By dallaschamber Business Tips • • • • • • • • • • • 0 Comments

Creating a business plan

The following post is from forbes.com writer Patrick Hull.

Bio – Patrick Hull

I am a serial entrepreneur with more than 25 years of experience launching successful companies, including GetLoaded.com, a freight matching service for long-haul truckers that revolutionized the transportation sector. As a business owner and investor, I have financial interests in more than 30 companies which span a variety of industries, including transportation, technology, entertainment, real estate, energy, insurance, and mobile applications. I believe it’s important for professionals to be strong community stewards and serve as mentors for the next generation of entrepreneurs. From Richmond, VA, I’m also active in philanthropic efforts throughout the United States and across the world.

[Previously,] I discussed the components of a strong business plan and why entrepreneurs should create them, regardless of their venture.

I’ve had experience both developing business plans and reviewing them for potential investments. Although an idea is what often gets investors interested, a business plan is definitely needed to get financial support from them.

The simple act of writing down your idea and outlining how the business will operate can be helpful to ensure that you communicate your vision and that everyone is on the same page. It also helps you benchmark and check your progress as the company grows.

A business plan is crucial to get support for your vision because it shows that you have thought through an idea clearly and aren’t just winging it.

For example, I once wrote an entire business plan with a business partner on paper towels. We recognized an opportunity, but had to write it down and test the idea to make sure it would work (we didn’t have any paper handy, although that didn’t stop us). The plan was just for us, but we still had had to see if the vision, the financials, and the strategy were sound. We created that company and it went on to gross millions of dollars a month. In other words, your business plan doesn’t have to be some manicured document in order to make it successful.

Now with this example keep in mind that I didn’t need to raise capital for this company and I had existing expertise in this industry. I’m certainly not advocating people draft business plans on paper towels! However, even with capital and expertise, it was still important to write out our idea and create a business plan. Otherwise, the company could have lacked direction and structure.

Your business plan should be clear and provide a roadmap for your company. Without a plan, you’ll find it more difficult to communicate your vision and see a path to growth.

Here are five other business plan writing tips I’ve found useful during my career:

Get rid of the fluff: You should always be as concise as possible and remove any filler language. Even if it sounds nice, fluff gets you nowhere and wastes space. Plus, no investors want to read a long business plan. Get to the point quickly.

Be realistic: You should be honest with yourself in your business plan, which is why it’s important to consider challenges and opportunities. If you’ve got a strong idea, let it stand on its merit.

Show you’re conservative: Everyone says they’re “conservative” in their business plans, but most aren’t. You should be. Use examples to demonstrate that you’re conservative in your approach and projections.

Visuals are good: Whenever possible, and without overdoing it, use visuals in your business plan. Graphs, charts, and images can help bring your concept to life. Plus, it breaks up the text and helps a plan flow better.

Be creative: Include a creative element in your business plan so you stand out and grab someone’s attention. You can use templates, but don’t look identical to a template. Do something unique to make the plan yours.

If you need help writing a business plan (the financial information can be complicated), here’s a guide from SCORE, a nonprofit association that helps entrepreneurs and small business owners, to a number of business plan templates.

 

By dallaschamber Business Spotlight • • • • • • • • • • • 0 Comments

Van Well Building Supply – Member Spotlight

Van Well Building Supply Co. has been in business since November, 1976.  Carl and Patty Van Well took over the business, formerly called Povey Builder Supply and Povey Oil Co. The company has seen much growth and several expansions over the past 40 years.  Carl attributes much of their success to the knowledgeable and personable employees and to the loyalty of their customers.  As a member of the Western Building Materials trade association, Van Wells has kept abreast of the newest trends, products and social and political issues that effect their industry.  Being involved in the community, through membership in the Dallas Chamber of Commerce and by supporting many local and regional charities, has also been an important part of doing business.

In April on 2018 Carl and Patty sold the business that they poured their hearts into so that they could retire.  The company is now operated by Gold Beach Lumber Yard.  New owner Ryan Ringer and his team are excited to be part of the community and continue the legacy that Carl and Patty have established.

They look forward to having you in the store and to helping you with your project, from start to finish.

