Oregon Small Business Development Center Network

August is National Black Business Month, and we are celebrating the incredible contributions of Oregon’s Black business owners and entrepreneurs! Tag your favorite Black-owned Oregon business to show them a little extra love and support this month. #BlackBusinessMonth #BlackOwned #BlackOperated

An Air Force veteran and certified functional health coach, Meggan Bennett recently began her first business venture, opening Horizons Neurofeedback and Health Coaching earlier this year. Horizons Neurofeedback and Health Coaching is a place where anyone can go to treat the whole body with a collaborative and client-centered approach aimed at guiding individuals through sustainable and positive lifestyle changes to enhance their overall well-being. Before opening an office in Central Point, Oregon, Meggan reached out to the Southern Oregon SBDC for help and advice. Working with her adviser, Meggan developed her pro forma and business plan, which were integral parts of her SBA 7(a) loan. She also utilized the SBDC to ask questions and get answers throughout the business startup process. To learn more about Horizons Neurofeedback and Health Coaching, visit at https://buff.ly/3zmfEjP. To learn more about the no-cost business advising services offered statewide by the Oregon SBDC, visit https://buff.ly/3EcW9J6. #IndependentRetailerMonth #SupportSmallBusiness #SmallBusinessSpotlight

Today is World Wide Web Day, and we celebrate the incredible invention that connects us all. As you navigate this vast digital landscape, it’s critical to keep your online journeys secure. Make sure your small business and customers are protected by learning the essentials of online safety. Visit https://buff.ly/3ya2RR1 for more information and resources to help you protect your information online. #WorldWideWebDay #Cybersecurity #StaySafeOnline

Forming an LLC has become a popular choice for many solopreneurs and small business owners. This structure offers limited liability protection, potential tax benefits, and management flexibility. To learn more about the LLC structure and whether it is the right business structure for your small business, visit our blog: https://buff.ly/47CwaYg #LLC #BusinessStructure #OregonEntrepreneurs

As we celebrate Independent Retailer Month, the Oregon SBDC is spotlighting business success stories from our clients. From the beginning of their entrepreneurship journey, Jon and Carla Gutcher were determined to build a customer-centric business. Their deep commitment to meeting the needs of poker enthusiasts and local residents, paired with the extensive support they received from the Treasure Valley SBDC, helped create the Ontario Poker Room. Since opening their doors in 2016, the Gutchers have continued to meet customer needs by upgrading their 1,100-square-foot facility to include five tables, a bar, and a buffet. Their path was not without obstacles—but the TVCC SBDC was there to provide invaluable support, including classes, advising, training, and mentoring. “We don’t want to be the only poker room in town—we want to be the best one,” Carla says. To learn more about the services offered by the Treasure Valley SBDC, visit https://buff.ly/40w1G7z #IndependentRetailerMonth #SupportSmallBusiness #SupportIndieRetail

Our heartfelt thoughts are with our Oregon communities impacted by the wildfires across our state. The Oregon SBDC team stands ready to assist the small business community in recovery efforts when the time comes. For now, please stay safe, follow evacuation orders, and take all necessary precautions to protect yourself and your loved ones.

The Oregon SBDC is celebrating Independent Retailer Month by highlighting our clients' success stories. Daniel Baird spent 23 years as a painter for various companies before making the decision to start Elite Coat Painting. Not knowing where to begin, Daniel reached out to the Klamath SBDC for help, and the team helped him launch his business by providing a checklist of things like: ✅ Getting an EIN ✅ Acquiring liability insurance ✅ Applying for a CCB license With the help of the Klamath SBDC, Elite Coat Painting is up and running, providing interior and exterior paint jobs in Klamath Falls, Medford, Chemult, and beyond. #IndependentRetailerMonth #SupportSmallBusiness #EliteCoatPainting

If you’re planning a summer vacation, here’s a great way to help you step away while keeping your business running smoothly: Delegate, communicate, and automate. - Identify key team members who can manage various aspects of your business while you’re away. 𝐃𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐞 tasks and set clear priorities for them. - 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐞 your expectations clearly, provide necessary instructions and empower your employees to make decisions in your absence. Make sure everyone knows who to contact for specific issues (even if that is you). - Seek opportunities to 𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞 routine tasks or implement systems that can function seamlessly without you. This might include setting up automated email responses, using project management tools, or establishing clear processes for routine operations. With these processes in place, allow your team to handle things while you are gone, but also feel free to check in to make yourself available to answer any questions and make sure that things are going as planned. #VacationTime #VacationPlanning #SummerBreak

As a business owner, it’s important to understand what your profit and loss statement can tell you about your business. Some of the items a profit and loss statement shows include: ✅ Where your profits come from ✅ Whether your costs are managed effectively ✅ If your business is profitable Visit our blog to learn more: https://buff.ly/45NPylE #SmallBusinessTips #ProfitAndLoss #BusinessDocs

It’s Independent Retailer Month, and here at the Oregon SBDC, we're featuring stories of success from our clients. Without further ado, please allow us to introduce you to R&C Adventure Footwear in LaGrande, OR! When he discovered an opportunity to purchase a brick-and-mortar business in LaGrande, Oregon, Jeff Cusumano contacted the Eastern Oregon SBDC. Jeff was seeking assistance with the purchase process and growing his customer base after the sale was finalized. Jeff purchased R&C Adventure Footwear in 2023 and immediately went to work reorganizing and rebranding the store with the knowledge he gained through no-cost business advising with the Eastern Oregon SBDC. “The SBDC helped me research point-of-sale systems, explore marketing strategies, and advised me during the purchase process,” Jeff said. “Their assistance saved me countless hours of research.” To learn more about R&C Adventure Footwear, visit them on Facebook or Instagram. #IndependentRetailerMonth #SupportSmallBusiness #ShopSmall