Ben Henderson, owner of Bare Essentials, a natural products market in Boone, NC, was very pleased with the counseling he got from Bill Parrish, the Center's regional director in that town. The expansion paid off in increased profits, and the company was just named small business of the year by the chamber of commerce. John Lenti, state director for the Frank L. Roddey Small Business Development Program in South Carolina, says that yearly, their program sees upwards of 3,500 entrepreneurs and current small business owners. We help them look at and develop a strategy to see if that market is interested in the product they have to sell. Col. Lenti provided her with the business plan she needed to augment her enthusiasm for the new facility.
Plans are on the table for two more facilities.
Col. Lenti told me from day one that a business plan is to determine the feasibility of my project. In the Carolinas, there are 32 small business offices that offer assistance. The primary focus is confidential counseling for the business owner or the aspiring entrepreneur. They assist with client research, industry studies, educational services, and more. Both offices provide excellent starting points for small business owners, and the services are essentially free as a public service.