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Marne Harris, director of Southwestern Community College’s Small Business Center.
Jessica Webb
editor@thesmokymountaintimes.com
You might think the uncertainties and shutdowns that happened during the Covid-19 pandemic would keep people from wanting to be business owners. It turns out the opposite may be true, as many had more time to reflect and think about what it is they want to do with their time, interest in entrepreneurship and starting small businesses has only gained in popularity.
Bryson City is a desirable location for starting a small business, given the reliable tourism market and beautiful location and small-town atmosphere. Plus, North Carolina is favorable to small business.
New business creations statewide set records in both July and August, according to a press release from NC Secretary of State Elaine F. Marshall’s office.
“North Carolina entrepreneurs continue to break records as new business creations continue at an astonishing rate compared to before the global pandemic,” Secretary Marshall said in a press release. “In order to ensure these new businesses have every opportunity at success, our goal is to get them up-and-running as quickly as possible and to provide them immediate access to business-related resources.”
Secretary Marshall’s office launched Rural RISE NC and even came to speak in Bryson City last fall about the new program to help connect business owners with resources they need. To learn more, visit sosnc.gov/rise.
Statewide, North Carolinians opened 16,133 new businesses in August and 14,324 in July. This situates 2023 to be on pace for the second highest year on record for new business creations.
In Swain County, there have also been several new business licenses filed with the state, with 2023 looking like it could make a new record. Steadily, the number of business licenses has increased each year. In 2019, there were 85, rising in 2020 to 111 and then another increase in 2021 to 150. Last year there were 157 and so far in 2023, there have been 130.
Where to start
For many, the question is where to start, and that’s where SCC’s Small Business Center comes in. They offer a slate or resources for free including business seminars, counseling and resources. You can start with the new business checklist on their website (southwesterncc.edu/sbc).
Marne Harris, director of Southwestern Community College’s Small Business Center, said the 58 centers across the state saw “a big rise in people starting their own businesses during the Covid pandemic” but that interest seems to be leveling off since then.
The center is one of the best local resources for people who want to learn how to start their own business.
“Imagine a resource for anyone wanting to start or grow their small business where the only agenda is to help that business make money and succeed, and where you can get training and consulting at no cost whatsoever. Well, that place is your local Small Business Center!” Harris shared by email.
The local center serves Jackson, Macon, and Swain Counties as well as the Qualla Boundary. In the past year, the SCC SBC has helped start 11 businesses, five of which were service businesses, four food and farm businesses, and two retail, according to Harris. They also helped create and retain 216 jobs.
“The SCC SBC offers high-quality, interactive and relevant small business trainings all year long as a mix of webinars and in-person classes. We average over 100 per year on a wide range of topics including 'How to Start a Business', 'How to Write a Business Plan', 'Small Business Taxes', 'Financing and Marketing Your Business', and much, much more,” Harris said.
They also offer one-on-one confidential and customized counseling, averaging nearly 300 hours of counseling a year, she said.
“We work with people who have an idea for a business, helping them to flesh out that idea, figuring out the problem they are solving, target market research, walking through that business plan together to determine the feasibility of their idea,” Harris explained. “We answer the fundamental questions many new startups face and help move them in the right direction. We are essentially the 'how to' experts of small business.”
In addition, they work with existing business owners on a variety of topics from retaining staff to loans.
Among the biggest needs from people starting out are how to structure their business, how to file as a new business and how to access capital.
Some of the businesses they are currently helping include someone looking to start a hostel for Appalachian Trail hikers in Swain County.
The SCC SBC can also connect people to other resources they need as well, such as accountants, lending organizations, insurance agents, lawyers and even marketing experts, Harris said.
“We all know that small businesses truly are the heart and soul of our communities, and we are just proud to help in even a small part of their progress and success,” Harris said.