• 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

You Just Gotta Ask!

By Glenn Muske

George Johnson

George Johnson

Anyone in business or thinking about going into business has a million questions. At least that was my experience and continue to hear it repeatedly from business owners.

There are so many things that have to be done and so little time to do them. Plus you didn’t start your business to understand the complexities of taxes or to understand the best business structure for your situation or even to know were to go for consumable supplies or the best places to find employees. Adding to this dilemma, as a startup, you rarely have a lot of excess cash floating around where you can just ask someone.

You are in business because of a passion. You aren’t in business because you love the search for suppliers. Your background didn’t prepare you for the variety of questions that face you.

So what happens? Quite often time is spent chasing answers. This isn’t what the owner wants to do nor does it use the skills and abilities they bring to the table.

So what can be done? The answer is simple. George Johnson, owner of George Paul’s Vinegar, offers it in this short video. Ask for advice and help. George notes that there are agencies available to help answer questions such as Cooperative Extension, Small Business Administration, http://www.sba.gov/offices/headquarters/osbdc/resources/11409 and SCORE. He notes that these resources are mostly free.

Getting help can be done with networking and engaging with other business owners and with agencies and individuals focused on helping small business owners. If you need help, take the first step – ASK!!

If you would like to participate in future chats (just 15 minutes in length), check out: powerofbusiness.net

  • About the Author
  • Latest by this Author
Glenn Muske

Glenn Muske is an independent expert on rural small business, working as GM Consulting – Your partner in achieving small business success. He provides consulting, and writes articles for county extension agents and newspapers across North Dakota. Previously, he was the Rural and Agribusiness Enterprise Development Specialist at the North Dakota State University Extension Service – Center for Community Vitality.

www.ag.ndsu.edu/smallbusiness
  • Change
  • Regular Customers Form Your Base
  • Disasters: Is Your Small Business Ready?

July 24, 2014 Filed Under: 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!

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