, estimated taxes, and tax planning so there are fewer surprises during filing season.
Participants will learn the difference between owner’s draws and payroll, how payment methods vary depending on business structure (LLC, Sole Proprietorship, S Corp, etc.), and when taxes are required throughout the year. The session will also cover estimated tax payments, projecting tax liabilities before major deadlines like March 15th and April 15th, and common mistakes that often leave entrepreneurs financially unprepared at tax time.

Understanding Financial Statements for Non-Accountants
2026-06-09 18:00 - 20:00 | Online, NY, United States
Financial statements tell the story of a business, but many entrepreneurs never fully learn how to read them. This workshop is designed specifically for non-accountants who want to better understand the numbers behind their business and make stronger financial decisions with confidence.
During this session, participants will break down the three core financial statements: the Profit & Loss Statement, Balance Sheet, and Cash Flow Statement. The workshop will explain financial terminology in simple language while helping business owners identify warning signs of overspending, underperformance, or cash flow issues. Participants will also learn the difference between deductible and non-deductible expenses, what numbers should be monitored regularly, and how financial statements can be used to measure the overall health of a business.

QuickBooks Online Bootcamp
2026-06-15 18:00 - 20:00 | Online, NY, United States
Keeping clean financial records is one of the most important skills a business owner can develop, and this June, QEDC is making it easier to learn. Join Paul Rosenblum for a 4-part QuickBooks Online webinar series designed to help entrepreneurs confidently manage their own bookkeeping, understand their business finances, and build stronger financial systems before needing to hire a professional bookkeeper.
Participants will register for the full series upfront and receive a 30-day QuickBooks Online trial to follow along during the workshops. Over four sessions, business owners will learn how to properly set up QuickBooks Online, create invoices and customer records, connect bank accounts, manage transactions, reconcile accounts, and generate financial reports like Profit & Loss Statements and Balance Sheets. By the end of the series, participants will walk away with a stronger understanding of bookkeeping fundamentals, a functional QuickBooks setup, and practical systems they can immediately use to better organize and manage their business finances.

Session 1 — June 15
QuickBooks Online Setup & Foundations
Time: 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM EST
The first session focuses on building a strong QuickBooks Online foundation by helping participants understand how the platform is structured and how to properly configure their accounts from the start. Participants will learn the differences between QuickBooks Online editions, navigate the platform menus, and begin setting up their business systems correctly.
Topics include user setup, sales tax configuration, creating services and inventory items for invoicing, and building a Chart of Accounts that accurately reflects business operations.

Session 2 — June 17
Invoicing, Customers & Daily Transactions
Time: 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM EST
This session focuses on managing customers, invoices, and everyday business transactions within QuickBooks Online. Participants will continue organizing their Chart of Accounts while learning how to customize invoice forms and better structure customer information.
The workshop will also cover the differences between invoices and sales receipts, when to use each one, and how to properly create invoices, record payments, and manage deposits.

Session 3 — June 22
Banking Integration & Transaction Management
Time: 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM EST
Strong bookkeeping depends on properly managing banking activity and financial transactions. In this session, participants will learn how to connect bank accounts and credit cards to QuickBooks Online and efficiently organize downloaded transactions.
Additional topics include importing transactions from CSV files, reviewing and accepting banking transactions, and creating automated banking rules that help streamline bookkeeping workflows and improve accuracy.

Session 4 — June 29
Financial Reports & Account Reconciliation
Time: 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM EST
The final session focuses on understanding the reports and financial tools business owners need to monitor the health of their business. Participants will learn how to complete bank reconciliations, generate reports, and customize reports for better financial analysis and decision-making.
Topics include Profit & Loss Statements, Balance Sheets, Accounts Receivable, Accounts Payable, and exporting reports into Excel for additional tracking and analysis. Depending on time, additional discussions around budgeting and payroll entries may also be included.
About the Speaker
Paul started as a bookkeeper in 1993, and got a Certificate in Bookkeeping from NYU, then started his own practice 2 years later, and started teaching for NYC computer schools part time until 2002. Now he’s teaching via webinars and producing a podcast about the how-to of bookkeeping, as well as the human part of bookkeeping – relationships with clients. You can listen to the podcast here.

