There are a lot of creatives in Bryan/College Station, Texas, from fashion designers to artists to makers. And while there's a lot of talent in this area, it can be tough to stand out from the crowd. So, how can you get your work seen by as many people as possible and give yourself the best chance at success?

You’ll need to take these five steps to get discovered as a creative in Bryan, Texas:

1. Write a business plan.

2. Create a DBA.

3. Get your work in front of a wide audience.

4. Form an LLC.

5. Use online tools to create and send your work.

Let's take a closer look at each of these tips.

Write up a business plan

A business plan is essential for any business, but especially for creatives who might not have a lot of experience with running a business. A business plan will help you figure out your goals and objectives, map out your strategies, and track your progress over time. Not only will this help you stay organized, but it will also show potential investors and lenders that you're serious about your business and that you have a clear vision for its future.

Create a DBA (‘doing business as’ name)

A DBA, or "doing business as," is basically just another name for your business. This can be useful if your preferred company name is already taken or if you want to brand your business differently than your registered name. For example, if your company name is Jane Smith Designs but you want to brand yourself as "Janey Smith Designs" for your line of handmade jewelry, you would file for a Texas DBA so that you could legally operate under that name.

Get your work in front of a wide audience

There are lots of ways to get your work seen by potential customers or clients, but one of the most effective is simply to put it in front of as many people as possible. This could mean setting up a booth at a local market or festival, participating in pop-up shops or trunk shows, or even just hanging up flyers around town. The more people who see your work, the more likely someone is to take notice and want to buy what you're selling.

Form an LLC to protect your company

An LLC, or limited liability company, is basically just a legal entity that protects your personal assets in case something goes wrong with your business. If you're operating as a sole proprietor, all of your personal assets — like your house and car — are at risk if something happens with your business (like if you're sued). But if you form an LLC in Texas, those personal assets are protected because the LLC is considered its own entity separate from you. This provides peace of mind and can help give potential investors and lenders confidence in your business (and their investment).

Use online tools to your advantage

In today's digital world, there are lots of online tools available that can help you create and send your creations, whether it's an e-commerce platform to sell products or simply a way to share photos and videos with potential customers or clients. Utilizing these online tools can help increase your reach and make it easier for people to discover your work, especially if they're already familiar with the platform you're using (like Instagram or Etsy).

There's no one guaranteed path to success for creatives in Bryan/College Station, Texas, or anywhere else for that matter. But by following these tips, putting yourself out there, and taking advantage of your Bryan/College Station Chamber of Commerce membership, you'll greatly increase the chances that someone will take notice of your work and help propel you to the next level. Keep at it and don't give up — your big break could be right around the corner!

With research showing that nearly 20% of all U.S. businesses fail in their first year, you have already beaten the odds by launching a successful business. Now, you are ready to take your business to the next level. Following these steps can help you get there.

1. Research Your Market

Just like when you first started your business, before you expand you must do market research. This step helps you understand what your existing customers want from your business and what potential customers want. This should give you insight into what ways your business can expand and change to better meet the needs of customers. It is also helpful to examine what your competitors are doing and use what is and isn't working for them as a guide.

2. Improve Your Sales Funnel

Your sales funnel describes the journey your customers go on from when they first interact with your business through when they purchase a product or service. Finding more efficient ways to move people through your sales funnel can help you grow your customer base. 

3. Form Strategic Partnerships

Strategic partnerships help you expand your reach by pairing your business with a complementary business. For example, if you sell donuts, you might consider partnering with a company that sells coffee. Many customers enjoy consuming these two products together, so partnering with a company that offers popular coffee drinks both exposes customers of the coffee shop to your product and adds value that may attract new customers to both businesses.

4. Acquire Other Businesses

Sometimes, when you want to expand your business into a new market it makes more sense to purchase a company that is already established in that market than to start from scratch. Acquiring another company allows you to enter a new market with a customer base already established. You can also take advantage of the resources the company you are acquiring has. Bringing on the employees of an existing company can be a fresh source of ideas and provide a pool of expertise you may not currently possess.

5. Reconsider Your Business Structure

Some business structures are more flexible than others. Flexible structures, such as limited liability companies, can make it easier to expand a business. Before you expand, it is a good idea to evaluate whether changing your business structure could make it easier to grow your business. 

Forming an LLC in Texas requires less paperwork than other business types. Additionally, they protect your personal assets, which could be important if your business expansion does go as planned. You can save money on attorney's fees by filing yourself or by using a formation service (Zenbusiness is currently offering LLC formation for free, plus any state fees). Different states have different rules, so do your research before you start.

6. Attend Networking Events

Attending networking events can help you make your brand more visible and attract new customers. Local professional organizations are a good place to look for events to attend. You can use the event to meet other business owners, speak as an industry expert or set up a booth to promote your business. 

