Would you be willing to risk it all for your dream? That’s the question most if not all small business owners have to ask themselves on a daily basis.
May is National Small Business Month.
How would you define a small business? An organization of less than 10 employees? 50 employees?
The Small Business Association Office of Advocacy defines a small business as a company that has less than 500 employees. That means that nearly all of our Chamber members are small businesses.
Nearly 68% of new small businesses survive about two years. Nearly 50% make it to five years. Just over 25% make it over 15 years.
It’s hard. It’s sacrifice. It’s not a 40-hour work week.
Small businesses are what you remember about a city. They allow interactions you don’t forget.
While online shopping is convenient, it doesn’t greet you with a smile or ask how your kids are doing.
I think one of best things we can do for our small businesses is ask our big businesses to use them for their services.
I love getting to hear stories about our larger corporations buying Christmas gifts for their employees from our local shops. Or taking their out-of-town clients to their favorite local restaurant. We see that often at the Chamber.
Small businesses often play a large role in getting big businesses to locate in your community.
Let’s do our part.
Try something new.
Meet a friend and support their dream.
By Dave Kirk For the Messenger-Inquirer