Steps to Start-Up & Succeed in Business

PCDC and the Phelps County community is dedicated to helping existing businesses thrive and entrepreneurs start strong.

Download a printable version of this page HERE

Quick Assistance Links

Phelps County Development Corporation

Holdrege Area Chamber of Commerce

South Central Economic Development District

Rural Entrepreneur Assistance Program

REAP Women's Business Center

Nebraska Business Development Center

State of Nebraska: Resources to start your business

Small Business Association

SBA Business Development Program

Step #1 – Plan for Success

Choose a Business Structure

Talk with your lawyer to check laws and regulations.

Choose and Register Business Name

Draft a Business Plan

Writing a business plan is a fairly intense process. But, the blood, sweat, and tears are worth it. The research you conduct in order to write a business plan, either gives you confidence or minimizes pain. Confidence comes when the plan you have on paper provides a healthy income.

Get a Professional Opinion – Schedule a One-on-One Consultation with PCDC, SCEDD, or NBDC to evaluate your business plan. See Business Assistance Partners list at the top of the page.

Conduct Market Research

This requires you to get more specific about your intended product or service, allows you to analyze the competition, gets you thinking about the costs of doing business, and makes you cognizant of the marketing involved.

Get a Financial Planning Consultation

  1. Business Valuation (if purchasing an existing business only)
  2. Create an Asset Inventory
  3. Estimate your Start Up Costs
  4. Draft an Anticipated Budget

Step #2 – Take Action

Pursue Financing

  1. Meet with your Bank
  2. Apply for a small business loan through REAP – Howard White, Business Specialist: (308) 534-3508, howardw@cfra.org
  3. Contact PCDC for Gap Financing

Find a Location

  1. Talk with a local Realtor
  2. Search the Phelps County Commercial Inventory
  3. Contact PCDC for a list of Vacant Buildings

Organize Bookkeeping Systems or hire a CPA

Fulfill Tax Responsibilities

Hire and Document Employees

Create a Website

IdeaBank Marketing Hastings, NE

Office Genie – Jean Issler

Launch Advertising Schedule

Kristine Jacobson Public Relations

Office Genie – Jean Issler

HootSuite

Local Newspapers

Step #3 - Support for Growth

Find a Mentor

Your fellow business owners, regional or friendly competitors, can be a great resource for working through strategies and avoiding pitfalls. Networking can make the difference between success and a mediocre business.

Roughly 50% of small businesses fail within the first five years due to: lack of experience, insufficient capital (money), poor location, poor inventory management, over-investment in fixed assets, poor credit arrangements, and unexpected growth. If you start to struggle pull out your business plan, resource list, and start asking for help.

Join the Chamber

Subscribe to Entrepreneur.com

Join the Better Business Bureau

Partner with GROW Nebraska

Partner with GROW Nebraska to expand retail market access

Hire a CPA

Hire a CPA to handle your finances more strategically

Work with your Financial Planner

Believe it or not, it’s never too soon to start planning your exit. Business valuation relies heavily upon actual performance. Businesses who creatively hide earnings from Uncle Sam find that the business is easily undervalued when a buyer is on the line. Business owners who let their inventory get old or defer building maintenance find themselves in a precarious position as retirement looms. A strong plan will allow you to take the profits with you into retirement rather than locking the door and walking away from your investment.

  1. Find the value of your business
  2. Develop a transition plan
  3. Start a retirement fund

Consider Hiring an Apprentice

Consider an apprenticeship by applying for an InternNE Grant