Starting up a new enterprise or expanding your current small company?
Seminars, network breakfasts, guest speakers and great advice for entrepreneurs
By
Mark Schadenberg
A
service club such as the Lions is a great way of networking and at the same
time take an active part in volunteering in your community.
As
a small business owner – a Realtor – networking is an important facet of the
job as it’s all about visibility, meeting new people, chatting with old friends
and previous clients, and thereby connecting for possible real estate leads.
If
you’re in insurance, car sales, or even own a restaurant or catering business, you
should be busy marketing.
There
are many other places to add to your list of contacts, including you children’s
activities, joining a fitness club or simply attending a local event.
One
of my favourite networking destinations is the Woodstock & Area Small
Business Enterprise Centre (WASBEC), which twice monthly hosts a networking
breakfast (8:30 a.m.) at the Quality Suites & Hotel (Ody’s Restaurant). For
the city’s small business centre, the breakfast gathering is also an ideal venue
for them to promote their upcoming programs and seminars.
For
those who are independent contractors or owners of an upstart business it’s a
great vehicle to promote your services. This month, the group included travel
agents, an accountant, a yoga instructor, a home renovator, mortgage
specialist, marketing experts, a moving company, hair styling school, small
printing and promotional companies, a homoeopathic practitioner and the new
publisher of the Coffee News in the Woodstock area in Kathy Eller (519 532-0762
or Email: Kathy@ourcoffeenews.com) I’ve known Kathy since my days as
sports editor of The Sentinel-Review and I would say her new career is a great
match. There is a plug and some networking.
As
for the home renovator, I would recommend Aftermath Contracting (519 290-2616) and
its owner Bruce Winter to anyone. It’s an odd name for a contractor, but he
specializes in fixing up rental units and completing small tasks like painting
and drywall. I’ve talked to Bruce on a few occasions and he’s assisted with a
real estate client, so I truly believe you wouldn’t be disappointed in calling
him.
See,
there you go. I just promoted someone I met at a networking breakfast.
Juanita
Scott and Christine Smith operate the centre at its office at 453 Dundas
Street. (519 421-2129)
Juanita Scott
If
you’re considering a business idea locally, stop by their office to learn about
entrepreneurship and some possible grants available for start-up companies. In
Ontario, a youth business (up to 29 years old) can apply for grants, and WASBEC
can assist you in the process.
How
do you register or obtain a permit or licence for a new company? What is a
numbered company?
Don’t
ask me, talk to WASBEC.
What
are the rules for a home business? Many communities have different policies.
The
WASBEC services are always confidential and it’s more about direction and
consultation, their advice also covers employment and hiring procedures, ideas
on expanding a company, understanding what a sole proprietorship is, drawing up
a business plan and cash flow projections, deciphering how franchises work, marketing
and advertising tips, innovation (patents, trademarks, and copyrights),
applying for business loans and knowing about collateral, and ideas on
bookkeeping and expenses you will incur such as insurance.
They
also have a business start-up kit available.
Christine Smith
Should
you buy an existing business?
Don’t
ask me as the proper advice and pitfalls to consider are answers to questions
you may as Juanita and Christine.
WASBEC
is not the Chamber of Commerce of the BIA office – it offers more services and
business information for business people outside of the BIA geographical area.
Juanita
and Christine will also direct you to other networking groups which are
available, and are thereby a resource for your business needs such as contact
with lawyers, accountants, and city and county staff.
LINKS:
Mark Schadenberg, Sales
Representative
Senior Real Estate Specialist
(SRES designation)
Royal LePage Triland Realty
Independently Owned & Operated, Brokerage
757 Dundas St, Woodstock
(519) 537-1553, cell or text
Email: mschadenberg@rogers.com
Twitter: markroyallepage
Facebook: Mark Schadenberg, Royal LePage Triland
Discussion . . . Direction . . . Determination . . .
Destination
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