State, Local & Federal Assistancefor Rural Communities :
State, Local & Federal Assistancefor Rural Communities USDA Rural Development Programs
CDBG Funding from State
Economic Development Administration
Sub-State Planning Districts
Local?
Slide 3:
Access to ProfessionalsContacts: The key to free professional advice for small companies ► Attorneys
► Accountants
► Bankers
► Technical experts
Business Planning(Details, details, details) :
Business Planning(Details, details, details) Legal Structure
Business Insurance
IRS
OK Tax Commission
Employees
Licenses & Permits
Market Research Resources Financing Options
Intellectual Property Protection
Recordkeeping
Website & Contact Index
Personal Financial Statement
Key Benchmarks & Indicators :
Key Benchmarks & Indicators ● SALES → Sales growth rate?
→ Product/Service with highest margin?
→ Highest volume product/service?
● CUSTOMERS → ‘Best’ customers in terms of volume/margins? → Significant changes in customers?
→ Who are our ‘worst’ customers?
● PROFITS → If profitable, what did we use it for?
→ If loss, how did we fill the gap?
● OPERATIONS → Any significant changes in operations?
(Products/Services, Equipment, Facilities)
→ Added employees? Personnel turnover?
Slide 6:
● MARKET → What are the industry trends?
→ External forces shaping market?
→ Changes in competition?
● BORROWING ACTIVITIES
→ Did debt increase? Why?
→ Did debt decrease? How?
● SERVICE → What was our level of service?
→ Did we get it right the first time?
→ Did we have to go back for rework?
→ Were we ‘on time’?
→ How do we know how our customers feel about our level of service?
Support Systems :
Support Systems Career Techs
Chambers of Commerce
Economic Development organizations
OK Department of Commerce
OK Economic Development Council
SBA – SBDC’s
USDA Rural Development Staff