Business Education
BACP offers free business education webinars every Wednesday afternoon and Friday morning. Topics include business licensing, operations, financial resources, marketing, and more. Programs are free and open to the public and taught by industry professionals, not-for-profit agencies, and government agencies.
The Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP) is committed to providing accessibility for all individuals, including people with disabilities. To request accessibility, please contact BACP at BACPoutreach@cityofchicago.org, 312-744-6060. Although we will always work to fulfill your accessibility need, in order to ensure the best quality service is provided, we ask that you make request no later than 3 business days in advance of the event.
The Chicago Department of Business Affairs & Consumer Protection (BACP) Entrepreneur Certificate Program is a free and optional program available to attendees of the free BACP business education workshop and webinar series. For program details (enrollment, requirements, contact information, etc.) and to enroll go to Entrepreneur Certificate Program.
Disclaimer: This does not make your business certified with the City of Chicago. If you are interested in the City of Chicago M/W/VBE Certification program, please visit Chicago.gov/DPS.
Upcoming Webinars
Thursday, 9/21 at 2:00 p.m.
Empower Hour: Casa Humilde Cerveceria
In honor and recognition of Hispanic Heritage Month, this month’s Empower Hour will feature BACP Commissioner Ken Meyer chatting with Jose Lopez and Javier Lopez, Founders of Casa Humilde Cerveceria.
Casa Humilde Cerveceria was founded by two Mexican American brothers from the Hermosa neighborhood of Chicago. To stand out from the competition, the brothers tapped into their heritage to create beer with Latin ingredients. The result is beer with familiar flavors that can be enjoyed by anyone and anywhere.
The candid conversation will cover the start of the business, product development, industry networking, and utilizing business resources. The webinar will end with a Q&A for attendees to ask questions.
Entrepreneurial Certificate Category: Elective
Register for the 9/21 Empower Hour
Friday, 9/22 Webinar at 9:30 AM
Entity Selection and Formation
Presented by the Donald Pritzker Entrepreneurship Law Center, Northwestern Pritzker School of Law
The purpose of this workshop will be to help founders understand various factors to consider when deciding what type of entity to form. We will focus on corporations and limited liability companies and explore some of the advantages and disadvantages of each.
Entrepreneurial Certificate Category: Legal, Business Planning
Register for the 9/22 Webinar
Wednesday, 9/27 Webinar at 3:00 PM
¿Cómo empezar un negocio?
Presentado por el Centro de Desarrollo Para Empresas Pequeñas de la Cámara de Comercio Hispana de Illinois
Este webinar, entre otras cosas, te brindará la oportunidad de aprender sobre. Las diferencias entre las distintas estructuras para emprender un negocio, la importancia de un plan de negocios, cómo obtener tu FEIN (número de identificación de negocio con el IRS), así como herramientas para aprender a promocionar tu negocio.
Entrepreneurial Certificate Category: Legal, Business Planning, Business Operations, Financial
Registrarse para 9/27
Friday, 9/29 Webinar at 9:30 AM
How Professionals can Help Maximize your Business and Help Get You to the Next Level
Presented by Anna Maria Viti Welch - The Viti Companies (Insurance) , Lynette DeRose- Supporting Strategies (Accountant), Lema Khorshid - Fuksa Khorshid (Attorney)
Facilitated by Jim Jaffe – SCORE Mentor North Cook and Lake Counties
Are you wondering how to optimize your business operations? Are you wanting to learn how to avoid costly mistakes and position yourself for long term success in a competitive market. These professionals will discuss some of the ways they can help. The investment in professional assistance often yields substantial returns by preventing setbacks and ensuring a solid foundation for growth.
Entrepreneurial Certificate Category: Legal, Business Planning, Business Operations, Financial
Register for the 9/29 Webinar
City Inspections - Ask Questions, Get Answers
Presented by the City of Chicago
The Chicago Department of Business Affairs & Consumer Protection, Department of Public Health, and the Department of Buildings will provide insight on how operate a compliant business in the City of Chicago. Topics covered will include how to prepare for inspections, building permits and sign display requirements, food inspection overview and necessary certificates, and zoning review procedures. Learn how to operate safely and avoid common setbacks.
Entrepreneurial Certificate Category: Inspections
Register for the 10/4 Webinar
Friday, 10/6 Webinar at 9:30 AM
Recognizing and Protecting Your Company’s Trademarks, Patents, Trade Secrets, and Copyrights
Presented by Patrick J. Smith, Partner, registered patent attorney at Greer, Burns & Crain, Ltd.
Learn the basic differences between copyrights, trademarks, patents, and trade secrets and the assets they protect. Knowing the differences will help you to take the right steps and make the right decisions to protect your company’s intellectual property assets.
Entrepreneurial Certificate Category: Legal, Business Planning
Register for the 10/6 Webinar
Thursday, 10/19 Empower Hour at 2:00 PM
Empower Hour: Chopin Theatre
In honor and recognition of Polish American Heritage Month, this month’s Empower Hour will feature BACP Commissioner Ken Meyer chatting with Zygmunt and Lela Dyrkacz, Co-Owners of Chopin Theatre. Chopin Theatre Productions is housed in the historic Chopin Theatre building, across the Polish Triangle where Division St., Milwaukee Ave., and Ashland Ave. intersect. Their mission is to promote enlightened civic discourse through a diverse range of artistic offerings. Over the past 3 decades Chopin Theatre has presented over 2,000 different events including theater; jazz and classical music, literary and other arts including over 120 Polish and Eastern European events. The theater has hosted performers from each American state and from over 40 countries. Also, Chopin Theatre was instrumental in transforming Wicker Park into a destination neighborhood with quality dining and entertainment options, through their award-winning acts which brought over 1 million people to Wicker Park. They have greatly helped to support local restaurants, boutiques, bars, etc.
The candid conversation will cover the start of the venue, operations, community partnerships networking, and utilizing business resources. The webinar will end with a Q&A for attendees to ask questions.
Entrepreneurial Certificate Category: Elective
Register for the 10/19 Empower Hour
Visit BACP’s YouTube for all webinars.