Small businesses are thriving thanks to the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce's focus on programs that help entrepreneurs create and expand their companies.
The Carlsbad Chamber is the only chamber in San Diego County that has a full-time Small Business Success Center. The center offers a number of services, including one-on-one small business counseling to assist with referrals, financing, business plans, marketing and peer support.
It also offers SCORE counseling with retired executives, small business roundtables, workshops and peer support groups like Pathways to Success where you can become more successful by discussing your business and addressing goals on a regular basis in a non-competitive group.
Nikki Chipp, owner of Allied Information Resources, has attended several workshops at the chamber, but she finds the Pathways to Success program to be the most beneficial for her business. She credits the peer support group for helping her become more successful.
“It is helpful for me to talk with other business owners about similar issues,” Chipp said. “I now have an accountability partner and it helps me keep on track.”
Pamela Bovaird, owner of TechReq LLC, a technical staffing agency in Carlsbad that began doing business in 2005, also found one of the center's programs valuable for her business.
In February of 2007, Bovaird noticed the chamber was offering classes on how to write a business plan. Although she already had a plan in place, Bovaird signed up for the classes to make sure she was on the right track.
During the classes, because she already had a rough draft in place, Bovaird was able to take the plan to the next level and draft a master business plan. During the business plan course, Susan Lamping from CDC Small Business Finance discussed how to get business financing from banks.
“Lamping mentioned that it is necessary to have a strong business plan when you go to the banks for financing,” Bovaird said. “She also mentioned to go to the banks when you have money. Do not wait until you don't have money as it is easier to get a loan if you look like you can pay it back.”
After the chamber's business plan classes, Bovaird met with Lamping to try and secure more financing from the banks. Lamping was able to find a bank to finance Bovaird and TechReq received a more sizable bank loan in June of 2007. At that time, TechReq hadn't even been in business for two years.
The Carlsbad Chamber can help close the gap between small business owners and the bankers that can help them get to the next level. For more information, contact Andrea Korogi, the chamber's director of small business development, at (760) 931-8400 or [email protected].
The Carlsbad Chamber is the only chamber in San Diego County that has a full-time Small Business Success Center. The center offers a number of services, including one-on-one small business counseling to assist with referrals, financing, business plans, marketing and peer support.
It also offers SCORE counseling with retired executives, small business roundtables, workshops and peer support groups like Pathways to Success where you can become more successful by discussing your business and addressing goals on a regular basis in a non-competitive group.
Nikki Chipp, owner of Allied Information Resources, has attended several workshops at the chamber, but she finds the Pathways to Success program to be the most beneficial for her business. She credits the peer support group for helping her become more successful.
“It is helpful for me to talk with other business owners about similar issues,” Chipp said. “I now have an accountability partner and it helps me keep on track.”
Pamela Bovaird, owner of TechReq LLC, a technical staffing agency in Carlsbad that began doing business in 2005, also found one of the center's programs valuable for her business.
In February of 2007, Bovaird noticed the chamber was offering classes on how to write a business plan. Although she already had a plan in place, Bovaird signed up for the classes to make sure she was on the right track.
During the classes, because she already had a rough draft in place, Bovaird was able to take the plan to the next level and draft a master business plan. During the business plan course, Susan Lamping from CDC Small Business Finance discussed how to get business financing from banks.
“Lamping mentioned that it is necessary to have a strong business plan when you go to the banks for financing,” Bovaird said. “She also mentioned to go to the banks when you have money. Do not wait until you don't have money as it is easier to get a loan if you look like you can pay it back.”
After the chamber's business plan classes, Bovaird met with Lamping to try and secure more financing from the banks. Lamping was able to find a bank to finance Bovaird and TechReq received a more sizable bank loan in June of 2007. At that time, TechReq hadn't even been in business for two years.
The Carlsbad Chamber can help close the gap between small business owners and the bankers that can help them get to the next level. For more information, contact Andrea Korogi, the chamber's director of small business development, at (760) 931-8400 or [email protected].