Free Webinars in December

The Secure Small Business: Empowering Your People to Protect Your Data Thu, Dec 4, 2025│ 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM PT Cybersecurity starts with your team. This webinar explores practical ways to train employees, strengthen daily security habits, and safeguard sensitive business data. Learn how to reduce risks, prevent common threats, and build a culture of awareness that keeps your small business resilient, protected, and prepared.

5 Ways to Starve Imposter Syndrome as an Entrepreneur Mon, Dec 8, 2025 │11:00 AM - 1:00 PM PT Imposter syndrome can limit your confidence, decisions, and growth. This webinar shares five practical strategies to silence self-doubt, strengthen your mindset, and lead with clarity. Learn how to reframe fear, own your expertise, and show up fully as the entrepreneur your business needs.

The Power of Impactful Presentations Tue, Dec 9, 2025 │12:30-2:30 PM PT Effective presentations and facilitation spark understanding, action, and connection. This webinar covers strategies to design engaging content, guide meaningful discussions, and deliver with confidence. Learn how to capture attention, adapt to diverse audiences, and create experiences that inspire participation and drive impactful outcomes.

Avoiding Predatory Lending in a Shrinking Market Wed, Dec 10, 2025│12:30 PM - 1:30 PM PT Learn how to recognize and avoid predatory lending practices as access to capital tightens. This webinar equips entrepreneurs with practical strategies for evaluating loan terms, identifying red flags, and protecting their business from high-risk financing—empowering you to secure funding safely and sustainably in a contracting market.

From Manual to Modern: Financial Tools for Today’s Entrepreneur Thu, Dec 11, 2025│11:00 AM - 12:00 PM PT Discover how to streamline your finances with modern tools that save time, reduce errors, and support smarter decision-making. This session walks entrepreneurs through essential digital solutions for invoicing, cash flow management, budgeting, and reporting—helping you modernize operations and build a stronger, more efficient business.

The Future of SEO in 2026: How Small Businesses Stay Discoverable in the AI Age Fri, Dec 12, 2025│11:00 AM - 12:00 PM PT Explore how AI-driven search is reshaping discoverability for small businesses. This webinar breaks down emerging SEO trends, new search behaviors, and practical optimization strategies to keep your brand visible. Learn how to adapt, compete, and thrive as search technology evolves in 2026 and beyond.

Measure & Maximize Your ROI Mon, Dec 15, 2025│9:00 AM - 11:00 AM PT Unlock smarter decision-making by understanding what truly drives returns in your business. This webinar covers practical methods for tracking performance, analyzing marketing and operational investments, and identifying high-impact opportunities. Learn how to measure ROI accurately and implement strategies that increase profitability, efficiency, and long-term growth.

Join key representatives from Columbus City Schools and the City of Columbus Office of Diversity and Inclusion to learn about upcoming contracting and bid opportunities for small local businesses. Bid opportunities may include:

• Demolition
• Landscape
• Roofing
• HVAC
• Electrical
• Plumbing

Event Details:

Date: Thursday, December 11th, 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM

Location: Columbus COED, 1890 E Main St. Columbus, OH, 43205

RSVP Deadline: Friday, December 5th, 2025

Additional Information: 

Pre-registration is required, space is limited. Dinner will be provided.

COAACC is thrilled to announce that we have recently partnered with ROK Financial, a trusted name in business financing, to offer you a wide array of lending products exclusively available to our network of business owners. With connections to over 75+ lenders, we're confident that we can compare every option out there to get you the highest offers, best rates, and most favorable terms that are available to your business.

We now have the ability to provide even more customized solutions to you and your business including working capital loans, lines of credit, equipment financing, commercial real estate loans and much more.

Minimum Qualifications for Funding:

• 4 Months in Business 
• Business Checking Account 
• $5,000+ Gross Revenue/Month 
• NO Minimum FICO on select products!

Click here to learn more about the products.

Click here to see if you're pre-approved in minutes!

Work with the LPGA at the 2026 Fortinet Founders Cup

The Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) is excited to announce the launch of LPGA VendorMatch for the 2026 Fortinet Founders Cup, hosted at Sharon Heights Golf & Country Club in Menlo Park, California. Through LPGA VendorMatch, local, small, and diverse-owned businesses are invited to participate in procurement opportunities across golf’s $102 billion supply chain. This initiative reflects their ongoing commitment to supplier inclusion and community engagement. Sourcing suppliers in 10 key categories: Audio Visual Services Credentials Floral & Landscape Food & Beverage Products Furniture Rental Laundry Services Lodging Photography Portable Restrooms Transportation How LPGA VendorMatch Works: Register by December 9, 2025 at www.vraconnect.org/lpga-vendormatch to be considered. Prospective suppliers meeting our product and service needs will be contacted by early January 2026 to schedule in-person meetings. Meetings will take place in mid-January 2026, and selected suppliers will be notified afterward. Business owners are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity to work with the LPGA and play a role in delivering an exceptional championship experience. Registration closes December 9, 2025.

Click to learn more

Hensel Phelps | Elford will be holding a Virtual Educational Session on Building A Bid Proposal as related to the GMP9A Public Safety Building Bid Packages releasing on December 1^st. This Virtual Educational Session will be held on December 10^th, 2025 from 10AM-12PM.

