Group lends hand to small business owners

Starting a small or home-based business can be risky in even the best economic times.

For those getting started now, or whose small business needs an extra boost, the West Valley branch of the Maricopa Small Business Development Center is playing host to an open house.

The event is 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Monday at the Rio Salado Lifelong Learning Center, 12535 Smokey Drive in Surprise.

The West Valley branch joins other SBDC locations in Phoenix, Tempe and Mesa.

The centers offer a variety of services including free counseling on business-related topics including business strategy, sales and marketing, finance and accounting, debt financing and human resource policies, as well as some fee-based training courses.

David Moss, Surprise center director, said expanding the SBDC into the West Valley was logical because of its population growth.

"And there is small business growth, as well as small businesses," Moss said.

The SBDC can help those businesses in tough economic times by guiding business owners through the process to decide if starting a business would be feasible, as well as how to help businesses succeed.

Now may not be a good time, necessarily, to start a business, Moss said.

"If it hasn't been started yet, we can help with a very thorough feasibility study," Moss said. "The environment isn't the best for anything. But people still need services."

Moss said a well-thought-out business plan is the best way to get started.

"And they need to concentrate on smart marketing, spending their money to get a return on their investment," Moss said.

Moss said some businesses are growing now, in spite of or because of the economy.

"Coaching companies are still picking up a lot of clients, as well as businesses that serve other businesses, such as software companies," Moss said. "Retailers and restaurants are having a really tough time."

Moss said one thing the SBDC is encouraging small businesses to do is work on collaborative efforts with other businesses to help with marketing because of the economy or if road construction is hampering their sales.

"Collaborative marketing is one of the things you can do to kind of get through," Moss said.