Small businesses can help communities thrive by providing much-needed goods and services while also making a profit. Many of these enterprises use their place within their neighborhoods to serve and engage with the residents. Here are five tips on how to get involved with the community you live and work in.
- Create a Sound Business Plan
Launching a successful business requires planning and forethought. For this reason, entrepreneurs rely on business plans to get their ideas into writing and keep themselves on track. Your business plan should describe your company, how it will be structured, how your services will be sold, and how you will fund the endeavor.
Additionally, you need to include financial projections to keep yourself on target for sales and budgeting. If your expertise is on the creative side of running a business, try reading a book on startup financials or outsourcing this aspect of the enterprise to a professional. Here’s how to start a business with ZenBusiness.
- Place an Emphasis on Sound Accounting Practices
Maintaining healthy growth for any company means having a solid grasp of your revenue, expenses, and profit. Of course, accounting is more complex than that and many budding businesses cannot afford to keep a full-time accountant on staff. Luckily there are tools on the market today, such as invoicing software, to make it easier than ever for entrepreneurs to keep accurate books and receive payment quickly. Things to look for in an invoicing tool for smallbiz include:
- Allows online payment
- Alerts you when customers view and pay invoices
- Offers scheduled invoices for recurring customers
- Hire the Right People
Even a very ambitious business owner needs help in order to run operations smoothly. As you grow your company, be sure to hire people you get along with, trust, and who have the proper qualifications for the position you seek to fill. When it comes to community outreach, a marketing professional could be helpful in getting your enterprise name out into the area as a business that cares for its customers and all local citizens. Make sure potential marketing firms or individuals understand your entity’s goals in advertising and that you are on the same page with how you want the public to view your firm.
- Concoct Promotions to Engage with People
Once you have your enterprise on the right track financially, you can begin to engage with your local community in a more meaningful manner. To draw customers in so that you can develop a rapport with them, try advertising promotions in local papers, online, and in your storefront windows. Notify nearby groups on social media of the current happenings with your business and how you can help people solve problems in their lives with your company’s goods or services.
- Attend Community Events
Many towns have events in which businesses can sponsor fun activities for the residents and set up booths to promote their companies. Sign up for these affairs and engage with as many people as you can. Further, you can sponsor local school affairs such as carnivals, performances, and shows. This could help you build brand recognition as more people see your business name at multiple events. See upcoming events in Kaufman here.
Creating a small business that flourishes and cares about its community is a noble (and large) endeavor. Careful planning can go a long way to help you realize your goals as a philanthropist and entrepreneur.
