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Small Business Connections                                    December 2011

Welcome to Small Business Connections! 

 

The Illinois Small Business Development Center at Waubonsee Community College is here to serve your small business needs. We offer free business counseling to entrepreneurs and business owners, as well as a variety of small business workshops.

 

Call us today at (630) 906-4143 to learn how we can help you start or grow your business.
Small Business Spotlight
STEPS for Kids

 

STEPS for Kids provides Occupational Therapy and related services to children and their families affected by Sensory Processing Disorders (SPD) such as Autistic Spectrum Disorders, ADD/ADHD, learning disorders, and other developmental conditions. After working in the Occupational Therapy field for over 20 years, owner Debra Johnson wanted to couple her experience with her passion to define and build her own business.  Debra's first job as an OT was with a small, privately owned clinic. She was impressed by how the therapists were able to create their practice based on their own beliefs about quality patient care. They were great mentors for creating and executing a vision for a practice.

 

Working with the IL SBDC at Waubonsee, Debra developed her business plan, chose a location from a variety of options she was considering, and opened her doors in September, 2010. STEPS for Kids offers Intervention Services, Educational Services and Purposeful Play opportunities to enhance social interactions. Debra's blog keeps clients and others updated on upcoming programs, events and educational information.

 

In its first year in business, STEPS has grown steadily. "Physicians are now referring to me by name and parents are spreading the word about services. Demand for services is growing and there has been interest from the community for additional services. I have added two more therapists and am also adding new services," says Debra. "I find the flexibility of being my own boss to be compatible with my family's needs. The biggest challenge is staying disciplined and organized to get business tasks done and keep the business growing while attending to other aspects of my life."

 

Recently, Debra returned to the SBDC for assistance taking her growing business to the next level. She is currently putting a financial plan in place to prepare for growth and additional hiring to support her growing clientele. "The SBDC has provided me with tools and resources to help my business grow. It has helped tremendously to have access to a wealth of information in one place."

 

STEPS for Kids is located at 1555 Sycamore Road, Yorkville, IL 60506. You can reach Debra at 630-552-9890, or visit her website for more information.

 

 

Biz Buzz

  What's in store for 2012

  

 

Happy New Year! It's the time of year we emerge from our holiday sugar coma, look back in hindsight 2011, and start planning for growth in 2012. In the spirit of renewal and planning, here are a few suggestions to get your year and your business off to a good start.

 

Take inventory - make a list of what worked and what didn't for your business last year. Identify your best customers and why they love you. Check in on what's new with your top competitors. And, finally, revisit the ideas you've had over the year about what to do differently.

 

Look for trends - If you aren't already seeing new trends emerging from your customers and competitors, check out one of the world's leading trend firms, trendwatching.com, which sends out its free, monthly Trend Briefings to more than 160,000 subscribers worldwide in 9 languages. Their 2012 trend report includes trends in everything from mobile technologies to personal health to customized services, along with some examples of how companies are responding to these trends.

 

Get input - Tired of talking to yourself or your spouse and getting the same answers about your business? The longer you've been in business, the harder it is to see it with a critical eye. Schedule an appointment with the IL SBDC at Waubonsee for fresh insight. Countless times, we have helped an owner review business strategies and operations, and offered a new idea, fresh approach, or valuable connection to help give that business some new momentum. We are happy to join you in a brainstorming session or strategic planning discussion on how take your business to the next level.

 

Craft a plan - When it comes to planning, building a business is like building a house. You really need a blueprint to do it right. Remember, "Just Do It" is Nike's marketing brand, not their strategic plan. Whether it's for marketing or overall business strategy, putting your plan to paper helps you act wiser, spend smarter, identify problems, and stay or correct the course. So get those ideas out of your head and onto paper so you can follow your plan to a profitable 2012.

 

If you need more insights into 2012, check out these other predictions for Internet trends, retail consumer trends, and small business predictions.

 

From brainstorming, to analysis, to planning The IL SBDC can help you grow your business. Call us for an appointment to help you get your year off to a great start! We can be reached at (630) 906-4143, by email at [email protected], or online at www.waubonsee.edu/sbdc.

 

 

SBDC Client Press Corner

 

Do you have something noteworthy happening at your business? We hear lots of exciting news from our clients, so we launched this new section in our newsletter to help you spread the word. If you have something memorable you want to share, email us and we'll help you spread the news!

Biz Bitz

                   How to Pick the Perfect Name for you Business

 

The name you choose for your startup shapes how investors will perceive it, Marty Zwilling writes. Look for names that are no more than two syllables, and that are memorable and easy to spell. "Some startup founders try unusual word spellings to make their business stand out, but this can be trouble when customers 'Google' your business to find you, or try to refer you to others," he writes. Read more on picking the perfect business name

 

  

                  De-Stress this Holiday Season                         

 

Are you burning the candle at both ends?  In the season of New Year's resolutions, consider adopting these practices that will reduce stress and add balance in your life.  Your friends and family will thank you, and your business life will be more productive as well.      

                                          

National Media Coverage for your Small Business

 

Need tips on getting national media coverage as a small business entrepreneur?  Media sites have been essential resources for expanding one's customer base but they can also be key tools in building relationships with people in the media. Read more tips on becoming your own publicist through social media outlets.  

 

Informational Forum: The Steps to State Government Job Opportunities 

 

 You are invited to hear from state agencies including Central Management Services, the Illinois Department of Transportation and the Illinois Toll Highway Authority on how you can pursue careers in state government.  Thursday, January 12th 8:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. at the Prisco Community Center 150 W. Illinois Avenue, Aurora. For more information or to RSVP, please call Lilian Perry at Rep. Chapa LaVia's constituent service office at (630) 264-6855. 

Get Smart: Small Business Workshops at Waubonsee
Starting Your Business in IllinoisWorkshops

Wednesday, Jan. 18, 6 - 9 p.m., $30 (Aurora)

Tuesday, Feb. 21, 6 - 9 p.m., $30 (Plano)

Thursday, Mar. 22, 6- 9 p.m., $30 (Aurora)

     

Marketing for Small Business

Thursday, Jan. 26, 6 - 9 p.m., $30 (Aurora)

Tuesday, Mar. 27, 6 - 9 p.m., $30 (Sugar Grove)

 

Social Media Marketing for Business

Thursday, Feb. 9, 6 - 9 p.m., $30 (Aurora) 

 

Step Into Retail

Tuesday, Mar. 6, 6 - 9 p.m., $30 (Aurora)

 

Is Franchising Right for You?

Wednesday, Mar. 7, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. (Aurora)

 

Facebook for Business: Secrets to Success

Thursday, Feb. 16, 7 - 8 p.m., $30 (Online Webinar)   

 

Google for Business

Thursday, Apr. 5, 6 - 9 p.m., $30 (Aurora)

 

Check seminar details for the full list, class descriptions, locations, ticket numbers, and pricing. To sign up, complete and submit the registration form. For additional  information call the Illinois SBDC office at (630) 906-4143.   

 

QuickBooks and Excel

A variety of QuickBooks and Excel classes are available to meet your small business accounting needs. Click here for complete class descriptions, locations, dates, times and costs. 

Illinois SBDC at Waubonsee Community College  

Funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration and Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.  All opinions, conclusions or recommendations expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the SBA or DCEO.

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