Revise, Review, and Reconnect

Expanding a successful business can be both an exciting and an anxious time for any business owner. Taking steps, such as reconsidering your business structure, can help you succeed at this task. And don’t underestimate the value of networking through your local Bryan-College Station Chamber of Commerce. You may find that some of these connections have surprising benefits. Plus, every connection counts when you’re trying to expand your business.

Small businesses play a key role in the economic development of local communities. According to research, for every dollar spent at a local business, 67 cents remain in the community, while spending at shops run by major corporations has the opposite effect. Additionally, local businesses create job opportunities and invest in the development of the community. In this article, we explore the steps aspiring entrepreneurs should follow to start a business in the Bryan-College Station community.

Identify a Business Opportunity

Whether you’re planning to sell a product or a service, the first step is to validate whether there is a demand. For instance, if locals currently need to drive 15 minutes outside the community to visit the closest grocery store, this presents a great business idea to pursue. By opening a store within the community, not only will you automatically garner a strong customer base, but locals will directly benefit from the convenience.

Additionally, you’ll need to educate yourself on customer behaviors in your niche. Here are some important questions to answer:

• How much are customers willing to spend?

• How often do customers make purchases?

• What is the market share currently held by competitors?

• What are the main risks to your business?

Once you are confident about the idea, you can move on to the next steps.

Create a Business Plan

A business plan will serve as a guiding document for making business decisions in the short and long term. Here are important aspects it should include:

• Competitive Analysis: This includes understanding the strengths and weaknesses of your competitors, and using these insights to improve your product offerings and business model.

• Market Analysis: This will include insights you find during research conducted in the first step. Your focus should be on finding emerging trends, customer segments to target, and buying behaviors.

• SWOT Analysis: As reported by Smart Capital Mind, SWOT analysis focuses on finding the strength, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats to the business. A SWOT analysis will provide a clear idea of where your business stands in the market and how to move forward.

As you can see, a business plan is a complex tool, and not every aspiring entrepreneur will feel comfortable creating a truly effective one on their own. If that sounds like you, don’t hesitate to reach out to a professional business plan writer. You can use a hiring site to compare different professionals’ resumes, project portfolios, and prices so you can contact a few for a consultation and determine who to hire based on your conversations.

Manage Business Finances

A prominent issue faced by businesses is bad cash flow management. As a new business, maintaining healthy finances is integral for survival and garnering interest from potential investors.

Financial management can be made easy by using an online bookkeeping tool. Whether it be creating financial projects, managing inventory, making payments to vendors, or designing invoices, you can complete these functions in just a few clicks. Additionally, the centralized dashboard provided by the software makes it easy to review business performance and make informed decisions. Check out some of the top-rated options available, including FreshBooks and AccountEdge Pro, and consider utilizing one for your small business.

Complete Business Legalities

Depending on the nature of your business and the neighborhood it’s located in, you may need to obtain certain permits and licenses. It’s also wise to refrain from starting the business as a sole proprietor, as it leaves you open to the risk of being held personally accountable for liabilities and debt. As a small business owner in our great state, consider establishing a limited liability company (LLC). In addition to protection from business liabilities, if you start an LLC in Texas, you’ll be able to use expenses as tax write-offs, potentially saving hundreds to thousands of dollars a year. Since filing your LLC on your own can be a daunting task, consider using an online formation company to take care of this must-do. Use an objective review site that features different companies’ TrustPilot and customer service scores to find the best LLC services company to serve you.

Collaborate with the Local Community

Creating partnerships with existing local businesses will prove to be financially advantageous to both parties. For instance, leading up to your business launch, product samples can be distributed through fellow local businesses. In turn, post-launch you can provide referrals and host their products in your store as well.

For home-based businesses, consider creating special offers, such as providing customers discounts at your business for shopping at partnered stores and vice versa. Not only will this help your business develop credibility, but customers will benefit from offers and spend more at local businesses. Whichever route you choose, joining the Bryan-College Station Chamber of Commerce is a great way to connect with area businesses and find mutually beneficial ways to collaborate.

By starting a business in your community, you’ll receive strong support from locals from the get-go. In turn, the community will benefit from easier access to services, job opportunities, and re-investments from your business. 

Entrepreneurs are often faced with a difficult choice on whether to keep pushing or selling the business during tough times. It isn't easy to make since there are many things at stake. But with proper business procedures and follow-ups, you can simplify the entire process from decision-making to sale. Here are some tips from the Bryan-College Station Chamber of Commerce.

Signs That It’s Time to Sell

Most businesspeople lean toward selling the business when it encounters financial challenges. When the company doesn’t make enough sales to break even or sustain the business, it is time to think of alternative strategies. 

A glance at your business finances should help you decide if you should sell your business. This is particularly the case if you have up-to-date records but your business strategy is not working to your advantage. 

