Have you ever considered opening your own business, but not known where to start?

The Weirton Area Chamber of Commerce has teamed up with the City of Weirton, the Business Development Corp. of the Northern Panhandle, and First Microloan of West Virginia to offer an educational series to help those new entrepreneurs, as well as long-time business owners who may be looking to grow their operations.

The “Business Bootcamp” educational series kicks off this Thursday with “Where Do I Start? Licensing Requirements for Weirton and West Virginia.” As part of the session, representatives of the City of Weirton and the Small Business Development Center will go over requirements for obtaining a business license for the city and the state – both of which are needed to open your doors.

Future sessions will look at zoning requirements as well as the costs and benefits of purchasing, renting or leasing a building, marketing and branding, financing options, understanding financial statements, workforce development, and human resources regulations.

Each session will begin at 8 a.m. in the Weirton Room of the Millsop Community Center, and pre-registration is required along with a fee of $10 per session to cover the costs of food.

More information is available by contacting the Chamber at (304) 748-7212.

Whether you are a new business, looking to get started, or have been around for decades, chances are you will find something beneficial from this program. Attend all of them, or pick a few which might have an interest to you.

Our business community strengthens and grows through support from residents and other businesses. This is an opportunity to learn, grow, and support each other, while building a better future for all.