OC Residents learns about starting a Small Business

Area residents learned steps to start a successful small business on Tuesday at the Shaver Recreation Complex in Seneca. The second annual Oconee County Small Business Resource Fair was an opportunity for people thinking about starting a new business or looking for additional resources in order to grow their existing business, explains Greater Walhalla Area Chamber executive director Vanessa Penton. “The purpose of the event was to bring future entrepreneurs or current business owners that want to take their business to the next level. We wanted to connect them to people in the community that have the where-with-all and the knowledge to help them facilitate those steps. From the educational side we had folks from Clemson University all the way to banks and insurance companies that could talk about risk management. It was really just kind of an educational time where you talk face to face with these vendors.” As a title sponsor, Helen Westmoreland with H&R Block also served as a guest speaker at the event. She offered this advice to prospective small business owners. “Do your homework, do your do diligence and get a good network of people to go to for resources and listen to them, they will give you some valuable advice, and you just have to listen to them.” Another guest speaker at the event was Tracy Keefer with Core 24 Gym in Seneca. “I think some of my bet advice would be to do your research, to have your family on board and behind you because it is more than just yourself starting the business. To have a network of supporting business owners to know where your money is coming from and to be successful to not let failure be part of the equation that you move forward. You have done your homework so that you know that your business is one that is needed in the community and that you are providing a community service.” The Oconee Economic Alliance and H&R Block sponsored the second annual Oconee County Small Business Resource Fair in collaboration with the Oconee, Walhalla and Westminster Chambers of Commerce.