• Survey of Rural Challenges
  • Small Town Speaker Becky McCray
  • Shop Local video
  • SaveYour.Town

Small Biz Survival

The small town and rural business resource

A row of small town shops
  • Front Page
  • Latest stories
  • About
  • Guided Tour
  • Subscribe
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
  • RSS

A community of small businesses in one shared building

By Becky McCray

Here’s an entrepreneurial idea for any small town. Build “a community of small businesses” like 1440 Main Street in Ferdinand, Indiana. 
via @ahoffman50 on Twitter.

Each business can support the others in promotions, in sharing customers, in splitting expenses. Each entrepreneur can benefit from brainstorming and networking with the others. Everyone can learn something from each other. Of course it won’t work perfectly; nothing does. But I see lots of potential here.

How can you build on this idea?

New to SmallBizSurvival.com? Take the Guided Tour. Like what you see? Get our updates.

  • About the Author
  • Latest by this Author
Becky McCray

Becky started Small Biz Survival in 2006 to share rural business and community building stories and ideas with other small town business people. She and her husband have a small cattle ranch and are lifelong entrepreneurs. Becky is an international speaker on small business and rural topics.

www.beckymccray.com
  • Start smaller: Any local business can be your incubator
  • Should I ask competitors before I start a business in a small town?
  • Will trendy axe throwing and escape room businesses last? More experience-based retail: the Hat Bar

April 8, 2010 Filed Under: economic development, entrepreneurship, rural

Wondering what is and is not allowed in the comments?
Or how to get a nifty photo beside your name?
Check our commenting policy.
Use your real name, not a business name.


Don't see the comment form?
Comments are automatically closed on older posts, but you can send me your comment via this contact form and I'll add it manually for you. Thanks!

Comments

  1. Territory Mom says

    April 8, 2010 at 1:26 pm

    I saw a group of women on the news after Katrina that did something like this in New Orleans. A great idea, but no egos allowed.

    Loading...
  2. Becky McCray says

    April 10, 2010 at 10:27 pm

    No egos allowed. Perfect.

    Loading...
  3. Dolores Hemming says

    January 9, 2011 at 6:31 pm

    Hello Becky. I am on the ballot to join the board of directors of the Groton Business Association in Groton, New York. We almost disolved, because our business community is slowly going downhill, due to the slow economy. We have empty Main St. properties and I am looking at your site for ideas to present for a real positive turnaround in our village. I know of a few entrepreneurs trying to get a foothold of marketability in our area and love the idea to rent a Main St. property and create a space for multiple entrepreneurs to have a visible presence. I’ve only just logged on your site and will continue to check out all of what you have to offer. Thanks so much! – Dolores Hemming

    Loading...
  4. Becky McCray says

    January 9, 2011 at 8:06 pm

    Dolores, thank you so much for sharing a bit about Groton. I hope you’ll continue to share your journey with us!

    Loading...
  5. Emily Schmitt says

    March 30, 2011 at 9:58 pm

    There has been a very successful business “co-op” of sorts in Grinnell, IA. Marketplace on Main opened a year ago and now houses 21 start-up businesses and a few who could no longer afford their own storefront. It has been very successful and one of the businesses just announced they will be moving into their own storefront soon! It’s been a great incubator for entrepreneurs! http://www.facebook.com/MarketplaceOnMain.Grinnell

    Loading...
  6. Becky McCray says

    March 30, 2011 at 10:04 pm

    Emily, that is a terrific example! I hope more small towns will try the idea.

    Loading...

Howdy!

Glad you dropped in to the rural and small town business blog, established in 2006.

We want you to feel at home, so please take our guided tour.

Meet our authors on the About page.

Have something to say? You can give us a holler on the contact form.

If you would like permission to re-use an article you've read here, please make a Reprint Request.

Want to search our past articles? Catch up with the latest stories? Browse through the categories? All the good stuff is on the Front Page.

Partners

We partner with campaigns and organizations that we think best benefit rural small businesses. Logo with "Shop Indie Local"Move Your Money, bank local, invest localMulticolor logo with text that says "Global Entrepreneurship Week"Save Your Town logotype

Best of Small Biz Survival

A few people shopping in an attractive retail store in refurbished downtown building.

TREND 2025: Retail’s Big Split: what small town retailers can do now

99% of the best things you can do for your town don’t require anyone’s permission

Three kids in a canoe

Get started as an outdoor outfitter without breaking the bank

A shopkeeper and a customer share a laugh in a small store packed full of interesting home wares.

How to get customers in the door of small town and rural retail stores

Rural Tourism Trend: electric vehicle chargers can drive visitors

Wide view of a prairie landscape with a walk-through gate in a fence

Tourism: Make the most of scant remains and “not much to see” sites with a look-through sign

More of the best of Small Biz Survival

Copyright © 2025 Becky McCray
Front Page · Log in
%d