icast international center for appropriate and sustainable technology sba technical assistance...

iCAST International Center for Appropriate and Sustainable Technology

International Center for Appropriate and Sustainable Technology

SBA Technical Assistance

Helping Remove Challenges and Barriers of a Small Business

http://www.icastusa.org


iCAST International Center for Appropriate and Sustainable

Technology.

Mission: “to provide economic,

environmental, and social benefits to

economically disadvantaged businesses

and communities while providing

education and training that builds local

capacity.”


Services Offered

iCAST specializes in providing technical assistance for small businesses in:

• Renewables

• Energy Efficiency

• Technology

• Engineering

• Organizational Evaluations

• Green Buildings


Challenges & Barriers

iCAST provides solutions through partnerships with clients seeking support for small business challenges and barriers. Your success is our success!


Identifying Areas of Concern

• Not enough funds or access to funds

• Organizational problems

• Location / Visibility

• Hiring the right people

• Lack of Sales

• Marketing & Advertising aren’t working

• Failure to adapt to a changing market

• Technology Issues


Not Enough Funds or Access to Line of Credit

• Verify you are following your business plan

• Review and reduce expenses

• Make sure your expectations are realistic

• Work with Small Business Development Centers

• Research banks who specialize in supporting small business

• Start slow and don’t spend all your cash up front

• Create a cash flow report and review it often


Organizational Problems

• Set up a filing system and use it

• Follow your business plan

• Use project management tools

• Don’t reinvent the wheel

• Make sure you aren’t too top heavy – Too many leaders and not enough workers equals failure

• Talk with mentors and coaches to prevent issues before they happen (iCAST is here to help!)


Location & Visibility

Location LocationLocation

• Join other small businesses to afford a

premium location

• Set up business in a high traffic area

• Put your location on all collateral

• Attend networking sessions

• Get out and meet people


Hiring the Right Staff

• Spend the extra time to screen all resumes – don’t just glance over

• Conduct phone interviews

• Ask for referrals

• Hire an outsourcing agency

• Be prepared with an interview template

• Ask the tough questions – examples

• Call all references

• Ask “Is there anything else I should know about you?”

• Conduct Back Ground Checks

• Seek candidates with motivation and “can do” attitudes

• Don’t be rushed into your selection


Lack of Sales

•Practice on friends and family

•Create a forecast of what is needed to meet financials

•Hire commission sales personnel

• Incentivize the sales team

•Network, network, network

•Know your competition

•Research sales solutions on the internet

•Sign up for sales training in your industry


Marketing & Advertising Suggestions

• Review various types of marketing materials

• Identify what marketing and advertising initiatives work for you

• Make sure you have the right message

• Outsource if you don’t have the experience on staff

• Track various methods to see what works best

• Create numerous options to select from

• Get the opinion of others before you go to print

• Tell the truth


• Pay attention to the political environment and support

• Understand supply and demand

• If the strategy isn’t working, change it

• Research the industry

• Listen to your clients

• Be flexible and willing to change

• Be willing to over haul your business

• Track preferences and buying trends

Failure to Adapt to a Changing Market


Technology Issues

•Purchase new hardware and software

•Replace defective equipment

•Purchase enough equipment

•Ensure employees have the proper training

•Create a Technology Road Map for growth

•Create an inventory tracking sheet

•Know when to renew licenses

•Ensure security


Standard Operating Procedures & Process Re-Engineering

•Create Standard Operating Procedures for business tasks

•Document End-to-End processes

•Cross train for better use of resources

•Identify what’s working and what’s not working

•Update and revamp SOP’s and Processes to keep current

•Stop doing what doesn’t work!


What if You Don’t Know the Answer?

•Look it up on the internet

•Talk to experts

•Work with iCAST or your local SBDC

•Do something about the problem early on - don’t wait

•Give it your best shot using creativity

•Read books

•Be open minded and don’t believe everything you hear


Quality & Safety is Critical

•Quality inspections will ensure you are performing quality work

•Customer Service Surveys

•Quality service = more business

•OSHA Safety Standards for Small Businesses

•OSHA Certified 10/30


Flexibility & Change•Know when to make a change or who to talk to

when business is not going well (iCAST is here to help)

•Flexibility is the key to a changing market

•Diversify so you don’t put all your eggs in one basket

•Listen to your customers and investigate your competition for changes in the market place


Continuous LearningSign up for webinars and attend online classes. Utilize Youtube and other internet websites

• Look for free opportunities

• Attend Conferences in you industry to both learn and

network

• Upgrade your skills and be open to learn new skills

• Share knowledge amongst employees

• Call others to see what worked and what didn’t work

for them


Thank You! Any Questions?


Chris Stoneman ([email protected])

iCAST (International Center for Appropriate & Sustainable Technology)

www.icastusa.org

777 S. Wadsworth Blvd. 4-205 Lakewood, CO 80226

1.866.590.4377 X 802


International Center for Appropriate and Sustainable Technology

SBA Disclaimer

This U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Cooperative Agreement is partially funded by the SBA. SBA's funding is not and endorsement of any products, opinions or services. All SBA funded programs are extended to the public on a non-discriminatory basis.

icast international center for appropriate and sustainable technology sba technical assistance...

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