Local businesses face new challenges that lead to a variation in their focus areas in 2023 ranging from start-ups, growth and sustainability, scaling-up, turnaround, succession, or selling a business. 

 

According to Bob Williford, Henderson County Chamber of Commerce President, the Chamber, Blue Ridge Community College Small Business Center, and SCORE are rolling out a new program in January - The 2023 Business Success Challenge. This new program will assist local businesses in meeting their 2023 challenges and will empower them to achieve greater success in the new year.

 

This program has three options - Do-It-Yourself, Seminars, and One-on-One Assistance. These are available at no cost due to sponsor support. 

 

The Do-It-Yourself option offers a new 'custom' business success planning template based on industry best practices that can be downloaded to your home or office computer. The template makes it easier and faster to create a success plan for 2023. Simply open the template and fill out each section of the outline to develop your plan. Many sections have a simple check-the-box system to create clarity and direction. In addition, the Appendix is loaded with lots of practical success tips and strategies.

 

The second option, Seminars, will help local businesses start completing the 2023 Success Planning Template in a seminar with a trained facilitator. The first seminar, How to Write a Business Plan, will be held on Jan. 14 using the new 'custom' business success planning template from 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM at Blue Ridge Community College.

 

The One-on-One Assistance option consists of meeting with a BRCC Small Business Center or SCORE representative. Local businesses can select any combination of the options above to create a plan for greater success in 2023.

 

To receive the "no cost "2023 Success Planning Template, email [email protected]. Also, use this same email to receive the seminar schedule and registration information and to have any questions answered.

 

The program starts in January and runs through March, ending with a 2023 Success Plan Competition. Participants have an opportunity to enter, and the winner will receive a chamber membership, billboard ad, business resources gift cards, and access to business experts to help with access to capital, accounting, branding, content creation, graphic design, marketing, photography, social media, video, and website expertise to answer questions for greater clarity and direction in 2023.