Don't miss keynote speaker Elisabeth Sanders-Park at the 2013 Libraries and Community Partnership Exchange on Thursday, April 18 at Richland Library Main!

Tina N. Herbert, Executive Director of the City of Columbia Office of Business Opportunities presented at Richland Library on March 27 as part of our 3rd Small Business Learning Series program. She explored the OBO's program offerings and services, including financing, education and technical assistance, and contractor and supplier diversity.

Considering small business ownership? If so, you need to have a solid business plan in place, the first step toward business success. The importance of a well-written business plan cannot be underestimated.  It serves, in effect, as a resume for your business.  From obtaining financing, to hiring employees for start-up, to planning for expansion, a business plan can be your guide to managing your business and keeping you, the business owner, on track.  A good business plan can keep you focused on your goals and keep you moving forward when faced with unexpected problems.

What do you have in common with Martha Stewart, Oprah Winfrey, Meg Whitman and Ingrid Vanderveldt?  You may have the potential to start and grow a woman-owned business!

When you hear “seasonal” employment, most people think of Christmas but Spring is a wonderful time to find new job opportunities. Just think about what activities and services increase during Spring and start your search there.

An entrepreneur may believe that a great idea is all that is needed to successfully maintain a business. 

Have you ever dreamed of becoming a small business owner? Small businesses are the backbone of the U.S. economy.  As an alternative to working for someone else, many job seekers today are considering small business ownership.

That’s right.  Handle the process of looking for a new career just like you would if you were starting your very own business.  Who knows, by implementing this tactic you may very well discover an entrepreneurial opportunity!  But, in the meantime, you are the CEO of YOU.  The product you are selling is YOU.  Therefore, your business, ME Inc. requires a strategic plan. Where to start?