140 Sales courses in Birmingham

Starting a small business can be a rewarding journey, but it requires careful planning and the right strategies to succeed. From creating a solid business plan to organizing finances and finding the right support, this guide will help you establish a foundation for a thriving business. For entrepreneurs in Calgary, key resources like reliable bookkeeping services can make a significant difference. Here’s how to start a small business and set it up for lasting success. Developing a business plan A clear, well-researched business plan serves as a roadmap for your business. It outlines your goals, target market, competitive advantage, and financial projections. This plan will also help attract investors or secure loans. To create an effective business plan: Define your mission and vision: Explain why your business exists and what you aim to achieve. Identify your target audience: Determine who your customers are and what problems your business will solve for them. Analyze competitors: Study your competitors to understand what they offer and find ways to differentiate your business. Set realistic financial projections: Estimate costs, revenue, and profits. This will give potential investors confidence in your business. Choosing a business structure Selecting the right business structure is essential, as it affects your taxes, liability, and daily operations. Common options include: Sole proprietorship: Simple to set up, with minimal paperwork, but offers no separation of personal and business liability. Partnership: Ideal for two or more owners, allowing shared responsibilities, but partners share liabilities. Corporation: Provides liability protection, but involves more paperwork and regulatory requirements. LLC (Limited Liability Company): Offers liability protection without the complexity of a corporation. Choose a structure that best suits your needs, and consult a legal professional to ensure compliance with Calgary’s business regulations. Securing funding Most small businesses require some level of funding to get started. Consider various financing options to find the best fit: Personal savings or family support: Often the first source of funding for many entrepreneurs. Business loans: Many banks offer small business loans with varying interest rates. Grants and government programs: Explore government grants and programs specifically designed to support small businesses in Calgary. Angel investors or venture capital: For businesses with high growth potential, attracting investors may be an option. Registering your business To operate legally, you’ll need to register your business. This process involves choosing a unique name, filing the necessary documents, and obtaining a business license in Calgary. You may also need specific permits depending on your industry. Completing these steps ensures that your business complies with all local regulations. Organizing your finances Managing finances effectively is crucial for any small business. Accurate bookkeeping keeps your business organized, tracks income and expenses, and prepares you for tax season. Many small businesses in Calgary choose to hire a bookkeeper in Calgary to handle these responsibilities, allowing owners to focus on growth. Working with one of the best bookkeeping services in Calgary can provide: Accurate financial records: Professional bookkeepers help maintain up-to-date records, which is essential for financial health. Compliance with tax laws: Calgary’s best bookkeeping services are familiar with local tax regulations, ensuring that you file correctly and on time. Insights for decision-making: With accurate records, you can make informed decisions on budgeting, spending, and investments. Creating a strong brand identity Building a brand that resonates with your target audience is essential. Your brand identity includes your business name, logo, colors, and messaging, as well as the experience you offer customers. Developing a consistent brand identity sets you apart from competitors and builds trust with customers. Here are some steps to create a strong brand identity: Design a logo and visual theme: Choose a professional logo, color scheme, and design elements that reflect your brand’s personality. Develop a unique brand voice: Whether it’s friendly, professional, or playful, keep your brand voice consistent in all communications. Focus on customer experience: Aim to provide exceptional service that keeps customers coming back and sharing their positive experiences. Building an online presence In today’s digital world, an online presence is crucial for reaching potential customers. Start by creating a professional website where customers can learn more about your products or services. Next, consider establishing a presence on social media platforms that suit your audience. Key components of a strong online presence include: User-friendly website: Make sure your website is easy to navigate, mobile-friendly, and includes essential information about your business. Social media profiles: Engage with customers and share updates on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn. Google My Business: Setting up a Google My Business profile helps customers in Calgary find you more easily. Building a support network Running a small business can be challenging, and having a network of support is invaluable. Surround yourself with people who can provide advice, resources, and encouragement. Consider these ways to build a support network: Join local business associations: Groups like the Calgary Chamber of Commerce offer networking opportunities, resources, and workshops. Seek mentorship: Experienced business owners can offer guidance and insights that help you avoid common pitfalls. Hire professionals for specialized tasks: For financial and legal matters, work with professionals like accountants, lawyers, and bookkeepers. Tracking progress and making adjustments As your business grows, it’s essential to review your progress and adjust your strategies. Regularly assessing financial performance, customer feedback, and market trends can help you refine your approach and stay competitive. Working with one of the best bookkeeping services in Calgary can make tracking your financial performance much easier, giving you insight into profit margins, cash flow, and budgeting. Consider these strategies for tracking progress: Set measurable goals: Establish specific goals for growth, such as revenue targets or customer acquisition numbers. Analyze performance data: Use financial statements, sales reports, and customer feedback to assess performance. Stay flexible: Be willing to make changes to products, services, or marketing strategies if they aren’t meeting customer needs. Conclusion Starting a small business takes effort, planning, and ongoing management. By creating a solid business plan, organizing your finances, and developing a strong brand, you can set your business up for success. In Calgary, many new business owners choose to hire a bookkeeper in Calgary to ensure accurate financial management and stay compliant with local regulations. Taking advantage of the best bookkeeping services in Calgary can free up your time, allowing you to focus on growing your business and achieving long-term success. With dedication and the right strategies, your small business can thrive in today’s competitive market.

