On this Veteran’s Day let’s keep in mind the following quote by George Washington…

“The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive the Veterans of earlier wars were treated and appreciated by their nation.”

Veteran Entrepreneur Portal

The Veteran Entrepreneur Portal (VEP) is designed to save time with direct access to the resources necessary to guide every step of entrepreneurship. It also makes it easier for small businesses to access federal services, regardless of its source—and quickly connects Veteran entrepreneurs to relevant ‘best-practices’ and information. Learn more.

Entrepreneurship Center offers help as businesses adapt to the pandemic

After a spike in unemployment due to the pandemic, many businesses and entrepreneurs are still trying to catch up.

Kristin Gaspke, who leads WCC’s Entrepreneurship Center, said there’s help for new and existing businesses. Last month, Gaspke and the EC team hosted a four-week Zoom webinar titled “How to Start and Optimize Your Business.”

“99% of what we do in the Entrepreneurship Center for the WCC family is free. We offer all of our programs to everyone. If you look at the pictures on our website, I can tell you the story about each student in the center at that time and where they are now,” said Gaspke. “Today, some of them are still local business owners.” Read more.

The story of the Shop Small^® Movement

Small Business Saturday continues to be an annual holiday shopping tradition — just one part of the larger Shop Small Movement that supports small businesses every day and everywhere. Because shopping at a family-owned framing spot or buying a handmade ring from your favorite online small business helps to promote more vibrant communities. Learn more.

Over the next two weeks leading up to #SmallBusinessSaturday we’ll be posting photos like the one below to continue to create awareness that franchises are small business just like Mom & Pop businesses on Any Street, USA. And, just like those independent business owners, franchise owners take entrepreneurial risk, invest their life savings, work long hours, give back to their local communities, compete with big box retailers and much more. Please help in this cause by sharing these posts across social media. #ShopSmall #ShopLocal #ShopFranchise

How Small Businesses Can Adapt to Changing Consumer Behavior

Small businesses have faced immense challenges as they’ve been fully or partially shut down during the coronavirus pandemic. According to U.S. Census data, nearly 80% of small businesses reported a moderate or large negative effect from COVID-19 as recently as of mid-August.

But after a difficult spring and early summer, during which time one in five businesses reported applying for and receiving loans from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), the landscape is beginning to look up. Small businesses are increasingly reopening, with 86% reporting that they are either fully (52%) or partially (34%) open. Read more.

The Secret to Business Survival in Today’s Tough Market

As we were ringing in 2020, it’s safe to say that nearly no one could have imagined the novel year that was virtually at our doorsteps. Like a monsoon, Covid-19 arrived. And with it a plethora of changes to not only how we live and work, but how business is conducted.

Quarantines and lockdowns became a way of life, forcing companies to transform how they operate. Office staff, sales reps, and others who were considered non-essential workers began working from home. In person meetings and sales calls became a thing of the past, replaced by collaboration tools to boost the efficiency of virtual teams. Read more.

Accelerating Success for individuals and brands alike!