More Tips & Tools on SBA Website

The Federal Small Business Administration (SBA) has just revamped SBA.gov with all sorts of new tools and links for entrepreneurs and business owners.  SBA online is jam-packed with tips & tools for starting or growing a business.  The newly revised website is even more user-friendly and offers some of the most comprehensive business planning and development information available, and it’s all free!   From an entrepreneurial assessment tool to writing a business plan, and searching for grants and loans to government contracting, the SBA covers all aspects of starting a business.

If you’ve spent any time on YakimaValley.biz, you’ll notice we often link to the SBA website.  We don’t believe in re-creating the wheel and they provide so many resources that it is especially useful for service providers as well as entrepreneurs and business owners. They’ve managed to make it even more interactive with added video training, testimonials and with the SBA Direct feature which allows you to enter your Zip Code for more specific information.

A website is a work in progress…you are never really ‘done’ with it.  Kudos for the SBA for keeping current.

Let it Snow!

Ah, ’tis the Season for snow.   We are blessed in this region with perfect weather (most years!).  Usually when it snows we get to enjoy it and then it melts fairly quickly.  With snow comes shoveling though…  As I was out shoveling at 6:30 a.m., someone was clearing my neighbors driveway.  I’m always amazed because every time it snows, their driveway is always the first to be shoveled.  I also noticed an unfamiliar car parked at their house.  The man finished shoveling and then got in the car and drove off.  Interesting.  I don’t think it was a family member or Good Samaritan, I didn’t recognize the car.  I think it is more likely that it is someone they have a standing job order with for snow removal.

Since it was Monday morning and I was getting into work mode while shoveling, it made me think about the importance of knowing your market and the need to diversify if your business is seasonal.  For example, in recent years, a well-known lawn care company has taken to hanging Christmas lights and decorating yards in the off season.  If your business has predictable peaks and valleys, it would serve you well to offer services that you can do in the slow times.  Think of ways that you can drum up business when you know it will be slow.  Look at your competitors.  Should you offer a two-for-one special or maybe throw in something extra?  Customers love free stuff, even if it’s something little.

There are free market analysis tools out there; for a great place to get started on visit the Small Business Administration page on Finding Your Niche.  What have you done to combat down times for your business?

Tieton Farm & Creamery Wins Enterprise Challenge

Our organization is excited to announce that three emerging businesses were selected as winners of the association’s inaugural business plan contest.   These entrepreneurs were selected by seven judges that reviewed plans and heard pitches from our final contestants.

Tieton Farm & Creamery won New Vision’s Enterprise Challenge and received a check for $10,000.  The farm and creamery is on a 21-acre farm located in Tieton.  Tieton Farm & Creamery combines responsible farming methods and artisanal cheese making techniques to produce small batches of high-quality cheeses, such as fresh chevre, feta, provolone and grill-able Halloumi.  Owners Lori and Ruth Babcock want to expand the business by developing a farm-oriented bed and breakfast on the property.

Cascade Animal Care Products took third place in the contest and won $2500.  The company specializes in total care for animals.   Started last year, the company is quickly positioning itself as Yakima’s experts in animal care – dogs, cats, horses or livestock.  Products include antibiotics, vaccinations, dewormers, special supplements and retail supplies to keep animals healthy and happy. The company plans to expand its retail and wholesale sales over the next two years.

The other five final contestants received consolation prizes that can be redeemed for legal, accounting or internet support from local businesses.  “We are thrilled with the results of our business plan contest”, said New Vision’s Tammy Everts.  “All our contestants have enormous potential in terms of launching or running successful local businesses.  If these emerging companies get off the ground according to their plans we should see them add investing in our local economy and adding a significant number of jobs.”

Ruth and Lori Babcock, owners of Tieton Farm and Creamery, were thrilled to win the contest:  “We benefited tremendously from participating in the business plan contest.  It gave us an opportunity to learn more about growing our business and helped us pinpoint how we can expand over the next few years.  The funds we won will literally allow us to keep our expansion plans moving forward.”

New Vision’s Enterprise Challenge started in September and featured several educational events where contestants could learn more about managing a business.  There was also a coaching round for final contestants where they could get advice from local experts.  The development association is planning to run the contest again next year.  According to Everts, “The contest helps anchor our initiative to support local entrepreneurs.  We learned a lot this year as a result of organizing the Enterprise Challenge and we think the 2011 contest will be even bigger and better.”

December 10, 2010 by Dave McFadden

Down to the Wire!

It’s the final week of the Enterprise Challenge.  The eight finalists submitted their final presentations on Friday afternoon, judges are reviewing the full plans and they will make their final ‘pitch’ to the judges on Thursday.  They have ten minutes for the oral presentation…ten minutes isn’t very long to summarize a business plan, but if you aren’t comfortable with public speaking, ten minutes can seem like an eternity.  We will celebrate the conclusion of the contest and announce the winners on Friday.

One of the biggest lessons learned from at least a few of our finalists is that sometimes things don’t always go as planned.  If you are an entrepreneur or business owner, I’m sure this happens on a regular basis.  What is important is how you handle things under pressure or adapt to changing conditions.  For example, more than one finalist had ‘real life’ things come up that interfered with working on the business plan and they had to adapt their original ideas and do the  best they could to make it work.

Another big lesson is to always back up your work!  And not only on your computer.  No kidding – one of the finalist’s computers crashed as they were sending their final business plan in.  It was a quick lesson in emergency computer troubleshooting to restore their work.  It’s not a bad idea to save your work to an external flash drive, external hard drive or even hard copy.  What if they had lost all of their hard work, or even worse, customer accounts or pending orders?

We hope you can join us in the celebration and conclusion of the First Annual Enterprise Challenge on Friday, December 10th from noon to 1:00 p.m.  The entrepreneurs have put in a lot of hard work over the last few months and we look forward to announcing the winners!

DATE:  Friday, December 10

TIME:  12 noon to 1:00 p.m., registration and networking begins at 11:30

PLACE:  Yakima Red Lion Hotel, 607 East Yakima Avenue, Yakima

COST:  $20, includes lunch

Email or call 575.1140 for more details, or click here to register.