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Category Archives: Small Business
Which AgriLife Business Planning Course is right for you?
Right at the end of 2020 we released two online business planning courses through AgriLife Learn. I’m so excited to introduce these courses to current and future small business owners and community groups. It may be helpful to briefly explain the target audience and outcomes for each course. I’m including the course link (hyperlink from the course title) and the AgriLife Learn description in regular text and then making my own notes below in italics. Business Planning Basics for Farm and Food Enterprises: Learn how to write a… Read More →
Current Economic Situation, 11/27/2020, Holiday Edition
Black Friday marks the official beginning of the holiday shopping season. This year, shopping has started early, in part to support struggling businesses and in part due to concerns about shipping. Respondents in a VISA holiday business study said they planned to shop a mix of online and in-person retail, and intended to support small businesses. Sixty percent of U.S. consumer respondents said they planned to do at least half of their holiday shoppers at local retailers. Sixty percent of respondents also plan to purchase at least half… Read More →
Simple Steps for Small Business Cybersecurity
Recent graduate Blane Counsil and I have a new Extension publication offering cybersecurity tips for small businesses. There are many steps business owners and their employees can take to protect their business and their customers’ data. It’s less complicated than you might think. Physically securing IT resources is important,but barriers to access may deter potential criminals. Making sure all employees follow security protocols is critical; people are the weakest link in any security plan. See the pub in the AgriLife Bookstore (search for EAG-060 or “cyber”) or at… Read More →
Setting up and Strengthening your Google and Facebook Presence
If you can’t find a business online, does it even exist? Consumers increasingly rely on web searches to find not only goods and services but also local locations, hours, contact info, and reviews. Still, many small businesses do not have a website, social media, or Google listing. Setting up a website can be time consuming, but improving your online search results and engaging in social media can be simple steps with big benefits for your business. Google and Facebook both have sites to help small business owners use… Read More →
Current Economic Situation, COVID-19, 4/9/2020
Earlier this week, Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar admitted in a Texas Tribune interview that the state is in a recession. He said that calling the current economic conditions a recession helps people manage expectations, also noting that COVID-19-related business disruptions and not lower oil prices are the primary drivers of the downturn. Recent data point to financial hardship for both unemployed persons and businesses. The BLS reported that 6.61 million Americans filed for unemployment benefits in the week ending April 4, slightly lower than last week’s revised 6.68… Read More →
New Brief: Small Business Resilience through Recession
COVID-19 is presenting unique difficulties for small businesses. Focusing on people, products, and processes to emerge stronger from economic downturns. Small Business Resilience through Recession
New Brief: Building Up Your Online Presence
Staying in front of your customers is key to business survival. We’ve posted a brief on building or enhancing your website or social media presence in the wake of COVID-19 quarantine measures. Building Up Your Online Presence
Current Economic Situation, COVID-19, 4/2/2020
Texas businesses are no strangers to natural disasters. Small business owners have weathered hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, wildfires, and more. These disasters are short events, although they may be followed by lengthy recovery periods. The COVID-19 pandemic is different in many ways. This event is longer and unknown. Whereas a hurricane hits and moves on within a few days (albeit with massive physical destruction), pandemics can last weeks or months. Pandemics are also widespread rather than contained to a relatively defined geography. Furthermore, pandemics negatively shock both supply and… Read More →
Small Business Week 2016
It’s Small Business Week. Time to think about putting your small business dreams into a business plan and that plan into action. And time to think about supporting our local small businesses too! Glenn Muske at Small Business Survival talks about how to celebrate (and much more)!
Battleground to Breaking Ground Workshop, College Station, May 7
Excited to visit with veterans about ag and rural business opportunities and business planning at Battleground to Breaking Ground in College Station, May 7. Learn more at http://txagrability.tamu.edu/workshops/.