Free Stuff
Some of the best things in life are free, or so they say. Following are some great resources to help you plan, grow or manage your business or maximize the effectiveness of your economic development efforts. Feel free to share these, download them, scribble in the margins — hey, they’re free!
The Small Business Playbook
From our good friends at the Washington State Department of Commerce comes this great resource for those wanting to start a business. Unlike some of the more formulaic works, this one has really great advice, lessons learned and tips from people who have actually started and operated a business. It’s all in a fun football themed format that is easy to follow along with regardless of the stage your business is in.
When Disaster Strikes
A Crisis Planner for Small Businesses
As anyone who has weathered a recent wildfire or flood know, being prepared for the worst can save you a lot of time and money when a disaster strikes. This easy to follow guide will help you prepare for a variety of business interruptors, from natural disasters to hostage situations. As they say, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and this planner is worth its weight on gold in that regard.
Startup Wisdom
27 Strategies for Raising Business Capital
This is a great guide, and not just because I wrote it. It is filled with traditional and nontraditional funding strategies for those businesses that need capital but fall in between the gaps of regular funding requirements or sources. If you need additional funding, this is a great starting point.
Download a Copy
Your Town
25 Immutable Rules of Successful Tourism
The title says it all as this best-selling book reveals what communities need to do in order to have a successful tourism program. From chapters like “Relationships Require More Than One Person” to “Parking is Not Just For Lovers” to “Sell the Rapids, Not the River”, this publication includes ideas, examples, and pictures of what success looks like. This book is a must for communities wanting to improve their tourism attractions and revitalize their downtowns.
