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Growing your business starts with good grooming to make sure your processes and people are moving your business toward your goals. Reality check
To make sure your business stays on track with your goals and your growth, give it a thorough physical. The SBA’s small business assessment tool (PDF) will help check your business’ vitals and find new opportunities. What do you need to work on?
From fine-tuning processes to improving performance, KCSourceLink’s resource partners can help.
Turn your business plan into strategic plan. back to topWhile a business plan is your blueprint for your business, a strategic plan helps you map your growth, whether that involves a new product line, a new market, or even social media. Many resource partners offer classes in strategic planning. FastTrac® GrowthVenture™, for example, teaches you to take the lessons from your business and turn them into a plan for its future. Search our class calendar to find a workshop to help you take your business to the next level. Enterprise Center of Johnson County
Who: Entrepreneurs of innovative, early-stage, high-growth companies, preferably in Johnson County
ECJC provides business consulting services, cost-effective office space, and shared resources in an entrepreneurial environment. Since 2000, ECJC companies have included technology, biotechnology, clean energy, and business services companies. Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies and Development at the University of Central Missouri
Who: Entrepreneurs with technology or high-growth businesses
In addition to a host of business support services, the institute helps high-growth and technology-based businesses with engineering support, advanced manufacturing, and intellectual property research and patent filing. Women’s Business Center
Who: Women entrepreneurs in the Kansas City metro
Ask about their Entrepreneurship Roundtables and FastTrac® GrowthVenture™, specifically for women. Lawrence Regional Technology Center
Who: Entrepreneurs with innovative technologies in Lawrence, KS, and surrounding communities
LRTC offers start-up entrepreneurs a full-service, corporate office environment and a spectrum of valuable "hands-on" business development and support services. Small Business Development Centers and Small Business and Technology Development Centers
Who: Startups and established businesses. MAY REQUIRE PRIOR ENROLLMENT IN SBDC SEMINAR.
SBDCs and SBTDCs) can help you think through and develop your strategic plan. You may even want to ask about coaching and mentoring programs or peer-to-peer roundtables that allow you to tap the expertise of fellow business leaders. Use the Resource Navigator to find the SBDC or SBTDC near you.
Review your financial statements. back to topHaving trouble understanding your credit report or your financial statements?. Need a refresher on accounting software? KCSourceLink’s resource partners can help you get your books in order. Many resource partners offer classes in financial management and bookkeeping. You may want to start with a QuickBooks course or Johnson County Community College’s course, Understanding Your Financial Statements. Both can be found in KCSourceLink’s ClassLink Center for Business and Technology, Johnson County Community College
Who: Entrepreneurs, small business owners, and their employees
Whether you’re in health care, insurance, real estate or technology, want to hone your business skills, or change the way your organization works, the center has a course or program that can help. Kansas City Volunteer Lawyers & Accountants for the Arts
Who: Qualifying artists and arts organizations
KCVLAA provides legal and accounting assistance to qualifying artists and arts organizations from all creative disciplines. Their ArtsSmarts program provides seminars in arts law to help artists avoid common pitfalls in their professional arts careers.
Find where your business can make improvements—in the production process, in the maintenance of your facilities, in the storage of your inventory, in your supply chain. These resource partners can help you evaluate and rethink how your business operates and, in turn, help your business performance and bottom line. Mid America Manufacturing Technology Center offers seminars, workshops, and consulting services to help companies. Missouri Enterprise helps business implement or safety procedures. Small Business Development Centers and Small Business and Technology Development Centers
Who: Startups and established businesses. MAY REQUIRE PRIOR ENROLLMENT IN SBDC SEMINAR.
SBDCs and SBTDCs) can help you find partners to improve your production process, evaluate the maintenance of your facilities, and rethink your supply chain. Use the Resource Navigator to find the SBDC or SBTDC near you.
Rekindle customer relationships. back to topAre you losing clients and customers? Find out why. Evaluate your customer service. And then ask your employees and ask your customers. Find out what your reputation is and work to maintain, and if necessary, repair your relationships with your customers. Take a workshop on a host of topics, from marketing and sales basics to Web site development to effective social media networking. Meet with business counselor to hone your marketing strategy and efforts.
Build new efficiencies. back to topKCSourceLink’s resource partners can help you look for new ways to build efficiency into your processes and your plant. Here are just two ways that you can improve your performance: Have other ideas? Give us a call and we’ll find the resource partners who can help you make it happen.
Promote energy efficiencyKansas Energy Incentives
Who: Kansas businesses
Here, you’ll find a list of state and federal incentives and programs that are available to Kansas businesses to encourage investments in energy efficiency and alternative energy. Missouri Department of Natural Resources
Who: Missouri businesses
The department lists funding opportunities and tax incentives for programs that promote renewable energy and energy efficiency. Mid America Manufacturing Technology Center offers seminars, workshops, and consulting services to help companies implement integrated process improvements, explore technical innovations, and test and develop products. Missouri Enterprise helps business improve their manufacturing and business processes and their quality management systems.
Promote safetySafety and Health Council of Western Missouri and Kansas offers occupational safety training. Mid America Manufacturing Technology Center offers seminars, workshops, and consulting services to help companies implement integrated process improvements, explore technical innovations, and test and develop products. Missouri Enterprise helps business improve their manufacturing and business processes and their quality management systems.
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