Home »
Successful small business is within reach
Your local Community Futures offers invaluable advice to owners and owners-to-be during Small Business Month
In celebration of Small Business Month, taking place across Canada this October, Community Futures B.C.’s best resource to grow your small business, is offering advice from experts across its 34 local offices throughout rural BC.
As a key business development organization within B.C. that supports entrepreneurs at all stages of their development, Community Futures’ has a track record of clients who have grown faster and lasted longer when compared to other traditional financing options.
“Being a successful small business owner is one of the most gratifying career experiences,” says Marie Gallant, Executive Director, Community Futures British Columbia. “The secret is not only perseverance, but also knowing who to go to for help along the way. We’re fortunate in B.C. to have fantastic resources for people looking to start or grow their own business. At Community Futures offices across the province, we offer a variety of services from business planning advice to loans. We’re not a bank, but rather a rural development organization that provides business financing to small businesses. It’s a system that works.”
Community Futures offers these Top 5 Tips for small business success:
1) The best business plan remains flexible with measurable and realistic goals – One thing constant is change. Operating a business can lead to a lot of surprises, so along with a solid Plan A have a well thought out Plan B. Many entrepreneurs know what success looks like for them; they’re just unsure of how to achieve it. We help our clients focus on realistic revenue projections, expense management, and where they want 
their business to be 1, 2 and 3 years later. This is imperative so business owners are making the right decisions and investments early on to reach their goals. Being under- capitalized at the beginning makes everyday a struggle and could result in missed opportunity and goals.
2) Cash is king – Being profitable only on paper doesn’t mean all is ok. What really counts is what’s in the bank. Cash flow is the biggest issue for new businesses. Stay on top of your receivables (customers who owe you money); business owners need to keep a close eye on money owed to them as well as money they owe. Margins may be great, but if you are not collecting at the same rate you have to pay important expenses like payroll and taxes – it could be the end of your business.
3) Keep your friends close and your competition closer – Studying your competition is one of the best ways to learn how you can make your business better. It’s an excellent way to learn from what they’re doing right, while avoiding what they might be doing wrong. Rest assured that your customers are keeping a close eye on them too!
4) Don’t stop believing and don’t stop learning – Remember that old saying, “Rome wasn’t built in a day”? It’s very true and it very much applies to you and your business. It takes time and patience to get your brand/business name out there. The rate of change in today’s world is crazy, and you need to keep up somehow. As a small business owner you are the business. We tell our clients that
an investment in themselves is an investment in the
business. Turning to an organization like Community Futures
 allows you to get support and feedback as you grow your business. Also consider other key experts such as lawyers and accountants.
5) Treat your employees like they’re your customers – Your employees are your internal customers; be open to hearing their feedback. Employees are stakeholders in your business, too! Employee engagement adds to workplace culture. Hire the right fit for your organization’s culture; you can teach skills but you can’t teach attitude. Communication is critical; having team meetings and a written policy manual can be helpful, you want to make sure your employees understand what is expected of them and what you want in return. Ongoing training is often overlooked by small businesses. How your employees deal with situations, questions and special requests are things you need to make sure they understand before they get in front of clients.
Community Futures British Columbia