Stephani Stephenson on fri 3 dec 10
I recently discovered a wonderful resource for anyone setting up a
business, or rethinking or refreshing your business. Because i relocated=
=3D
, I
need to learn how to organizie and operate in the new location and al=
=3D
so
take the opportunity to rethink my approach to my work, in a business s=
=3D
ense.=3D20
After getting glazed over eyeballs reading the state rules and regs onlin=
=3D
e,
I called around to find out if there were any 'going into business in AZ=
=3D
?"
workshops in my area , only to be smacked hard with reality : there are =
=3D
no
such services in my immediate locale.=3D20
However, a call placed to the community college which serves this entire
county produced results.
The SBA has a small business outreach network in place , most of it run=3D2=
0=3D
through local community colleges. In this county, they are especially
interested in assisting rural small businesses. So , I drove 30 miles t=
=3D
o
my first hour long free consultation, where I talked with a very
experienced SBA counselor; a smart,resourceful man who has started and
managed businesses and is familiar with all of it, including the state re=
=3D
gs,
etc. , and who also seems pretty good at working with people to improve =
=3D
how
they manage their business. He was a good listener, and provided sound
feedback and ideas.=3D20
They 'll work with you for as long as it takes . They can do the busine=
=3D
ss
paperwork with you right there in the office, work with you on a business=
=3D
plan, help analyze where your money and time go, etc. etc. all free of
charge to you.=3D20
For me, the first session was quite productive and i think it will help =
=3D
me
to focus and define what I want to do here and I 'll continue to work wi=
=3D
th
them . Right after this move, there's a lot to do on so many levels. thi=
=3D
s
will help me get focused and stay focused on the business aspect, while I=
=3D
=3D20
adapt it to changes in the economy, the locale and my own personal
development and desires for my work .
Just verbalizing your thoughts and getting good feedback is valuable in i=
=3D
tself.
Anyway, just thought I would let you know about this resource.I didn't
remember the SBA offering this sort of thing. In a larger city it may tak=
=3D
e
the form of classes or workshops, but if you are in a smaller area you ca=
=3D
n
probably get this same sort of support. Their claim is there is an SBA
center withing 60 miles of you anywhere in the country.
Jeff Longtin on sat 4 dec 10
Great posting Stephani!
To throw this in, many communities have Community Development Corporations.
(CDC's) and sometimes they can assist in directing someone toward small
business resources. The mandate of many CDC's was development of affordabl=
e
housing but many also saw a need for small business assistance so they als=
o
have resources in that area as well.
In St Paul we have the Business Planning Center which provides free access
to business plan writing software and assistance in writing your business
plan.
Good luck
Jeff Longtin
in snow laden Minneapolis
In a message dated 12/4/2010 5:53:17 A.M. Central Standard Time,
revivalsteph@YAHOO.COM writes:
I recently discovered a wonderful resource for anyone setting up a
business, or rethinking or refreshing your business. Because i relocated,
I
need to learn how to organizie and operate in the new location and als=
o
take the opportunity to rethink my approach to my work, in a business
sense.
After getting glazed over eyeballs reading the state rules and regs online=
,
I called around to find out if there were any 'going into business in
AZ?"
workshops in my area , only to be smacked hard with reality : there are
no
such services in my immediate locale.
However, a call placed to the community college which serves this entire
county produced results.
The SBA has a small business outreach network in place , most of it run
through local community colleges. In this county, they are especially
interested in assisting rural small businesses. So , I drove 30 miles to
my first hour long free consultation, where I talked with a very
experienced SBA counselor; a smart,resourceful man who has started and
managed businesses and is familiar with all of it, including the state
regs,
etc. , and who also seems pretty good at working with people to improve ho=
w
they manage their business. He was a good listener, and provided sound
feedback and ideas.
They 'll work with you for as long as it takes . They can do the
business
paperwork with you right there in the office, work with you on a business
plan, help analyze where your money and time go, etc. etc. all free of
charge to you.
For me, the first session was quite productive and i think it will help m=
e
to focus and define what I want to do here and I 'll continue to work wit=
h
them . Right after this move, there's a lot to do on so many levels. this
will help me get focused and stay focused on the business aspect, while I
adapt it to changes in the economy, the locale and my own personal
development and desires for my work .
Just verbalizing your thoughts and getting good feedback is valuable in
itself.
Anyway, just thought I would let you know about this resource.I didn't
remember the SBA offering this sort of thing. In a larger city it may take
the form of classes or workshops, but if you are in a smaller area you can
probably get this same sort of support. Their claim is there is an SBA
center withing 60 miles of you anywhere in the country.
Neon-Cat on sat 4 dec 10
Thanks for the reminder, Stephani! There's a SCORE office right up the
street from me.
They have offices all over the country or you can chat with someone
on-line for small business mentoring and/or training.
SCORE:
http://www.score.org/index.html
Marian Gooding
Neon-Cat Ceramics
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