Written By: Katie Conroy.
Building a Business Can Positively Impact Your Community
Small businesses make big differences in their communities. In fact, small businesses have added millions of jobs to the economy while many national corporations have eliminated positions. Of course, their impact goes beyond job opportunities — small businesses influence neighborhood culture and become a staple of hometowns.
However, launching a small business takes careful planning, especially if your goal is changing your city for the better. The following steps prepare you for the realities of running a company while balancing local giving.
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Find Your Niche
Your first decision is what goods or services to sell. It’s essential to offer something the community needs, so do some research to find your niche. For example, if you want to open a restaurant, look at what’s missing from the neighborhood menu. There may be many fast food places but no options for health-conscious customers.
Apply for Funding
Every company needs capital to get off the ground. Fortunately, there are plenty of resources for small businesses:
- Grants
- Small business loans
- Entrepreneur programs
You can also look for investors who agree to finance your enterprise for a percentage of business ownership.
Set Up Your Website
Even if you cater to local customers, you still need a website. While it’s possible to create your own with templates, you’ll save time by outsourcing to a professional web designer. The expert team at Cymru Digital Marketing can ensure your site is aesthetically pleasing, user-friendly, and fully functional.
Maintain Cash Flow With Invoicing Software
In any business, large or small, accurate invoicing is essential to maintaining cash flow and keeping track of what is owed to you. While billing by hand may be fine for a one-person operation, as soon as you start working with multiple clients or taking on employees, manual invoicing becomes time-consuming and error-prone. This is where invoicing software can save the day. Customer invoicing software automates the billing process, making it faster and easier to generate accurate invoices. You’ll also be able to add a button to invoices that allow customers to pay online.
Advertise Locally
Local advertisements get local customers. To bring in the crowds, focus your marketing with the following strategies:
- Mailers
- Localized SEO
- Billboards
- Geotags on social media
Partner With Local Entrepreneurs
Connecting to other local businesses is a great way to support your peers and offer more to the community. One of the best ways to do so is by joining municipal associations. These are usually organized by industry, allowing you to meet entrepreneurs with similar aspirations and challenges.
Support Community Charities
Local shops are uniquely positioned to work with charities within the community. You can do so by donating directly, hosting campaigns that donate a portion of sales, and even volunteering time, space, and labor.
Tap Into Local Talent
As a local business, you can create opportunities for the talent in your neighborhood. When looking to expand your workforce or hire a contractor, look nearby. A great place to start is universities and trade schools. Reaching out to new graduates and trainees keeps resources in the community.
Running a small business takes determination and a clear vision of the future, but it’s also incredibly fulfilling, especially when you contribute to your community. With the right approach, your enterprise and neighborhood can flourish.
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