By: Colleen Kardasz, Director, Export Assistance Network
When I talk to other small business advisors, I often find myself discussing our reputation of sometimes “crushing dreams” or not understanding someone’s passion. When you meet with several hundred small businesses a year and around 20% of those businesses are pre-venture or in the planning stages of starting a business, as an advisor, you often find yourself telling people things they don’t want to hear. The millennial with no cash and no credit who wants to buy a historic building doesn’t want to hear about the $100,000 build out any more than the aspiring restaurateur wants to hear that she most likely won’t be able to open in six weeks like she had wanted given the amount of time it will take just for the inspection process. We as small business advisors do not want to crush anyone’s dreams we just think it is better that you as a potential business owner think through, plan and prepare for all the aspects of running a business. We want you to have a plan well before you’ve invested your time and money. What’s better for the individual and the community: ten businesses who open and close in their first year, or five business who take a little longer to open, but stay open year after year? We’ll keep breaking the hard news to people if it means that we are helping entrepreneurs be successful.
When I talk to other small business advisors, I often find myself discussing our reputation of sometimes “crushing dreams” or not understanding someone’s passion. When you meet with several hundred small businesses a year and around 20% of those businesses are pre-venture or in the planning stages of starting a business, as an advisor, you often find yourself telling people things they don’t want to hear. The millennial with no cash and no credit who wants to buy a historic building doesn’t want to hear about the $100,000 build out any more than the aspiring restaurateur wants to hear that she most likely won’t be able to open in six weeks like she had wanted given the amount of time it will take just for the inspection process. We as small business advisors do not want to crush anyone’s dreams we just think it is better that you as a potential business owner think through, plan and prepare for all the aspects of running a business. We want you to have a plan well before you’ve invested your time and money. What’s better for the individual and the community: ten businesses who open and close in their first year, or five business who take a little longer to open, but stay open year after year? We’ll keep breaking the hard news to people if it means that we are helping entrepreneurs be successful.
The good news is there’s help to answer all these questions, even the ones you didn’t know to ask. Successful small business owners always have help. That help is in the form of their bank, accountant, bookkeeper, website developer, payroll service, attorney, financial advisor, small business consultant and more. We at the Ohio SBDC at the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce work with potential small business owners to understand the process of starting a business, what the owner’s strengths and weaknesses are and then help connect the owner to the local resource partners who provide the services needed to run a viable business. This process can seem very daunting and time consuming, but it’s worth every second when you know that you are preparing yourself for long-term success.
Here in Northwest Ohio aspiring business owners, or existing business owners who are looking to grow can attend the Boost Your Business small business resource fair on September 7th from 8am-4pm at The Pinnacle. In its inaugural year, Boost Your Business will combine a B2B fair format where you can meet with resource partners from various industries to learn about their products and services, while also offering a variety of presentations and panels on small business topics including crowdfunding, healthcare options for small businesses, understanding the banking relationship, insurance, building your online presence, government financing and more. SBDC advisors and vendors will be able to meet privately with attendees who want to discuss their business plans in more detail as well. If you are thinking of starting a business or have recently started a business and still looking for that network of partners, then register now to attend Boost Your Business. We look forward to seeing you next week and helping you turn your dream and your passion into a viable, sustainable business.
Here in Northwest Ohio aspiring business owners, or existing business owners who are looking to grow can attend the Boost Your Business small business resource fair on September 7th from 8am-4pm at The Pinnacle. In its inaugural year, Boost Your Business will combine a B2B fair format where you can meet with resource partners from various industries to learn about their products and services, while also offering a variety of presentations and panels on small business topics including crowdfunding, healthcare options for small businesses, understanding the banking relationship, insurance, building your online presence, government financing and more. SBDC advisors and vendors will be able to meet privately with attendees who want to discuss their business plans in more detail as well. If you are thinking of starting a business or have recently started a business and still looking for that network of partners, then register now to attend Boost Your Business. We look forward to seeing you next week and helping you turn your dream and your passion into a viable, sustainable business.
 | Colleen Marie Kardasz is the Ohio SBDC Export Assistance Network Director at the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce. Colleen is a licensed attorney with a background in marketing and PR who works with SMEs to start or expand their international business. |
The Small Business Development Center (SBDC) program of Ohio is funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. The SBDC is also funded in part by the Ohio Development Services Agency. All opinions, conclusions, and/or recommendations expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the SBA.
Please contact Emily Dammeyer, Communications Manager, Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce to submit a story for our blog.
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