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Small Biz Survival

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Small Biz Survival

The small town and rural business resource
  • Two musicians play guitar while seated on the sidewalk outside a brick storefront during a community event, with pedestrians stopped to listen and watch
    big company | entrepreneurship | marketing | rural | shop local | trends

    Small town marketing secret: Have something to invite people to

    ByBecky McCray February 24, 2026February 24, 2026

    People need a compelling reason to leave their homes and come experience your business with you. This feels like a very heavy lift. . You’re supposed to be exciting enough to pull people away from their phones, their families and the comfort of online shopping. You’re competing with everything else demanding their attention. Here’s the…

    Read More Small town marketing secret: Have something to invite people toContinue

  • A woman smiling at the camera while standing in front of a clothing rack
    customer service | entrepreneurship | rural

    Caring is a small town business advantage

    BySmall Biz Survival October 2, 2025

    By Stephanie Ward, Firefly Coaching Caring isn’t something you can do if you’re only using it as a tactic. You can’t fake caring, either you do or you don’t. The good news is that we all have the capacity to care. It’s a state of being that you can tap into, just like gratitude. We…

    Read More Caring is a small town business advantageContinue

  • Clothing displayed on one wall, with a salon in the back.
    rural

    Start smaller: Any local business can be your incubator

    ByBecky McCray June 26, 2025June 25, 2025

    Are you starting a business that could use retail space, but you can’t justify renting a storefront? Find a tiny space inside another business that can be your incubator. Who could display This can work for all kinds of physical-display businesses: Artists Crafts Authors Resellers Photographers Shelf stable foods and beverages Small manufacturers Agri-products like…

    Read More Start smaller: Any local business can be your incubatorContinue

  • A young girl carefully pours her own candle.
    economic development | entrepreneurship | rural | success | trends

    From Finance to Creativity: A Journey to Building an Experience-Based Business in Bellefontaine

    ByJamie Beasley April 7, 2025March 12, 2025

    In today’s fast-paced world, many individuals find themselves stuck in careers that fail to ignite their passions. For some, the journey to rediscovering creativity can lead to unexpected and fulfilling paths. This is the story of one such entrepreneur who transitioned from a corporate finance job to creating a vibrant experience-based business in downtown Bellefontaine….

    Read More From Finance to Creativity: A Journey to Building an Experience-Based Business in BellefontaineContinue

  • A screenshot of the Common Ground Coffee and Market Instagram feed, showing four images, a group of people with valentine hearts, a group of staff members, one person facing the camera for an explainer video, and one video with text that says "open the shop with me"
    community | customer service | entrepreneurship | marketing | rural | trends

    Create customer experiences online like Open the Shop With Me videos, and in person, like Silent Book Club

    ByBecky McCray March 23, 2025August 6, 2025

    When Kathleen Minogue of Crowdfund Better mentioned Common Ground Coffee and Market to me, I found their Instagram feed was full of stealable ideas for small business social media marketing. We first talked about how they let customers know about changes to their hours. They’re in Boise, Idaho, which I realize is not a small…

    Read More Create customer experiences online like Open the Shop With Me videos, and in person, like Silent Book ClubContinue

  • In a colorful room, a woman is offering instructions to two men seated at a craft table, preparing to pour their own candles.
    economic development | entrepreneurship | ideas | rural | trends

    Hands-on and experience-based businesses boost local economies

    BySmall Biz Survival March 17, 2025April 4, 2026

    Guest post by Jason Duff, founder of Small Nation Ever wanted to pour your own candle? Now you can right here in Downtown Bellefontaine! Triple Moon Designs in Bellefontaine, Ohio, recently added a new and exciting candle bar, offering a unique experience not typically seen in small towns. My team has had the chance to try it out…

    Read More Hands-on and experience-based businesses boost local economiesContinue

  • Screenshot of an instagram post with Christmas week business hours. One comment asks, "How late are you open new year's eve?"
    customer service | entrepreneurship | marketing | rural | Small Biz 100 | social media

    How to let customers know when changing your business hours

    ByBecky McCray March 12, 2025August 6, 2025

    Post extensively on social channels, and pin your hours post to the top of your page Your small business has times when you need to change your hours either for holidays, staff issues or (my favorite) extending into evening hours. How do you retrain your customers so they notice the change? Let’s look at a…

    Read More How to let customers know when changing your business hoursContinue

  • A very busy, full planner with many notes, highlights and scribbles.
    entrepreneurship | management | planning | rural | Small Biz 100

    You don’t have 52 weeks this year

    ByRob Hatch December 9, 2024December 9, 2024

    By Rob Hatch Thirty-six weeks. Part of my process for planning my business for the New Year is to do a little reality check on exactly how much time I have to work with. What are you talking about, Rob? You have a year. Technically, that’s true. However, on closer inspection, I only have 36…

    Read More You don’t have 52 weeks this yearContinue

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