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Small Biz Survival

The small town and rural business resource
  • Business idea: photo scanning service
    entrepreneurship | ideas | rural

    Business idea: photo scanning service

    ByBecky McCray March 21, 2016September 27, 2016

      Legions of people over 55 have boxes and boxes of old photos. They’d love to have them in albums or scanned into digital format, but they may not have the time, equipment or experience. Enter photo organization businesses. These are perfect for small towns and especially for younger people looking for a business that’s simple…

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  • Bikes bringing new opportunities for small towns
    economic development | entrepreneurship | global | ideas | rural | tourism | trends

    Bikes bringing new opportunities for small towns

    BySmall Biz Survival December 8, 2015January 2, 2018

    Bike tourists exploring the scenic byways through Baker County, Oregon. Photo (CC) by Baker County Tourism on Flickr. Guest post by Mark Matthews, Chief Executive of Advance Cairns (Australia) ON YOUR BIKE….!!! Mountain biking has experienced rapid growth over the past 20 years as riders seek out new trails and new experiences. And some communities are…

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  • Subscription box of local foods. Photo by Charlie CEONYC on Flickr.
    customer service | entrepreneurship | ideas | marketing | rural

    How small town stores can start subscription box services and reap extra sales

    ByBecky McCray September 8, 2015November 20, 2016

      Subscription boxes have become firmly-established as a business model over the past five or more years. I think they are a perfect fit for small town retail stores. What are subscription boxes? Subscription box customers sign up for regular deliveries. Some boxes send the same product each month, like shaving supplies. (Dollar Shave Club…

    Read More How small town stores can start subscription box services and reap extra salesContinue

  • ideas | marketing | rural | success

    Good Marketing: Providing the WOW in a Routine Transaction

    ByGlenn Muske September 3, 2015September 1, 2015

    Last weekend I took our car in for a routine oil change. As expected the staff were friendly, the service quick, and everything was done right. They provided a comfortable lounge area while I waited with a big screen TV, coffee and water. Those were my expectations and they were all met. However, there is…

    Read More Good Marketing: Providing the WOW in a Routine TransactionContinue

  • 19 things you can do with an empty lot or a building that has no roof
    Best of | economic development | ideas | rural

    19 things you can do with an empty lot or a building that has no roof

    ByBecky McCray January 19, 2015March 6, 2023

    A news story from Garland, Texas, got me thinking about what you can do with a roofless building. We came up with a lot of ideas for empty buildings, so I knew we could do something with roofless buildings, too. You probably have one in your downtown. Maybe a building burned, or maybe the roof…

    Read More 19 things you can do with an empty lot or a building that has no roofContinue

  • hobby sign
    entrepreneurship | ideas | rural | Small Biz 100

    Hobbies May Not Equal Business Opportunities

    ByGlenn Muske March 6, 2014August 27, 2014

    You want to start a business. But finding a good idea is a task many prospective business owners find daunting. There are many suggestions on how people can find a business idea. Brainstorming, building on a skill or talent, or using an idea you have seen somewhere else are three commonly used techniques. Another method…

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  • Running a Side Business Has Benefits
    entrepreneurship | ideas | planning | success

    Running a Side Business Has Benefits

    ByGlenn Muske February 6, 2014August 27, 2014

      Opening and operating a business on the side occurs for lots of reasons. Some side businesses are operated by individuals who already own one business. Yet for others it means starting a business while working another job. A third category are people who have an idea for a business. They may not have another…

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  • entrepreneurship | ideas | planning | rural | Small Biz 100 | success

    Think Customer Needs When Finding Business Idea

    ByGlenn Muske October 10, 2013August 27, 2014

    You want to start a business but you just can’t find that one great idea. This dilemma is often a major stumbling block for many aspiring small-business owners. They just keep waiting for that one big idea that will guarantee a successful business. The reality is that more often, a good idea, rather than a…

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