You may access the meeting by clicking on the ‘Live Session Link’ button on the Outreach Events page at https://cmhterminal.henselphelps.com/outreach-events/.

January 1 renewals are approaching.

SOCA Benefit Plan

The health plan designed exclusively for small businesses like yours

As a small business, you may be looking for a cost-saving benefits solution for 2026. The SOCA Benefit Plan offers predictable rates and competitive benefits to groups that are members in good standing with a chamber of commerce that is qualified to offer the SOCA Benefit Plan. These chambers must belong to one of the following alliances or associations:

• Southern Ohio Chamber Alliance (SOCA
• Northern Ohio Area Chambers of Commerce (NOACC)
• Central Ohio Chambers of Commerce (COCC)
• Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce (DACC)
• Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber (YWRC)

Eligible businesses join together to share in the overall claims risk, and by being part of a larger, self-funded pool, they have financial protection backed by Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield’s stop loss coverage.

What you get with the SOCA Benefit Plan

• Competitive rates
• Predictable monthly payments 
• A variety of plan options for your business and budget
• Popular dental and vision plans
• Anthem’s broad Blue Access preferred provider organization (PPO), Essential Rx formulary, and BlueCard program (care away from home)
• A one-time credit to your medical premium equivalent when you add new dental and/or vision coverage
• And more!

NEW for 2026!

Virtual Access Plus plans
Virtual Access Plus includes features of Alternative Health Plans, like a copay design and free virtual primary care visits. Please note that some existing all-copay plans have been converted to Virtual Access Plus plans, including HSA-compliant all-copay plans.

Clear Choice plans
Clear Choice is Anthem’s alternative health plan that provides a straightforward and cost-effective healthcare experience. It features a simple copay design and preferred benefits for high-value providers, making it more affordable and convenient to access care.

Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Basic
Our voluntary EAP Basic program offers employees and their household members complimentary and confidential assessments, short-term counseling, referrals, and follow-up services. This initiative addresses a wide spectrum of personal and work-related challenges, and provides financial and legal consultations, as well as child and elder care resources.

PreventiveRx Basic Plus
The PreventiveRx Basic Plus drug list covers certain Tier 1 and Tier 2 drugs on the Essential formulary with unique copays and no deductible. Conditions that PreventiveRx Basic Plus drugs treat include heart health and high blood pressure, osteoporosis, asthma, diabetes (including certain insulin products), mental health, and high cholesterol.

Tier 1 preventive drug copay:
$15 Level 1 pharmacy | $25 Level 2 pharmacy | $30 mail order

Tier 2 preventive drug copay:
$45 Level 1 pharmacy | $60 Level 2 pharmacy | $113 mail order

Questions?

Contact our broker for more information about the SOCA Benefit Plan - Dehan Enterprises, (614) 238-3520

Via Mineral & Gusto:

Ohio Law Alert

NOVEMBER 17, 2025

Ohio: Columbus Enacts Pay Transparency Law

Employers with 15 or more employees in Columbus will be required to include pay ranges in all job postings. While the law is effective December 3, 2025, the city doesn’t expect to actively enforce it until January 1, 2027. Job postings are defined broadly and include any communication that describes a position or its qualifications. Job postings for internal transfers and promotions are excluded. The posting should include a pay range that’s a reasonable estimate of what the employer expects to pay for that particular position as well as other types of monetary compensation, like commissions and bonuses. The salary range should be based on factors specific to the position, such as: Budget for the role Expected years of experience Cost of living If an employer plans to pay an exact amount (rather than within a range), that should be included in the posting. Action Item Ensure job postings include the necessary compensation information.

Via Ohio Department of Jobs & Family Services:

"Starting in January 2026, we are introducing a new technology fee of 0.15% for taxable wages paid per employee. This fee will play a crucial role in supporting the continuous improvement and expansion of our technological infrastructure. Our goal is to ensure that you have access to the latest tools, resources, and innovations that will empower you to achieve even greater success. The technology fee will be in effect until December 2027.

The funds collected from this fee will be directly invested in the following key areas:

Upgraded unemployment insurance benefit system: To provide you with state-of-the-art tools and applications that enhance productivity and engagement.

Improved cybersecurity measures: To continue to protect your data and ensure a safe and secure digital environment.

We understand that any additional fee can be a concern. This investment in technology is designed to benefit all members of our community, fostering more connected, efficient, and innovative unemployment systems.

We are confident that this new technology fee will bring significant positive changes and help us continue to meet your needs in an ever-evolving digital landscape. Thank you for your understanding, support, and collaboration.

If you have questions or would like more information, please do not hesitate to contact us at 614.466.2319.

Sincerely,

Matt Damschroder

Director

"The 2024 Small Business Credit Survey (SBCS) data suggest that employment growth, along with expectations for revenue and employment growth, held steady between the 2023 and 2024 surveys. But for the first time since the 2021 survey, firms were more likely to report that revenues decreased rather than increased in the prior 12 months. Regarding financing, the share of firms that applied for loans, lines of credit, or merchant cash advances remained stable year over year, as did approvals. However, applicants' satisfaction with their lenders decreased." Learn more and read the report here: https://www.fedsmallbusiness.org/reports/survey/2025/2025-report-on-employer-firms