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No-Cost & Low-Cost Resources for Business. Build Your B usiness W ithout Breaking the Bank Elaine Jones. Common Frustration: Not Sure What is W orth the Cost. Consultants? Seminars? Retreats? Books/Videos ? College courses?. Look at No-Cost Options Before You Leap. Library
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No-Cost & Low-Cost Resources for Business Build Your Business Without Breaking the Bank Elaine Jones
Common Frustration: Not Sure What is Worth the Cost • Consultants? • Seminars? • Retreats? • Books/Videos? • College courses?
Look at No-Cost Options Before You Leap • Library • Business training programs & workshops • DIY • WSU Small Business Development Center & of course, the web
Try the Library DKDK KK KDK • Not just the books! • Use the Librarians • Define what you want to find out • Ask for the Business Reference Librarian • Make an appointment • Ask-WA 24/7 (starts 8/19) • http://libraries.wsu.edu/ask • Live chat 10-4 M-F; all day on weekends Johan’s Circle
In Person or Online • Reference USA • Instant, real-time access to information on 14 million businesses • Journal/article databases • Demographics NOW • Census-tract level household spending on specific items
Training Programs & Workshops • Chamber • EDC/Team Jefferson • & Clallam & Kitsap! • VBOC, State VA • Veterans Outreach Training & Education—military/spouses only • PTAC workshops • Office XPats • Peninsula College
Tip of the Iceberg • RSS feeds: Inc.,Entrepreneur, others • YouTube • Trade Associations • Video libraries: ericspellmann.com • Company intranets: Garvey Schubert Barer • Student/class projects • 4H clubs
DIY • # of transactions research • Webinars & Specifics • Guerilla Marketing • Best Bloggers • Allyoucanread.com • Chamber mentor • Find a “buddy business” • Fiverr
Email Marketing Software • Keeps you in touch efficiently • Messages • Surveys • Newsletters • Analytics • Links to other social media • $7.50/month on up • http://email-marketing-service-review.toptenreviews.com/ Pinpointe Vertical Response Graphicmail Mailgen
Credit Card Processing • CardFellow.com • Free service for comparison shopping • Fee Explanation • Recommends • Interchange pass-through pricing • No contract • No leasing (buy for $250-$300)
Insight – Solutions – Success WSU Small Business Development Center • 1 on 1, confidential advising • ½ funded by the US SBA • ½ WSU & other state/local funders • No cost to the client • To foster economic vitality • No axe to grind
WHAT WE DO 1-ON-1 ADVISING • SBDC TRAINING RESEARCH
WHAT WE DO • Strategic planning • Financial analysis • Loan packages • Marketing plans • Business plans • Employment issues • Leasing • E-commerce • Exporting • Managing growth • Purchase/sale of a business • Government contracting • Meet individual client needs
Insight – Solutions – SuccessSmall Business Development Centers MBAs (+) Entrepreneurs Certified 90% of citizens within 1 hour of advising
Insight – Solutions – SuccessStatewide 2012 Track Record • 3074 businesses served • $35.1 million capital formation • 922 jobs created/saved SBDC Clients consistently grow faster in revenue and employment than the average WA business
Thought for the day:REACH OUT!!!Many resources are available THANK YOU!elaine.jones@wsbdc.org360-344-3078