It's a fact of life that costs generally increase and as a result prices must go up too. Implementing an increase without losing customers is challenging. Talking about a price increase with customers never makes for an easy conversation. Your customers will generally decide whether to accept the increase based upon value, as well as the hassle cost of switching and going elsewhere. Even the most experienced salesperson who has implemented price increases before will be fighting back the nerves when faced with the task of 'selling' the increase. In this flexible programme, we will support your internal preparations at whichever stage you and your colleagues are at. From making the decision to increase prices, right through to those on the frontline already dealing with any push-back. This programme will help participants: Understand the business case for increasing prices Take steps to research the market Consider their customers' motivations Use the six principles of influence Identify and adapt for different personality styles Assess their level of trust with customers Build rapport rapidly with their customers and prospects 1 Raising prices - keys to success Understanding the business case Researching the market Assessing the value of your offering 2 Understanding your customer base Assessing your key accounts What is your 'target' customer range? Creating consistency in pricing approach 3 Planning the increase Timing your implementation Communication strategy Elements of a good price increase letter 4 Developing influencing skills The Trust Equation The six principles of influence Discovering your customer's buying decisions 5 Emotional intelligence and price increases The part emotion plays Developing strategies for keeping calm Handling your customer's responses 6 Understanding different customer styles Discover your own style Recognising behaviour traits in others Adapting your approach to their style 7 Preparing for customer contact Preparing for specific customers Anticipating their response Dealing with challenging customers 8 Following through Maintaining a consistent approach Resisting requests for discounts Confirming the increase in writing

Overview 1 day course to gain real insight into the Solvency 2 balance sheet dynamics, both under standard formula and our illustrative internal model Who the course is for Capital management / ALM / risk management staff within insurance company Investors in insurance company securities – equity, subordinated bonds, insurance-linked securities Salespeople covering insurance companies Course Content To learn more about the day by day course content please request a brochure To learn more about schedule, pricing & delivery options, book a meeting with a course specialist now

Overview 1 day course covering mechanics, pricing and applications of cross currency swaps (CCS) and cross currency basis swaps (CCBS) Who the course is for Corporate treasurers and financial institution asset-liability management staff Interest rate and FX derivative traders, salespeople and quants Multi-lateral development banks Fixed income asset managers Risk management Course Content To learn more about the day by day course content please request a brochure To learn more about schedule, pricing & delivery options, book a meeting with a course specialist now

Overview This 2 day course focuses on best practice bank ALM in today’s environment of a multiplicity of regulatory constraints on the balance sheet Who the course is for Asset Liability Committee (ALCO) members Treasury Risk Finance and internal audit capital management Funding management Liquidity buffer investment team Derivative structurers and salespeople; IT software providers Regulators Course Content To learn more about the day by day course content please request a brochure To learn more about schedule, pricing & delivery options, book a meeting with a course specialist now

Overview 2 day course on key interest rate derivative products, covering both theory (product mechanics, market conventions and valuation) and practice (wide range of applications for wide range of market participants showcased) Who the course is for Interest rate traders, salespeople and quants Asset-liability management staff with banks and insurance companies Fixed income and credit asset managers / hedge funds / pension funds / insurance companies Corporate treasurers Risk management Anyone using interest rate derivatives Course Content To learn more about the day by day course content please request a brochure To learn more about schedule, pricing & delivery options, book a meeting with a course specialist now