By dallaschamber Business Spotlight • DACC • • • • • • • • • • • • 0 Comments

He Drives all the Nuts Around Dallas – Squirrel’s Taxi Service

The One & Only Taxi in Dallas, OR.  Forget the big-name transportation apps, They aren’t permitted in town anyway.  You really want a ride with Squirrels Taxi Service, the preferred method of transportation for the locals of Dallas, OR and throughout Polk County. Owner Merlin Berkey is safe, dedicated, friendly and hardworking. Squirrels Taxi Service holds the same characteristics as the beloved woodland creatures our company is named after. Merlin was once referred to as a hero.  A retired Dallas police officer shared that he felt that without Merlin, there would likely be a lot more driving related injuries and fatalities, emphasizing that “he really is a hero.”

Rides for Any Reason or Occasion.  Need a ride to an appointment? We can provide you with the medical transportation you need. Had too many drinks? We’ll be your designated drivers so the party never has to stop. Whatever reason you may need to get to and from, let Squirrel’s get you where you need to be.

Home

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Member Spotlight – Dallas School District

Dallas School District serves a large geographic area of nearly 250 square miles. The students enrolled in the school system represent nearly half of all students served by Polk County schools. A staff of over 300 licensed and classified people work in six schools and one administrative building. The District also sponsors Luckiamute Valley Charter School (formerly Pedee School and Bridgeport Elementary) as well as Dallas Community School, another Charter School in Dallas.

They believe the school is one of the major institutions through which our cultural, political and social heritage is transmitted from generation to generation and the means by which the members of our society are prepared intellectually to evaluate and control cultural, political and social changes.

The primary purpose of the Dallas School District is to provide opportunities for the full intellectual development of each child. The child has the responsibility to himself and society to purposely pursue the educational opportunities provided him. Dallas School District has a shared responsibility with parents and with other institutions and agencies for the social, physical, and emotional growth and development of the individual child.

It is an obligation to our children, community, and country to institute those programs necessary to fulfill the education needs of our children and to provide the facilities, materials, technology, and staff required to do so.

The School District has partnered with the Chamber by being on the board, sponsoring business-centric events, working on business solutions pertaining to workforce development.

Dallas School District is working hard to shape the future, participate with them.

https://www.dallas.k12.or.us/

By dallaschamber DACC • General Information • • • • • • 0 Comments

16 Tips for Business Success

Starting a business? Here are 16 important startup tips that will help you make your startup a success.

What do you need to do to start a business? There are dozens of websites including ours that have checklists that remind you of the many tasks you should perform when starting a business. Although such checklists are very useful because they help you remember important startup steps, they are just To Do lists. They tell you what to do, but don’t provide any tips about what makes a business successful.

Unfortunately, you don’t succeed in business just by completing a list of tasks. Nor will your business be a success just because you think it’s a good idea.

What will make or break your business? What determines if it will be a success?

Here are 16 tips for starting a business and making it succeed.

