Small Business Matters At The Frontenac CFDC

Mar 14, 2013

Over the last few months, the Frontenac Community Futures Development Corporation (FCFDC) has hosted a series of seven free workshops to support local businesses. The series has been well attended. FCFDC Executive Director Anne Prichard said that every workshop was fully subscribed and in some cases, she had to turn people away.

The final workshop was on Business Planning and took place at the Harrowsmith FCFDC office on March 5. The workshop was led by Rebecca Darling of KEDCO (Kingston Economic Development Corporation) and attracted entrepreneurs with existing businesses as well as those who are planning to establish businesses.

In the first category, Keith Didychuk, the sole owner and operator of Keith's Energy Services in Sydenham, attended in order to find out how to operate his business, which opened almost one year ago, more efficiently.

In the second category were Peggy Green and David Elyea, who are planning to open a new computer services business in the Sharbot Lake area, called Frontenac Computers.

“We're hoping to improve our existing business plan that we are currently putting together right now,” Elyea said. “We have lots of questions and are hoping to get some more detailed answers and want also to find the best approach to take.” They and the other attendees were not disappointed by the two-hour long, in-depth information session led by Rebecca Darling, who covered all aspects of designing a business plan.

Darling was raised by parents who owned a franchise business. She has also she owned and operated her own business and was also involved in the corporate side of marketing and sales with companies such as Christian Dior and Halston.

“My aim is to help those starting out develop a strong business plan, which can save people a lot of time and energy in the long run,” she said. “Before moving forward with a business, it's very important that people invest the time in developing a plan. That way they can access the whole picture. A business plan can be a road map that not only provides important information and feedback but it also identifies a potential business's strengths and weaknesses. I try to get people to focus on how they can make sales with their product and/or service because it’s very easy to get distracted with other parts of the plan. The bottom line for any viable business is its sales.”

In her presentation Darling outlined all the steps involved and covered numerous topics including; trends, demographics, products, services, pricing, competition, market research and much more.

“Small businesses are the engine of the economy; they are vital, " she said. "My job is to help people by motivating them and providing the information they need that will help them realize their goals - but also to caution them as well. Sometimes a business plan can help people realize that in fact what they thought might be a viable business, is in actual fact not. But on the other hand, for the others who have an idea - that might include the artist, writer and creator who have a viable product or service to sell - I am here to help them understand the business side of things so that they can hopefully succeed, and a plan will definitely help them to be able to accomplish that."

The CFDC will be offering another series of workshops in April and May. For more information visit their website at frontenaccfdc.com