Business Tips
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July 17, 2026 at 1:30pm
Brands are rushing into cultural moments, but without a clear role or real experience behind them, relevance can quickly turn into risk. -
July 17, 2026 at 1:00pm
Founder fatigue builds quietly — but the right habits and structure can prevent it. -
July 8, 2026 at 10:00am
Meet Mary Safie, president and owner of Safie Specialty Foods Company, Inc., a true go-getter and excellent entrepreneur who’s turning a family legacy into a modern manufacturing powerhouse. More than just a job, this business is a century-long tradition of Michigan agriculture and pickled perfection. Located in Chesterfield Township, Macomb County, Safie Specialty Foods has […]
The post Safie Specialty Foods: How Michigan SBDC Helped a Family Business Expand Operations & Exports appeared first on America’s SBDC.
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July 1, 2026 at 11:44am
When Tammy Strickland’s father—once a top executive of a global manufacturing firm—developed Alzheimer’s, she struggled to find the in-home care he required. So, she called in her sister, Debbie Thomason, with an idea: open their own home care franchise focused on compassion, quality and trust. When it came time to build the business behind that […]
The post UGA SBDC Strategic Coaching Fuels Growth for LaGrange Home Care Franchise appeared first on America’s SBDC.
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June 24, 2026 at 9:29am
For Jennifer Clark, entrepreneurship grew from a deeply personal mission. As a combat veteran and mother to an autistic daughter, Clark experienced firsthand the transformative power of animal-assisted eco-therapy. This profound personal healing inspired her to found J&J Second Chance Smallholdings, an animal rescue and sanctuary in Laramie. Two years later, to expand her community […]
The post How Wyoming SBDC Helped a Combat Veteran Turn Animal Rescue Into a Statewide Wellness Business appeared first on America’s SBDC.
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June 17, 2026 at 10:00am
From a $30 push mower to a thriving, full-service landscaping company, Griffin Thomas has spent more than a decade building TopLine Lawncare and Landscaping one yard, one crew and one lesson at a time. With guidance from the University of Georgia Small Business Development Center (UGA SBDC), Thomas turned a major expansion opportunity into a […]
The post From Push Mower to a Growing Enterprise with Help From the UGA SBDC appeared first on America’s SBDC.
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June 10, 2026 at 10:00am
The concept for The Wine Down was developed around a kitchen table by owner Joelle Bolton, her best friend, and her husband. Having spent years working in nightlife and hospitality, they set out to create a bar aligned with their own preferences—one that was approachable, distinctive, and designed with intention rather than trend. Bolton’s husband […]
The post Nevada SBDC Helps The Wine Down’s Joelle Bolton Turn a Dream Into a Destination Bar appeared first on America’s SBDC.
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Artificial Intelligence Tips for Small Business Owners
October 17
AI is no longer exclusive to large corporations—small businesses can now leverage AI to automate tasks like accounting, boost customer service, improve marketing strategies, and enhance cybersecurity. These tools can provide valuable insights into your business operations, helping you make smarter, data-driven decisions that lead to better outcomes and more efficient workflows. However, adopting AI also comes with challenges, such as upfront costs and potential legal or ethical risks. Before diving in, it’s crucial to evaluate if AI aligns with your business needs and long-term goals. While AI offers significant growth potential, careful planning will help you navigate the complexities and fully harness its benefits for your small business. -
Navigating the New Exemption Laws: Essential Tips for Small Businesses
July 31
These changes affect executive, administrative, and professional employees. Here’s what you need to know to stay compliant and ensure your business is prepared. To determine if you or your employees qualify for this, please refer to the DOL website: https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/overtime/rulemaking. -
HR Minute for February 2024
February 9
Although it is being challenged in both Congress and the courts, I still recommend small businesses review and prepare for compliance with DOL expectations https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/flsa/misclassification. Note that the sub-directory title “misclassification” is a strong clue to the continued focus for regulatory oversight. -
Cybersecurity: Two Factor or Multifactor Authentication, A Necessary Step
October 30
Some of this is because cracking passwords isn’t all that difficult in most cases. To avoid providing access to your bank or credit card accounts, or to other sources of sensitive information, the companies are striving to ensure that only authorized individuals are accessing those accounts or information. In short, it is just a way of making sure that the owner of the login is the one accessing the account or information. -
Cybersecurity: Passwords Matter
September 21
Another responsibility is security. This responsibility is a big one and encompasses a lot more than some realize. Physical security is something that everyone is familiar with and probably comfortable with. It involves everything from door locks to alarm systems. It is generally easy to implement and not hard to remember to do. It used to be enough. -
Do These Three Steps Before Establishing Your Business Brand Identity
August 9
There are countless things to consider when starting a business. Which structure should I pick? Where do I find suppliers? How do I secure financing? Those are all very important, and often daunting, questions to answer while planning out your business concept and operations. -
Hitting Your Target Market
July 6
For example, it is fairly obvious that an infant and children’s clothing boutique will target parents and grandparents with infants and children that are within a certain age range. For the business to succeed there must be enough parents and grandparents to generate sufficient demand for such clothing and an evaluation of the competitions strength and the number of competitors. -
Promote Your Business with the Go Texan Program
June 1
The Go Texan program is a Texas Department of Agriculture initiative dedicated to identifying and supporting Texas-based businesses and connecting them with customers across the Lone Star State and around the world. The Go Texan program is dedicated to showcasing the diversity and quality of Texas – based businesses. Their efforts support business growth opportunities through developing new sales, establishing partnership relationships and encouraging customers to seek out the iconic Go Texan mark when making purchases. -
But they only worked for me for a week...
