For three and a half years you have been reading this column to learn more about the issues business owners face and how to address them. Our goal, through these articles, and more significantly through the services offered by our Small Business Development Center , has been to contribute to the economic development of our region by helping businesses become stronger. Evidence shows that strong businesses employ workers, which, of course, puts money back into our community. read more »

It’s been a hard year for our economy, and all signs point to a further economic slowdown, if not a recession. Small businesses are especially vulnerable during a sluggish economy as they can lack the diverse client base, cash reserves and other financial resources of larger companies.

The good news is that you are not merely a helpless bystander. The survival of your business does not have to be wholly dependent on the ups and downs of the economy. read more »

The decision to hire one or more employees can be a challenging one for any entrepreneur.

On the one hand, since the average entrepreneur works puts in a 70- hour workweek, according to the Princeton Review, what business owner wouldn’t want an extra hand or two? But hiring an employee can significantly change how your run your business and so before propping that Help Wanted sign in the window, consider the following factors.

Payroll: read more »

No one likes to think about taxes and so we’ve all been in the situation where we put tax preparation off until the last minute. But rushing your taxes can lead to unnecessary stress and costly errors. So before that April deadline looms up to meet you, take advantage of the time you have now to get organized so you can breeze through tax time and stay focused on the day-to-day priorities of your business.

Decide How You Will Complete Your Taxes read more »

Did you know that 60 to 80 percent of new businesses fail in the first five years? The reasons for this staggering number can vary, but there is often a common denominator: no business plan.

A recent survey conducted by the Kitsap Business Development Consortium revealed that while many business owners say they have business plans, those plans often only exist in their heads.  read more »

Jan started her consulting firm at the beginning of the year. As with many new business ventures, money was tight, but her network and marketing efforts began to pay off and her client base began to grow. By mid-year she had several clients she was working with regularly, and she was confident that things would proceed steadily.

But as the year-end holidays approached, Jan’s workload slowed considerably. read more »

As a small business owner, you may often feel as if you have to go it alone. After all, your business doesn’t have the budget or extensive resources that larger businesses have available to bring in outside consultants to provide training for your employees, help you refine your business plan, or develop a vision for your business’ future.

But luckily, you aren’t alone. You have the Small Business Development Center —— Olympic College right in your backyard. read more »

Marilyn runs a small accounting firm in Kitsap. She has a bustling business with many clients and three staff. One evening, after a week of rain, the hill behind Marilyn’s office building gave way, slamming into the back of the building. The force of the mudslide caused enough damage to make the building dangerous and therefore inaccessible to employees. It also left 18 inches of mud inside the building.

Marilyn was horrified. read more »

In the case of the Kitsap Business Assistance Center located at the Norm Dicks Government Center, we have the benefit of both. Year to date, the KBAC has created or saved 37 jobs, assisted in finding $3,020,800 in funding for clients, and has had a total economic impact of $5,552,179 in Kitsap County. This is more than eight times the impact our Center had during this time period in 2006. read more »