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Small Biz Survival

Practical ideas for small town business and community builders

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Small Biz Survival

The small town and rural business resource
  • An open retail space with colorful and appealing displays of handcrafted goods
    entrepreneurship | marketing | rural | social media

    The Allure of Authenticity: Rural stories can give your product a leg up

    BySmall Biz Survival September 13, 2023September 13, 2023

    Why Rural Craftsmanship Resonates in Online Sales Guest post by Tance Hughes In today’s digital age, the online marketplace is bustling with options at every click. Amidst the buzz of big brands and flashy advertisements, there lies an understated yet profound power: the allure of authenticity. For rural entrepreneurs, this authenticity is rooted in their craft,…

    Read More The Allure of Authenticity: Rural stories can give your product a leg upContinue

  • Three kids in a canoe
    Best of | economic development | entrepreneurship | ideas | rural | Survey of Rural Challenges | tourism

    Get started as an outdoor outfitter without breaking the bank

    ByBecky McCray August 28, 2023June 27, 2024

    Our latest Survey of Rural Challenges said natural resources are rural communities’ best rural assets, but most places don’t have enough outfitters to take advantage of them as tourism development. Here’s how rural people like you can take small steps to grow into outdoor outfitters.  Gather Your Crowd to attract groups and organizations that want to help…

    Read More Get started as an outdoor outfitter without breaking the bankContinue

  • The Blues
    community | entrepreneurship | rural | tourism

    Folklife in the South Conference – The Stories Matter

    ByDeb Brown July 10, 2023July 7, 2023

    I attended the Folklife in the South Conference in Lake Guntersville, Alabama in June 2023.  It was a gathering of community leaders, folklorists, traditional artists, educators, documentarians, and other cultural workers. We came together to hear the stories of work in the field, explore different avenues of folklife in the South and to meet and…

    Read More Folklife in the South Conference – The Stories MatterContinue

  • Multicolor logo with text that says "Global Entrepreneurship Week"
    announcement | entrepreneurship | global | rural

    Global Entrepreneurship Week – Share your story of starting small

    BySmall Biz Survival July 6, 2023July 6, 2023

    This fall, we will be participating in Global Entrepreneurship Week. Here’s your preview of what to expect from Nov 13-19, 2023.   The challenge of rural entrepreneurship Rural entrepreneurs and small town businesses face extra challenges including online competition, limited workforce and even finding a usable building. Today, creative entrepreneurs are using new innovative business…

    Read More Global Entrepreneurship Week – Share your story of starting smallContinue

  • A faded sign says, "Wash-o-mat coin-op laundry". Painted figures of a family are carrying their basket, soap and bleach and are followed by a frisky dog.
    economic development | entrepreneurship | rural

    How to start a laundromat in a small town on a budget

    ByBecky McCray June 23, 2023June 22, 2023

    Starting a laundromat involves a lot of up front expenses, unless you do it the Idea Friendly Way   Lots of small towns have no self-service laundry facilities, so it’s a smart business to start. It also adds a valuable service and amenity to build your community. Laundromats are notoriously expensive to get started, and…

    Read More How to start a laundromat in a small town on a budgetContinue

  • Survey of Rural Challenges logotype
    economic development | entrepreneurship | rural | Survey of Rural Challenges | trends

    Survey of Rural Challenges 2023 results

    ByBecky McCray May 8, 2023June 9, 2026

    To find out what rural people felt were their biggest challenges, SaveYour.Town and SmallBizSurvival.com surveyed 315 rural people from the US, Canada and Australia between November 2022 and January 2023. The results make up this fifth edition of the Survey of Rural Challenges. Download the PDF Report Survey of Rural Challenges 2023 by debworks Top conclusions…

    Read More Survey of Rural Challenges 2023 resultsContinue

  • Slide text: Times are changing. Putting new destinations on the map: rural towns, countryside, and back to cities. A domestic rediscovery. Blended travel creates longer stays and workcations. Brighter light on wellness.
    economic development | entrepreneurship | rural | tourism | trends

    Rural tourism trends say small towns are still cool

    ByBecky McCray March 27, 2023March 23, 2023

    But you already knew that Tourism Currents, experts on social media for tourism, wrote about 5 travel trends to blog about right now, and there’s a lot for rural communities to latch onto there. 1) Wellness Travel Sheila says, “where people can go to relax, detox, relieve stress, get a massage and spa treatments, eat…

    Read More Rural tourism trends say small towns are still coolContinue

  • Hands on a laptop, working
    entrepreneurship | marketing | mistakes | rural

    Check your small business website for outdated pandemic changes, missing info

    ByBecky McCray January 31, 2023

    My friend Rob just told me he was checking out a local fitness place. He was interested until he saw their website included some pandemic-related changes that probably aren’t still true, like canceled classes and limited hours. Since he doesn’t know for sure, he moved on to looking into a different place. This is a…

    Read More Check your small business website for outdated pandemic changes, missing infoContinue

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The Best of Small Biz Survival

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

Get started as an outdoor outfitter without breaking the bank

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

Read more of the Best of Small Biz Survival

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