April 3
While the length of time the employee has worked may have an impact on an employer’s financial liability for an unemployment claim, it does not completely absolve the employer from the responsibility to respond to the claim. -
Keep Your Business Safe
October 13
All you wanted to do was open a small business on Main Street, or one that operates from home, selling your goods or services. -
Cash Flow Problems?
August 24
Inadequate cash flow is the number one problem for some businesses. Cash flow can be described as how cash moves or “flows” from the time the business pays for the expense of cost of goods or service (cash out) until the time it is collected by the business from the customer (cash in). -
Marketing and Advertising
August 18
When it comes to marketing and advertising your business, it is easy to fall back on colloquial phrases as justification for not being willing to try different techniques or channels. -
Using e-Commerce In a Post Pandemic Market
August 2
If the pandemic taught us all anything, it is that there is more than one way to serve customers. -
Curbside
July 7
As the COVID numbers continue to decrease, and Governor Abbott recalled the mask mandate, it seems businesses are getting back to normal. But what does “normal” really look like after all the challenges the small business community has faced over the past 18 months. -
Employee Service
June 15
I really enjoy reading the posts on Facebook of a high school principal. I know several educators and am “friends” with them on Facebook. However, not one of them is more active on Facebook and Twitter than he is. In fact, it would be fair to say that he is more active than my own school-age children are. -
The Business Factory-San Angelo’s Small Business Incubator
June 10
Business incubation started in 1959 in New York when an old Massey-Ferguson farm implement plant closed. -
Covid-19 & The Winter Storm
March 26
2021 has been a rough start for Texas’s small businesses. Covid-19 and the winter storm affectionately referred to as “Sno-vid” has packed quite a punch for west Texas and the Concho Valley. -
Small Business Assistance Continues with the New Administration
March 18
It is no secret that over the past year businesses have suffered in many ways due to the many tolls COVID-19 has taken on the economy. Our communities and businesses are starting to mend; however many small businesses are still struggling financially. -
Top Things To Know About the Paycheck Protection Program
March 1
The COVID-19 pandemic took our economy on a roller-coaster ride in 2020, and in 2021 we are still feeling the pains and strains from that ride. The introduction of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) in March of 2020 was a lifeline to many small businesses who were struggling due to the pandemic. In late December, Congress tossed another lifeline to small business again with more flexibility in use and some clarifications in hopes to get small businesses back on their feet. Here are a few things you need to know about the PPP. -
Collaboration versus Competition
February 3
If there is one thing the pandemic has forced businesses to do is to think outside the traditional business box. Under the circumstances, getting a leg up on the competition has become more irrelevant and surviving has become the top priority. -
Economic Aid Act
January 22
Newly Issued Pandemic Relief Bill Provides Additional Financial Resources to Small Businesses -
Wow…What a Year!
January 11
We have completed one more revolution around the sun and what a journey it has been! We have seen controversy after controversy, faced a pandemic, and other events that have made 2020 a year like no other. -
SBDC and COVID-19 Crisis
September 7
During the COVID19 crisis beginning in March of this year, the ASU Small Business Development Center (SBDC) staff has helped many small business owners obtain emergency funding due to the shutdown of non-essential businesses.