Here’s the source of this idea – a Twitter post from C.C. Chapman: Anyone know a Lending Tree equivalent for home owner insurance? looking for US based home insurance. I have zero brand loyalty to who I currently have so I figured I’d look around Take this idea and run with it! What other services…
As a small town small business person, you have a natural advantage in creating local products. I have three examples of local products that will outsell the generic version in a given location. Product Idea 1: Local pride clothing Small towns are filled with clothes sporting the high school mascot. You can build a good…
Living next to a terrific birding site, the Great Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge, I’ve seen an increase in the number of birders traveling the area. Jack Schultz has noticed it, too, and written up a few resources around Nebraska’s bird industry and the Chicken Dance Trail. What kind of small town businesses can cater…
The book: Start and Run a Rural Computer Consulting Business by John D. Deans, on the Self-Counsel Press.Short and Sweet Review: It’s a great book. Who should read it: Anyone who wants to run a rural computer consulting business. Aaron Morris with the Self-Counsel Press sent it to me back in November. (right before a…
Here are two opportunities for small business with the USA federal government. One is for developing advanced technology, the other is for developing e-learning products for first responders. For the right rural business, either of these could be a terrific opportunity. If you want a little help with federal opportunities, stop by Ken Larson’s Small…
Remember Nairobi Paul’s business idea of importing Kenyan handicrafts to the USA? He (and you) could get started by talking to someone successfully importing from the developing world, like Kristen Evans. Evans is importing crafts from Bolivia, like the angel pictured to the right. She’s succeeding in spite of increasing political difficulties and the constant…
Our Friend Chuck Huckaby wants to share some ideas on where to find local sources of merchandise to resell. This is a solid model for a small town business: take a local resource into a larger market. Find your local sources: landfills, garage sales, auctions, local manufacturers, local retailers, local farmers. Look for their overstocks,…
Reader Evelyn Mitchell sent this story to me. I’ve been following the blog The Thrifty Knitter. She’s participating in this: I thought it was an interesting story for you for a couple of reasons. First, that the Harveyville Project is re-purposing buildings in a small town for conference space and artistic residences. Secondly, that the…
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.
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.
We partner with campaigns and organizations that we think best benefit rural small businesses.
Copyright © 2006–2026 Becky McCray • Site by Webdancers