CO Work-Share Program
If you have questions on the Colorado Work-Share Program or any other HR concern please visit https://larimersbdc.org/what-we-do/consulting/ to schedule a free one-on-one consultation.
July 2020
Fake or Scam Mailings
Samantha Peaslee
Polaris Law Group
Fake or Scam Mailings
Starting a business puts you and your business into the public domain. Your address and information now live online (as a requirement), as do other pieces of information such as when you need to renew with the Colorado Secretary of State, whether you have employees, and whether you have a trademark.
As a result of this required information being public, unsavory companies will have access to your information. These companies send out notices to public companies that have obligations with these public entities. They attempt to have companies pay for services that are either free or low cost.
Take, for example, your periodic report.
Your actual periodic report needs to be filed with the Colorado Secretary of State via its website every year. You receive a notice for it about three months before its final due date. It costs $10.00 to file online. The e-notice comes from the Colorado Secretary of State (e-mail suffix @sos.state.co.us). It has a header that includes the Secretary of State’s name and the website (www.sos.state.co.us). It will inform you that this is an automatically generated email at the bottom, with a contact e-mail address with a suffix @sos.state.co.us.
A scam notice or instruction will be by mail, most often. It will be titled something along the lines of “DATE – Periodic Report Instruction Form”. It will include a processing fee along with the $10 fee. It will request for checks payable to a non-state address (for example, “Workplace Compliance Services”). It may have space for a credit card form. Sometimes, they will have scary wording as well, such as informing you that you will be shut down.
If ever in doubt about a notice from the Secretary of State, Colorado Division of Labor, or United States Patent and Trademark Office, send it to your attorney or bring it to the SBDC. We can tell you if it is official or a scam.
[Webinar] Coffee with the Small Biz Directors + Pro Bono Legal Resources for the Small Business Owner
Please join a Zoom meeting with Larimer SBDC Director Mike O’Connell and Loveland Business Development Center Director Kat Rico, to talk about business recovery resources and the SBA’s economic recovery programs.
The Colorado Lawyers Committee will be joining us to discuss pro bono legal resources for the small business owner.
Joining them will be:
Keith A. Trammell, Partner at WilmerHale Law Firm and Samantha Peaslee with Polris Law Group.
Mike O’Connell
Larimer SBDC Senior Director
Kat Rico
LBDC Program Director
With Special Guests:
Keith Trammel
Partner at WilmerHale Law Firm
Samantha Peaslee
Polaris Law Group
Coffee with Small Business Directors + Other Small Business Resources
Larimer SBDC Director Mike O’Connell and Loveland Business Development Center Program Director Kat Rico, talk about business recovery resources and the SBA’s economic recovery programs.
Joining Mike and Kat have been City Managers, HR Consultants, Bankers and more.
Please enjoy these free webinars!
Marketing Plan RECOVERY
The Fort Collins Area Chamber of Commerce, the Larimer Small Business Development Center and the Loveland Business Development Center partnered to offer a Marketing Series for Business: Marketing Plan RECOVERY. This six-part virtual series provides business with the opportunity to rethink their marketing plan in the face of a crisis and to pivot to effective tools that can help them in recovery.
Series Kick Off
This video gives you a brief introduction to the instructors and what their presentations will cover.
Marketing Mix
Presented by Franklin Taggart & Craig McBreen – Take a close look at your marketing mix in light of changes your business has likely experienced due to COVID. Are you still using the right tools to reach your customers?
- https://bit.ly/MarketingMix2020
- https://bit.ly/MarketingMixWorkbook
- https://bit.ly/MarketingMixResources
- https://mcbreenmarketing.com/subscribe/
Digital Basics
Presented by Greg Moore – Selecting and setting up the right digital tools is key to being found online, which is how customers will increasingly find your business. Learn how to claim and edit your Google My Business listing!
Website Design
Presented by Tracey Devlin – Websites should be ever-evolving marketing tools. Take a close look at design and user interface, as well as additions like e-commerce and online ordering.
Social Media
Presented by: Amy Alcorn – During the crisis, people increasingly turned to social media to keep up with their favorite businesses. Learn how to make the most of the platforms you’re on!
E-mail Marketing
Presented by Kat Rico – Along with the other digital tools, e-mail marketing remains one of the best ways to communicate with your customers. Let’s talk important analytics, subject lines, and more!
