Succeeding as a small business today can be difficult, but small business leaders in the Fredericksburg area can look to the University of Mary Washington's Small Business Development Center (SBDC) for lessons for success. . The center will mentor future entrepreneurs in their pursuit of economic growth through education, consulting, connections, and supporting research.
“A lot of people want to be their own boss,” says SBDC Director Susan Ball. She believes this is the number one reason people want to own a small business, followed by the opportunity to make more money and the feeling that they can do better.
Ball got his start as a small business owner running a chain pizza restaurant in Orange, Virginia, and is familiar with the challenges there. At her restaurant, she experienced problems with hiring and retaining staff. This is a problem that frequently arises in today's small business world. Her current students can relate to her first-hand experience.
SBDC classrooms offer lessons such as “First Steps to Start the Business Online Module'' and “Creating a Competency Statement,'' topics that guide future small business owners. For example, competency statements are an important foundation for business. This is an advertising or marketing statement about your business, its abilities and skills, promoting who you are and what you do. Key elements to build.
There are many angles that businesses can leverage, and social media is a big one. SBDC has a section focused on his three main elements of social media: Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok. Facebook is still a big player, but the others seem to have declined compared to the three. With the future of TikTok in the country also in question, small business owners need to be flexible and stay on top of changing trends.
SBDC has supported numerous organizations in the past. That includes several success stories, including Obsidian Solutions Group, a government contractor with many operations in Quantico, and Old Town Butcher Shop in Fredericksburg. At Obsidian, “we worked on their business plan,” Ball said, and now the owners are back at the SBDC doing classroom training. This butcher shop got off to a good start and is still in business today, but with a different owner.
SBDCs help small business owners start or expand their businesses, but they may reconsider this commitment. They ask five questions future business owners should consider before taking the big step. Do they have the money and time to invest? Can they easily make big decisions? Do they have the expertise? Do they have family behind it? SBDC has an introductory class called “First Steps to Start a Business” that can help answer these questions.
The SBDC is a community-wide resource and plans to build on its partnership with Stafford Economic Development by partnering with the annual Veterans Business Bootcamp in the fall. Stafford also participates in his UMW Business Insights Series, which offers his six seminars focused on various areas. topic. The program is run by Teresa Siegelken, Stafford County's director of continuing and professional studies.
In addition to Mr. Ball at SBDC headquarters, Matthew Fleming and Bianca Rosales also serve as teachers. Fleming is a retired Navy captain who has started six small businesses in Stafford County. Rosales is the entrepreneurship and communications manager for UMW's Center for Economic Development.
Mike Salmon is a freelance reporter for Potomac Local News.If you haven't received our free email newsletter, you're missing out. Subscribe now!