Kansas SBDC November Updates - Business Planning, Start Ups & More

November news & updates

What's Inside:

Latest Covid-19 Resource Updates
Business Planning - How the Kansas SBDC Can Help
Special Events - Global Entrepreneurship Week, Small Business Saturday & Mid-America Trade Summit
Veteran's Day & Small Business Support
Client Shout Out
Upcoming Training Events

Key 2021 Covid Financial Support Programs

Loan and grant program highlights include:

Employee Retention Tax Credits - Up to $28k per employee refunded back to employer. Employers can claim up to 70% of total compensation expense per employee (up to $7k per employee per quarter in 2021).

Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) - Small businesses and non-profit organizations can borrow up to a maximum loan amount of $2 million and can come back and request more through the end of 2021 if they borrowed less than their maximum previously thru the SBA EIDL program.

Shuttered Venue Operators Grant - (Up to $10 million per venue) The program includes over $16 billion in grants to shuttered venues, to be administered by SBA’s Office of Disaster Assistance.

More info on the Kansas SBDC Covid-19 Support Resource Page.

Business Planning

The advisors at the Kansas SBDC can help establish new and start up business owners reach their full potential. Establishing a start-up or new product goes through a few steps:

First Steps: Advisors help with new idea assessments, creating a business plan, and evaluating financial projections.

Funding Options: Finding the right capital and loan agencies is a must for new business owners. Advisors can help find the right banking institutions to meet specific needs, as well as help find grants and crowdfunding opportunities. Current Kansas SBDC clients also have access to the Capital Access Center and the experienced staff of banking professionals.

Business Registration Basics: Your Kansas SBDC advisor can help you understand the process of registering with the state as well as what licenses and permits are needed and fees that need to be paid. Kansas SBDC advisors can also help with establishing a business structure, the Employer Identification Number, set up a Sales Tax Payable account, help set up an LLC registration, and get certain SBA Business Certification designations.

Marketing & Sales: Today’s competitive environment requires small businesses to periodically revisit the marketing strategy in order to be successful. Kansas SBDC advisors help businesses with all things marketing including online, such as social media pages and websites, exporting, establishing a strategy, and connecting with local schools and universities to create class projects for students to gain a real-world connection.

Financial Recordkeeping: Business financials are a crucial part of any business owner's tasks. Advisors at the Kansas SBDC can help clients better understand financial statements such as cash flow, balance sheets, and profit and loss sheets. The Kansas SBDC also hosts virtual QuickBooks webinars to help clients better understand accounting software.

To learn more about the services the Kansas SBDC provides or to contact an advisor, please visit www.kansassbdc.net.

Special Events

Global Entrepreneurship Week

November 8-12

Global Entrepreneurship Week celebrates and empowers entrepreneurs in every country and community throughout the world. Each November, millions of people take part in activities, competitions, and events that inspire them and provide them with knowledge, experience, and connections needed to succeed.

Global Entrepreneurship Week reaches beyond high-tech startup hubs to uplift and empower smaller businesses and communities. National campaigns in 180+ countries create long-lasting connections specific to local communities. Activities can be as simple as local gatherings and meetups to massive, international connections.

Although Global Entrepreneurship Week only happens once a year, the chance to engage, collaborate and shape businesses greatly and positively impacts communities. Creating the support system needed for small businesses to succeed is invaluable.

Click here to find out where local activities are taking place. Learn more about Global Entrepreneurship Week here.

Small Business Saturday

November 27, 2021

Small Business Saturday is a day to celebrate and support your favorite local businesses and all they do for your community. This year, small businesses have needed your support now more than ever as they pivot from the effects of the coronavirus pandemic.

How shoppers can participate in Small Business Saturday:

Shop at your favorite small businesses
Share, create, and write posts on social media to show your support
Swap Black Friday for Small Business Saturday

How Businesses can participate in Small Business Saturday:

Get social: Start promoting your business and Small Business Saturday deals on social media sites to get customers engaged
Plan an event: Organize an event to kick off Small Business Saturday with deals and promotions to draw customers in!
Promote gift cards: Gift cards are a fantastic way for shoppers to support your business. Many shoppers buy gift cards for holidays, birthdays, and special events.
Stay open longer on Saturday: Extending business hours could have a big impact on sales!
Network with other businesses: Talk to other businesses. Help create connections and establish good relationships in the community.

Mid-America Trade Summit

November 2nd & 3rd | Virtual Event - Connect via Zoom

Join top exporters, global trade leaders, and trade assistance providers from across Mid-America as they gather to share global trade best practices and lessons learned in global trade. The fast-paced, highly interactive format of this event will provide attendees with direct access to networking and shared learning opportunities that can be used to guide export expansion of your own operations.

View Agenda

Veteran's Day | November 11

The Kansas SBDC can help veterans find SBA programs to help launch their small business.

Programs such as Boots to Business, Woman Veteran Entrepreneurship Training Program, Service Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Program, and more are available.

Learn more about Veteran-Owned business programs at www.kansassbdc.net/veteran-owned-businesses or contact your local Kansas SBDC.

Check out the recommended videos below for ways to get started. Watch more free training videos and webinars on our Kansas SBDC YouTube Channel or check out our Training Video Library.

Streamlined Business Plan for Raising Funds

Is your company ready to achieve SBA's 8(a) Program certification? (03/15/21)

Kansas SBDC Client Shout Out

Red Rock Experience & Venue

After hearing the haunting history behind Red Rock Elementary School in Ulysses, KS, Tammy Reese had an entertainment idea that the community would love. Her vision was a year-round, haunted entertainment destination, The Red Rock Experience & Venue, that would bring sustainable business to the area.

To make this happen, she came to the Kansas Small Business Development Center with a goal to revise her business plan in order to apply for a $25,000 Business Revitalization Plan Grant from Grant County. Unfortunately, Reese did not receive the grant money she was hoping for. Despite that loss, the work and effort of both Reese and the Kansas SBDC inevitably paid off in the long run, as The Red Rock Experience & Venue brought together the community in more than just the typical manner.

Although she did not achieve the original goal she had in mind when she set out to work with the Kansas SBDC, Reese appreciates the knowledge and skills acquired through her experience in working with her advisors.

“[The Kansas SBDC] was very open-minded, supportive, and always there for us just a phone call away,” says Reese. “We have also called upon Maria several times to look over brochures and ask her for marketing ideas. She has always been very upbeat and helpful to us. I have really enjoyed working with her a lot!”

Kansas SBDC advisor Maria Dennison felt very much the same way about her partnership with Reese.

“There was a great collaboration between both parties,” said Dennison. “[Tammy] is an incredibly driven individual and accomplishes what she puts her mind to. This was a partnership that provided support in the necessary areas and she was quick to respond and motivated to make a difference!”