A competitive market can also squeeze your business out of the industry. Check on how you compare with other brands in the market. If you cannot make a substantial input over a lengthy period, then you might consider selling the business. 

Lastly, if your business plan and strategy have underperformed, failing to bring in the expected results, you can plan to sell the business. For example, if you were expecting more customers from a recent development that didn't come to fruition, it might be time to consider a sale. 

Preparing for the Sale

Once you decide to sell the business, there are specific documents you need and processes you should follow. This way, you will get value for your business and ensure a smooth transition and handover process. In addition, you need to follow the due legal process to avoid issues after the sale.

Determining Your Business’s Value

First, you need to determine the value of your business. It will include goodwill, stock, equipment, and any other payables. Whether you are selling the entire company or retaining some items, you must have concrete financial data. 

Organizing Your Financial Statements

Taking proper financial records will help you in the sale and takeover process. You can quickly note your assets and current financial position, which will help you understand your business's valuation. It will also help you know how you can gain from the sale of the business. 

You need to ensure you fulfill all your financial obligations, such as paying your creditors and invoicing for your services. Proper invoicing improves your financial records while also ensuring you get paid quickly. This way, you eliminate any delays with your money.  

To keep proper invoicing records, it’s ideal to invest in cloud based invoice software. Not only will it be easier to track invoices, but with online payment options, you’ll get paid quicker as well. Some software even offers alerts whenever an invoice is opened and paid. 

Finding a Buyer

Finding a buyer can be a lengthy and complicated process. You can start this process as soon as you decide to sell the business. Some buyers will demand to know more about the business by looking into your financial records. They can also scrutinize the business’s performance in the market by sending their representatives to benchmark and draft a sale agreement.

Whether you’re selling a struggling business or a thriving one, utilize the tips above. Once you’re ready to sell, follow a checklist: make preparations, determine what your business is worth, use invoicing software to ensure customers keep paying your promptly, and start looking for a buyer.

For more great tips, join your local chamber of commerce today.

Running a business is never easy, and it can become even more difficult when finances are not managed well. It’s important to have a plan in place to ensure that you are able to meet all of your financial obligations so your business can run smoothly. From the Bryan-College Station Chamber of Commerce, here are some tips on how entrepreneurs who struggle with business finances can implement better financial management strategies.

Adopt an Ecommerce Model

Ecommerce has become increasingly popular over the years due to its convenience and affordability for both businesses and customers. Shopping online is convenient, and thanks to ecommerce platforms, creating an online storefront is easier than ever.

Small businesses are finding success in offering ecommerce solutions with a unified platform. This allows customers to benefit from a customized buying experience across all channels, such as web, mobile, and social media. With this approach, it's easier for customers to access their favorite products without having to switch between multiple websites or apps. Businesses can also gain valuable insights into customer behavior, which can be used for more targeted marketing campaigns.

Keep Your Documents Organized

It’s critical to have an organized document managing system that you and any relevant staff members are proficient in. Keeping your records neat and updated makes sure nothing falls through the cracks and no costly mistakes are made. Digital recordkeeping is best, since you’ll be able to access your files online and therefore from anywhere. PDFs are a standard format for business financial records since they’re easy to update, share, and keep secure, and there are dozens of tools you can use to keep them organized. For instance, this could help if you have a large PDF file you want to split up into smaller files, or if you want to combine files, look for a PDF merger.

Make Payment Collection Easier

One of the most important things you can do as an entrepreneur is to make sure that you are getting paid promptly and on time. Consider setting up an online payment system so customers can pay you with ease. You can also provide incentives such as discounts or rewards for those who pay early or on time.

Work with an Accountant

Having an experienced and professional accountant on your team can be incredibly beneficial for your finances. An accountant can help you manage taxes, stick to a budget, do payroll, and more, so you don't have to worry about them. They can also help you make sound financial decisions.

Use Accounting Software

You can also look into using accounting software, which is an investment that’s worth making. It can streamline the process of managing your finances, freeing up time that you can use to focus on other areas of running your business. Automating bookkeeping, invoicing, and payroll processing tasks also helps you maintain accuracy.

Monitor Sales and Billing Meticulously

Keeping track of your sales numbers is an essential part of managing your business finances. This data can provide insight into customer behavior, which can be used to adjust pricing strategies or create promotional campaigns. Additionally, tracking invoices ensures you are paid promptly and accurately each month.

Track Miscellaneous Fees

Credit card processing fees can add up quickly, so it's important to keep track of them regularly. This helps you avoid surprise charges. Additionally, chargebacks should be monitored closely to prevent any fraudulent activity from occurring. This could hurt both your reputation and profitability if left unchecked.

Managing finances can be a major challenge for entrepreneurs, but there's no need to despair. Taking strategic steps such as working with an accountant and embracing an ecommerce model will make the process less overwhelming. With the right strategies in place, you can get a handle on your business finances in no time.