SCORE Lancaster announces its First Step FastTrac Series of business classes for Spring 2010 beginning March 2.

First Step Fast Trac is a twelve week program that teaches new entrepreneurs how to start their own business. The series, co-sponsored by SCORE Lancaster and ASSETS, is the second to be held in Lancaster. 

This comprehensive program was developed by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, the world's largest foundation devoted to entrepreneurship.  The program teaches students the basics of starting their own businesses, including in-depth sessions on how to conduct a feasibility study, how to market a business, price a product, prepare budgets and financial projections, write a business plan and find funding.

The courses are taught by successful Lancaster businessmen and women. 

First Step FastTrac classes are held every Tuesday night, beginning March 2, 2010 at the Earl B. Hess Training Center, located in the ASSETS building at 237 North Prince Street in Lancaster.  Sessions are from 6 to 9 PM. 

To find out how to register or to get more information click here.

According to the SBA, nationally, there were 627,200 new businesses opened and 595,600 businesses closed during 2008 (the latest year available). There were 43,546 business bankruptcies.

Studies show that seven out of 10 new firms with employees survive at least two years, and about half survive five years. Findings did not differ greatly across industry sectors.

Source: U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Advocacy, September 2009

Be sure to visit the Free Publications page in the  Links, Resources section to get the Entrepreneurship Guide for Pennsylvanians (108 pages).  Click here

For those of you who are new to starting a business, you will also find a helpful 40 page booklet Beginners Guide to Starting a Business in PA