Overview This is a 2 day course to learn ALM tools to achieve strong and market-resilient, actuarially-resilient Solvency 2 (S2) ratios at Group consolidated level and at key cash-remitting entities to ensure dividend stability. For those not fully familiar with Solvency 2, this course is best taken in conjunction with “Solvency 2” Who the course is for Capital management / ALM / risk management staff within insurance company Investors in insurance company securities – equity, subordinated bonds, insurance-linked securities Salespeople covering insurance companies Course Content To learn more about the day by day course content please request a brochure To learn more about schedule, pricing & delivery options, book a meeting with a course specialist now

Overview This 1 day course focus on comprehensive review of the current state of the art in quantifying and pricing counterparty credit risk. Learn how to calculate each xVA through real-world, practical examples Understand essential metrics such as Expected Exposure (EE), Potential Future Exposure (PFE), and Expected Positive Exposure (EPE) Explore the ISDA Master Agreement, Credit Support Annexes (CSAs), and collateral management. Gain insights into hedging strategies for CVA. Gain a comprehensive understanding of other valuation adjustments such as Funding Valuation Adjustment (FVA), Capital Valuation Adjustment (KVA), and Margin Valuation Adjustment (MVA). Who the course is for Derivatives traders, structurers and salespeople xVA desks Treasury Regulatory capital and reporting Risk managers (market and credit) IT, product control and legal Quantitative researchers Portfolio managers Operations / Collateral management Consultants, software providers and other third parties Course Content To learn more about the day by day course content please request a brochure To learn more about schedule, pricing & delivery options, book a meeting with a course specialist now

Overview This is a 2 day applied course on XVA for anyone interested in going beyond merely a conceptual understanding of XVA and wants practical examples of Monte Carlo simulation of market risk factors to create exposure distributions and profiles for derivatives used for XVA pricing Learn how to do Monte Carlo simulation of key market risk factors across major asset classes to create exposure distributions and profiles (with and without collateral) for derivatives used for XVA pricing. Learn how to calculate each XVA. Learn sensitivities of each XVA and how XVA desks manage these. Learn regulatory capital treatment of counterparty credit risk (both for CCR and CVA volatility) and how to stress test this within ICAAP or system-wide external, supervisor-led capital stress test. Who the course is for Anyone involved in OTC derivatives XVA traders XVA quants Derivatives traders and salespeople Risk management Treasury staff Internal audit and finance Course Content To learn more about the day by day course content please request a brochure To learn more about schedule, pricing & delivery options, book a meeting with a course specialist now

Overview This is a 2 day course on understanding credit markets converting credit derivatives, from plain vanilla credit default swaps through to structured credit derivatives involving correlation products such as nth to default baskets, index tranches, synthetic collateralized debt obligations and more. Gain insights into the corporate credit market dynamics, including the role of ratings agencies and the ratings process. Delve into the credit triangle, relating credit spreads to default probability (PD), exposure (EAD), and expected recovery (LGD). Learn about CDS indices (iTRAXX and CDX), their mechanics, sub-indices, tranching, correlation, and the motivation for tranched products. The course also includes counterparty risk in derivatives market where you learn how to managed and price Counterparty Credit Risk using real-world, practical examples Understand key definitions of exposure, including Mark-to-Market (MTM), Expected Exposure (EE), Expected Positive Exposure (EPE), Potential Future Exposure (PFE), Exposure at Default (EAD), and Expected Loss (EL) Explore the role of collateral and netting in managing counterparty risk, including the key features and mechanics of the Credit Support Annex (CSA) Briefly touch upon other XVA adjustments, including Margin Valuation Adjustment (MVA), Capital Valuation Adjustment (KVA), and Collateral Valuation Adjustment (CollVA). Who the course is for Credit traders and salespeople Structurers Asset managers ALM and treasury (Banks and Insurance Companies) Loan portfolio managers Product control, finance and internal audit Risk managers Risk controllers xVA desk IT Regulatory capital and reporting Course Content To learn more about the day by day course content please request a brochure To learn more about schedule, pricing & delivery options, book a meeting with a course specialist now