Business resolutions for prosperity

Many of us have thought about our New Year's Resolutions: lose 20 pounds; exercise four times a week; organize those 12 boxes of family photos; never eat refined sugar again. Hopefully we will stick to all tasks, at least through the month of January.

But what about a resolution for your small business? A resolution, could enable your business to prosper for 2006. Rather than make a business resolution that is too lofty, why not choose one or two activities that will help you be the best small business you can be. Listed below are 11 activities; many that are fun and painless, and at least one that could benefit any business.

1. Complete, or revise, your business plan. Studies indicate that those businesses that follow a business plan have generated a healthier bottom-line. Why not dust off that old business plan and meet with a SBDC business counselor? Together you can review your marketing strategies, free of charge, and develop a short-term plan to increase sales. The Small Business Development Center also offers business planning workshops once a month.

2. Get organized. January is "Official Clean off Your Desk Month." Get your files in order so you can be more efficient at your job. If you need a little motivation in this category we invite you to attend the Time to Get Organized training on Jan. 25.

3. Give your business a check-up. We all take our vehicles to a mechanic for a tune-up, so why not let a small business counselor look "under the hood" of your business? The SBDC Rx Program provides a thorough review of your businesses' operations, marketing and financials by qualified business counselors. For a small fee the Business Rx can help you review your business' health and help you analyze your financials so you can improve the bottom-line of your business.

4. Get to know labor laws. What you don't know can hurt your business. Business owners that have employees or plan to hire employees need to be aware of the new and current labor laws that impact all businesses. Both the Napa Chamber of Commerce and the St. Helena Chamber of Commerce will be hosting Labor Law Update Workshops this month. Napa Valley College is partnering with the St. Helena Chamber to bring you the Labor Law Review at the Upper Valley Campus on Jan. 20. Understanding your role as an employer can save you a lot of money and grief.

5. Develop your employee handbook. This objective is necessary for businesses that have five or more employees. If you are not sure where to start call the Small Business Development Center or check out our reference library for more materials.

6. Train your employees to offer exceptional customer service. Napa Valley College's award winning Customer Service Academy is back this winter with trainings designed to provide the skills needed for your employees' and your business' success. Four and eight hour interactive workshops are scheduled at the Upper Valley Campus and the Napa Chamber of Commerce. Trainings included customer service, communications in the workplace, teambuilding and time and organizational management.

7. Develop a PR plan. Local publicity is a key to get your business noticed. Our first Wake up Your Business Wednesday Workshop, on Jan. 18, will feature "Promoting Your Business through Publicity."

8. Do the math � learn QuickBooks. Intuit, makers of QuickBooks and Simple Start have incorporated new tools to make it easier for business owners to do their own recordkeeping. The SBDC will be hosting an Intro to QuickBooks 2005 training monthly, facilitated by one of our trainers and QuickBooks Pro-Advisor.

9. Get out there and mix it up. Are you getting new clients through networking and referrals? Our "Wake up Your Business" Wednesday trainings is a great place to meet other business owners. Also, the Napa Chamber of Commerce will be hosting a five minute networking program on Jan. 30. Call the Chamber to learn more about this opportunity.

10. Take your business to the next level. For the eighth consecutive year Napa Valley and Solano colleges are offering their bi-annual NxleveL Business Training Program. NxleveL is a 10-week intensive "real world-MBA" program designed for the business owner who is ready to take his or her business to the next level. Business owners that have between one and nine employees can get most of their training costs reimbursed. This year the program will begin in early February, a free orientation will be held at the Napa SBDC on Jan. 23.

11. Happy New Year, get your business off to a great start! Call the SBDC for free counseling and information on events and trainings.

For more resolutions and tasks to improve your small business, or to find out more about any of the activities listed in this column, please call the Small Business Development Center at 253-3210.