Randolph County Small Business Center Provides Valuable Resources
asheboro, business, lonnie hamm, randolph community college, randolph county, score program, small business center, victor dau,
Launching a small business can be a daunting‚ demanding and draining experience. Fortunately‚ in Randolph County‚ entrepreneurs don’t have to do it alone.
The Small Business Center at Randolph Community College and the SCORE program through the Asheboro/Randolph Chamber of Commerce are two of the resources startup owners can tap into.
“Our function is to assist small businesses or potential startups to grow‚” says Victor Dau‚ director of the Small Business Center.
Clients can use the Small Business Center in a variety of ways‚ from taking seminars and courses to engaging in informal discussions with Dau or business development specialist Lonnie Hamm.
The courses cover a host of topics‚ including “The Mindset to be an Entrepreneur‚” “Establishing a Marketing Plan” and “Cash Flow.” The latter topic is so important that two separate sessions are devoted to it.
The SCORE program is a chamber-affiliated service staffed by retired citizens with wide-ranging backgrounds.
Teams of four volunteers‚ selected for their particular areas of expertise‚ work with entrepreneurs to help them in all aspects of their business startup.
Clients of the SCORE program can be assured that assistance doesn’t end when the “open for business” sign is hung.
“Team members will follow up with a person they’ve advised‚” says Talmadge Baker‚ a volunteer who just completed a two-year term as SCORE chairman.
Virtually all of this valuable assistance is free‚ with minor hospitality fees charged for the Small Business Center’s seminars.
Dau’s top recommendation for emerging entrepreneurs is to develop a thorough business plan before embarking on any venture. The center’s counselors can assist clients with these plans‚ suggesting ways to modify their ideas to gain the best odds for success. Occasionally through this process‚ clients come to realize their concept won’t be profitable.
“You’re doing folks a favor by showing them it’s not going to work‚” Dau says. “I’ve seen folks lose their hard-earned money because they didn’t do the preparation.”
Debbie Bain‚ owner of two commercial ventures‚ Kitchens & Candles and Bain’s Mobile Taxes of Asheboro‚ can attest to the value of the Small Business Center. She worked extensively with Dau when she was establishing her gourmet kitchen-accessory business at the Randolph Mall.
“I knew exactly what I was getting into‚” Bain says. “Had I not prepared‚ it would have been a greater hardship.”
Her sessions with Dau led her to make subtle tweaks in her business plan that helped her “minimize the risk and maximize the potential‚” she says.
Story by Dan Markham
Photo by Michael W. Bunch