Financial Mistakes That Can Kill Small Businesses
2026-06-18 18:00 - 20:00 | Online, NY, United States
Many small businesses struggle financially not because of a lack of effort, but because of financial habits and mistakes that quietly damage long-term stability. This workshop will help entrepreneurs recognize common financial pitfalls and shift toward healthier business practices that support sustainability and growth.
Participants will explore issues such as poor cash flow management, misunderstood tax responsibilities, and commonly missed write-offs and deductions that can cost business owners money over time. The session will also explain the differences between hiring independent contractors versus employees, how financial habits impact profitability, and what warning signs business owners should pay attention to before small financial issues become major business problems.

Stop Leaving Money on the Floor: How to Maximize Every Trade Show Before, During & After
2026-06-22 17:00 - 19:00 | Online, NY, United States
At this free workshop, you will learn:

Ready-to-use checklists for before, during, and after every show
Pre-show outreach strategy that gets buyers, distributors, and retailers to seek you out on the floor
Exactly what to bring: booth essentials, signage, collateral, and survival gear
How to design a booth that stops foot traffic and communicates your brand in under 3 seconds even if it’s a tiny booth
The questions every buyer and distributor will ask — and how to answer them (pricing, MOQ, EDI, payment terms, and more)
Tailoring your pitch differently to buyers, distributors, press, and consumers
Data collection systems that ensure no lead falls through the cracks — from badge scanners to low-cost backup options
Social media strategies for trade show engagement
The energy, mindset, and booth habits that separate top-performing exhibitors from everyone else
A 48-hour post-show follow-up sequence that turns conversations into purchase orders
How to calculate your true show ROI — and decide which shows are a success and if they deserve a second visit

About the Speaker
Shuchi Vyas is the founder of GuestBox and a sales strategist specializing in growing CPG brands. With a track record of 5x revenue growth in the first year and experience placing 500+ premium CPG brands in high-end hospitality spaces, she bridges the gap between brand education and customer acquisition. Shuchi develops high-impact go-to-market strategies for her clients, spanning major trade shows, specialty retailers, and luxury hospitality groups.

Preparing Your Financial Statements and Tax Returns for Bank Financing
2026-06-23 18:00 - 20:00 | Queens Borough Hall, Suite 200, 120-55 Queens Blvd., Kew Gardens, NY, 11424, United States
This in-person workshop covers how to prepare both your financial statements and tax returns to strengthen your application for business funding. Dijon, a finance broker, will discuss common mistakes business owners make when pursuing financing and what lenders typically look for when reviewing applications.
This workshop will cover how to account for and present:

Profitability over the last two years – demonstrating consistent and promising returns
Revenue growth – highlighting positive business direction
Balance sheet preparation – required for underwriting
Debt service coverage ratio – assessing loan repayment ability
Use of funds – clearly outlining purpose and detail

Participants will have the opportunity to speak with Dijon at the end of the session, ask questions, and discuss their business in relation to potential funding opportunities.
Understanding how lenders evaluate financial information is essential for any business owner seeking capital. Even strong businesses can face challenges securing funding if financial documents are incomplete or not presented clearly. For example, a tax return that shows no profit and financials that show profit, while serving their individual purposes, need to be reconciled to qualify for funding at a bank. This workshop will help participants better understand these requirements and improve how they prepare and organize their financial information.
About the Speaker
Dijon is a Managing Director at a fintech lending company that provides financial solutions to small businesses and consumers. He has over 17 years of experience in the banking industry, with expertise in branch management, retail banking, consumer lending, business development, and risk management. He holds an MBA in Finance from the University of Phoenix and a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Queens College. In his current role, he oversees lending operations and strategy, working with a range of stakeholders across the financial services sector. His work focuses on helping business owners better understand lending requirements and prepare stronger financial documentation to improve access to capital.

Ready, Set, Go!
2026-07-14 19:00 - 20:00, 2026-08-11 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 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.
