Tampa, Florida -- It's a new year and that means it's time for a fresh start!
Maybe you've had a great idea for a business, but you've pushed it to the side.
Just because the economy isn't booming, doesn't mean it's a bad time to start your business.
Just ask Yanina Rosario, Assistant Director of the Small Business Development Center at USF.
Click: Small Business Development Center at USF
"If you don't feel you can overcome all of the risks involved in starting your business and growing your business, the economy doesn't matter. We have seen throughout the years, many companies start during really difficult years and they have grown tremendously," said Rosario.
The Small Business Development Center, or SBDC, supported by USF and the Small Business Administration.
The SBDC's goal is to help you start up your business through free one-on-one counseling. Whether it's just getting started, creating a business plan, finding the money or market research, the SBDC can help.
You just have to have two things...the idea and the drive.
"The right time is when you fee confident and okay with the risks involved," said Rosario.
Small businesses are the backbone of the US economy, creating more jobs than the big businesses combined.
In Tampa Bay alone, the latest numbers available from 2010 show 154 new businesses were created in Tampa bay which created or saved 1,600 jobs.
"Small bossiness are making an impact, they are the ones hiring, they are the ones keeping the jobs, they are the ones paying the local taxes, they are the ones keeping the wheels of our economy going," Rosario told 10 News.
She says the number one myth when it comes to business start ups...free money.
"It doesn't quite work that way," she smiled.
She says your next step after the idea is to think about your budget.
"Budgets are very important and that's where we see the most challenges. Without that budget, it's like shooting in the dark. You really need to have the knowledge of how much money you need and how much money you have. You have to invest a little bit of money into your own enterprise because no one is going to loan you 100%," she said.
Equally important as the budget, is the business plan.
"Plan, plan, plan! Plan how to execute the idea, plan how to further develop the idea. It's all about planning. It doesn't matter how good of an idea it may be, without planning, it might not get anywhere," said Rosario.
The SBDC has several training courses coming up this month.
Click: SBDC Training Schedule
The SBDC in Tampa is located in the World Trade Center building in Channelside at 1101 Channelside Drive, Suite 210.
There are SBDC locations in every county in Tampa Bay.
Click: SBDC locations
The Starting your Business Course schedule: (There is a $25 fee)
Hillsborough:
Tuesday, January 17: 2:00pm-4:30pm
Wednesday, January 25: 5:30pm-8:00pm
Hernando County:
Thursday, January 12: 5:30pm-8:00pm (Call 352-796-0697 to register)
Highlands County:
Wednesday, January 25: 2:00pm-4:30pm
This is only one course of several offered by the SBDC's throughout Tampa Bay. Other courses include Business Taxes, Marketing your Business, Women, Minority & Service-Disabled Veteran Certification, International Trade Basics, Ultimate Business Plan, A Guide to 4 Essential Google Tools, and 15 Steps to Improve your Google Rankings.
Hillsborough County's Small Business Information Center is also getting the word out about the services it provides. The SBIC, along with the Minority Small Business Program and Small Business Enterprise Encourage Programs all offer free workshops on starting your own business. The programs also offer free counseling services.
Click: Hillsborough County Small Business Information Center
Carol Michel with Hillsborough County writes, "Hillsborough County also offers the Small Business Job Creation Program which is designed to promote job creation in Hillsborough County by offering a wage reimbursement to small business owners. The reimbursement would pay small businesses up to 50 percent of three months' total salary for new jobs created, capped at $3,900 per new employee. It is estimated that this program will encourage the creation of approximately 200 jobs, offering a total of $500,000 to local small business owners. Currently, 40 businesses have now applied for the funds creating 73 new jobs. We still have approximately $265,000 available for small business owners to hire new employees."
The county is also hosting two workshops to help businesses register with the RNC's Small Business Network. The 2012 Republican National Convention is looking for businesses to supply everything from balloons to gift baskets, with 50 categories in all.
Click: RNC Small Business Network