An administrator and marketer by trade, Joe Elliott of Little Rock was convinced there was a marketable need for a handy, easy-to-understand handbook for patients in acute care hospitals. But he had no clue how to convert his idea into a profitable business.

Enter the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center (ASBTDC) headquartered at UALR. Elliott saw an ad for the center’s Arkansas Entrepreneur Week and signed up for the “Starting a Business in Arkansas” seminar.

“As a direct result, I own my own company and am now in a position to market my products and services to potential clients across 48 states,” said Elliott, now the CEO of the National Patient Handbook Co. LLC, publishing patient handbooks for acute-care hospitals across the nation.

Gov. Mike Beebe has proclaimed the week of Feb. 1 to 5 Arkansas Entrepreneur Week to celebrate the 10^th anniversary of ASBTDC’s program and its focus on start-up businesses.

ASBTDC will host events in 13 cities across the state offering aspiring and active entrepreneurs tools to start businesses and stay competitive.

The center will roll out two new seminars for Arkansas Entrepreneur Week 2010. “7 Steps to Small Business Success” will be held in Arkadelphia, Batesville, Camden, Fayetteville, Little Rock, and Russellville on Feb. 2 and in Jonesboro and McGehee on Feb. 4.

Covering many of the same topics as “Starting a Business in Arkansas,” the program prepares participants for the intensive business planning process by explaining requirements for start-up businesses, keys to success, and common pitfalls to avoid. Cost is $30 per person. Veterans may attend at no charge.

A second new seminar this year will help businesses learn ways social media can bolster their marketing efforts and how to enter the world of Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and other outlets. “Five Small Business Strategies for Social Media” will be held in Magnolia on Feb. 1; Batesville, Monticello, and Russellville on Feb. 2; Pine Bluff and Rogers on Feb. 3; and Hot Springs, Jonesboro and Little Rock Feb. 4. Cost is $35 per person.

In addition,  the web site will provide daily tips and resources during Arkansas Entrepreneur Week.

As the state’s premier business assistance provider, ASBTDC assists entrepreneurs at every stage of business development and growth. A partnership of the U.S. Small Business Administration and UALR’s College of Business, ASBTDC serves new, existing and innovation-based small businesses. Through a statewide network of seven offices, ASBTDC provides free consulting and market research services plus affordable training to the business community.

ASBTDC’s knowledgeable, certified consultants provide one-on-one, confidential business counseling at no charge. Consulting services can be tailored to any small business venture and include market research, financial analysis, and management. ASBTDC’s classroom and online training programs provide current, practical information on a broad range of business topics, including writing business plans, using popular accounting software, marketing effectively, managing cash flow, and utilizing technology and the Web.

Elliott said the center was a godsend in his quest to establish his own business.

“Aside from an intention to start my own business, I had no idea where to start or what to do,” he said. “I had a wealth of sales, marketing, and administrative expertise but very little regulatory or compliance background.”

He attended an Arkansas Entrepreneur Week hosted by the ASBTDC at UALR and signed up for the ‘Starting a Business in Arkansas’ seminar. He credits the three-hour program and ASBTDC’s consulting services for his ability to launch his business.

“I found the seminar to be eye-opening in terms of the topics covered, the advice offered, and the contact information provided,” Elliott said. “As importantly, I found the one-on-one services available through the ASBTDC to be absolutely invaluable. To discuss my problems and struggles with a professional well-versed in the mechanics of my particular situation was not only helpful but, at times, convinced me to continue in my efforts.”

For more about Arkansas Entrepreneur Week or to pre-register for either seminar, contact the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center at 800-862-2040.