August 2015 Small Business Banner

Did You Know?

77.6% of all businesses in Georgia employ fewer than 10 people?

(GDEcD 08/2015)

Discover resources offered by the State of Georgia: www.georgia.org/smallbusiness

2014 Winner, T.J. Kaikobad

There is still time to get your nominations in for the

2015 Small Business Person of the Year Award.

The winner will be announced at the Chamber's 75th Anniversary Gala on October 1st.

Email Summer for a Nomination Form at nix@daltonchamber.org

Want to Network with Other Entrepreneurs?

There are many cool and accommodating spots for entrepreneurs to meet other entrepreneurs and to connect to new ideas, opportunities and possibilities. These spots come in the form of coworking, concierge, makerspaces, high tech, low tech, incubation centers and cafes.

These gathering holes for the entrepreneur are gaining more presence in Georgia. There are numerous locations, but two relatively local: 7Hills Makerspace and the Venture Spot (both in Rome, Georgia).

Click here to see a full location listing.

Small Business Rock Star Awards...

The Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) and the Georgia Economic Developers Association (GEDA) have once again teamed together to recognize the outstanding, out-of-the-box, unique and impacting small businesses in the state of Georgia.

Deadline for Entry is September 30, 2015. Click HERE for the nomination form.

Take Advantage of these FREE Opportunities...

Provided by SCORE

Finding the Best Financing Option for Your Small Business

Hint: It's usually not a bank!

Due to the growth of online lending, the quickest way to get money in the bank isn't always by going to the bank!

During this webinar, Lendio's Brock Blake will review alternative sources of financing that may make better sense for your business and are easier to obtain than your traditional bank loan. Brock will present sought-after information and insights that are sure to help you identify the best source of financing for your company - and help you secure it!

Brock will cover:

What financing options are available
How to identify the best source of financing for your business
The documentation and reports that are required for each type of lender
What risks or hidden catches you should be aware of when applying for alternative financing

And much more!

When: Thursday, August 27 at 2:00 PM EDT

Duration: 1 Hour

Free of Charge

For more information or to register click HERE

Get Your Business Ready for an Emergency

Would your employees know what to do if a disaster hit? What if there was a serious emergency that required them to shelter in place at work? Emergencies can hit without warning and the stakes are high for small businesses.

Creating a preparedness plan doesn't need to be difficult. SCORE is pleased to collaborate with the American Red Cross as it showcases for the first time its newly-enhanced Ready Rating program. Ready Rating assists businesses and other organizations prepare for, respond to - and successfully withstand - a disaster and other emergencies. It is designed with small businesses in mind - businesses that may not have the financial resources or the time to go through a complicated emergency planning process.

Thanks to its generous sponsors, Ready Rating is free. And, it contains time-saving resources such as a tool for creating a customized "emergency action plan" for your organization.

When: Thursday, September 10 at 1:00 pm EDT

Duration: 1 Hour

Free of Charge

For more information or to register click HERE

Classes in Your Area...

Sponsored by the Small Business Development Center through UGA.

The SBDC will be holding multiple classes in our area:

September 16: Medical Practice Profit Drivers

October 13: Redevelopment Entrepreneur 5-part Series

October 15: Digital Marketing Boot Camp

Click HERE to learn more!

11 Ways You Know You're Meant to be an Entrepreneur

By: Richard Feloni

Mark Cuban, the billionaire "Shark Tank" investor and owner of the Dallas Mavericks, is known among NBA fans for racking up fines for misconduct at Mavs games he gets a bit too excited about. But nothing, he writes in his book "How to Win at the Sport of Business," makes him more competitive than business.

Cuban includes a checklist in his book of what it means to have "the edge," the necessary drive to forego the confines of a comfortable job, triumph over setbacks, and build a successful company.