  1. Know yourself, your true motivational level, the amount of money you can risk, and what you’re willing to do to be successful. Sure, we all want to make millions of dollars. But what are you willing to give up to reach that goal? How many hours a week will you work on an ongoing basis? How far out of your comfort zone are you willing to stretch? How far will your family stretch with you? To be successful, keep your business plans in line with your personal and family goals and resources.
  2. Choose the right business for you. The old formula – find a need and fill it – still works. It will always work. The key to success is finding needs that you can fill, that you want to fill, and that will produce enough income to build a profitable business.
  3. Be sure there really is a market for what you want to sell. One of the biggest mistakes startups make is to assume a lot of people will want to buy a particular product or service, because the business owner likes the ideas or knows one or two people who want the product or service. To minimize your risk for loss, never assume there is a market. Research the idea. Talk to real potential prospects (who aren’t family and friends) to find out if what you want to sell is something they’d be interested in buying, and if so, what they’d pay for the product or service.
  4. Research your competitors. No matter what type of business you are starting or running, you will have competitors. Even if there is no other business offering exactly what you plan to sell, there is very likely to be other products or services your target customers are using to satisfy their need.  To be successful, you need to research the competition and find out as much as possible about what they sell and how they sell it. Competitive research is something you should plan on doing on an ongoing basis, too.
  5. Plan to succeed. If you’re not seeking investors or putting a huge sum of money into your business, you may not need an elaborate business plan, but you still do need a plan – one that specifies your goal – your destination – and then lays out at least a skeletal roadmap for how you’ll get to where you want to go. The plan will change as you progress and learn more about your customers and competition, but it will still help you stay focused and headed in the right directions. Use our business planning worksheet to help develop that basic plan.
  6. Know the Operational Needs. Most people who are thinking about starting a business focus on what they’ll sell and who they’ll sell it too.  What they often don’t consider is how the business will actually operate. For instance, if you’re selling items, how will they be delivered? How much customer support will be needed – either to answer questions about the product, or to respond to people whose shipments haven’t arrived? Will you need to accept credit cards? Will you invoice customers? Who will follow up to be sure you’re paid? Who will build and maintain your website and social media presence?  Will you be able to use a virtual assistantfor such tasks, or will you have to hire employees? Even if you’re starting a small personal service business, these are issues you should consider and plan for.
  7. Don’t procrastinate. I’ve heard some people advise would-be business owners to not move ahead with their business until they have investigated every last detail of the business they want to start, and are absolutely sure it’s all going to work and be profitable. The problem with that approach is that it leads to procrastination. No one ever really has all the pieces in place – even after they’ve started their business. Yes, you need to research the market, have a rudimentary plan in place and do things like get a tax id if needed, register with local officials, if required, etc. But if you try to make everything perfect before you launch, you may never get around to starting the business at all.
  1. Start on a small scale before going all out. Some people believe that entrepreneurs are risk-takers. But for the most part, successful entrepreneurs don’t like walking blindfolded on a limb. Instead, they take controlled risks. They test an idea on a small scale, then build on what works well, tweak what shows promise and discard the disasters.
  2. Don’t fixate on mistakes or get demoralized by them. The difference between successful people and everyone else is that the successful people learn from their mistakes and move on. They don’t dwell on failure, blame the economy, curse their bad luck, or blame other people for their fate. If the path to their goal is blocked, they look for an alternate path, or sometimes choose a different, more attainable goal.

    Free Business Startup Checklist

    Starting a business can be overwhelming! Use this free Business Startup Checklist to make sure you don’t miss any important steps. This downloadable Word document lists the steps you need to take to get your business up and running, and includes space for you to note your own comments and deadlines. You can get the checklist free when you subscribe to the free Business Know-How Newsletter.

  3. Learn from others. Find mentors, join groups with like-minded people, learn everything you can about your industry and what it takes to get from where you are to where you want to be. Attend industry conferences. Take training courses when they are available. Buy courses offered by experts. You’ll save a tremendous amount of trial and error by learning from people who have been there before.
  4. Think of what you do AS a business. Keep track of income and expenses, keep business money separate from personal funds, find out what regulations your business needs to abide by.
  5. Understand the difference between working for yourself and building an ongoing business. If you want to build a business, you need to develop systems and methods that allow you to hire other people to DO the work of the business while you plan it. You limit the potential for growth if you don’t bring in other people to work for you.
  6. Get to know investors. If the business you are starting will need investors to grow, do what you can to find out what investors are looking for and where to find those who might invest in your kind of business. Local angel and venture capital groups are a good place to start – attend meetings they hold or meetings that investors are speaking at.
  7. Put yourself out there. Ask for what you want (in a polite way.) I started my online business by participating online on GE’s GEnie online service. When I was ready to send them a proposal to run a small business area, I could not only talk about my credentials in general, but point to places I was already contributing to their service. I became one of the early content providers to America Online because I picked up the phone and made a cold call. I wound up with a new consulting client after I struck up a conversation with a woman sitting next to me on an airplane. Remember, people like to do business with people they know. Get the ball rolling, and keep it rolling by continually reaching out and introducing yourself to new people.
  8. Embrace Digital Marketing. Even if you’re running a local business, you need a comprehensive digital presence. At minimum you need a professional-looking website, an email list that lets you communicate with customers and prospects on a regular basis, and presence on the social media channels that your customers frequent. While you may get many of your customers by word of mouth, referrals or networking, you still need a strong digital presence. The reason: prospective customers are likely to look you up on the web before they decide whether or not to contact you. Coupons, special offers, and practical information sent to your email list can encourage customers and prospects to buy from you or make repeat purchases.
  9. Never stop learning and trying new things. What’s profitable now, won’t necessarily be profitable next year or 10 years from now. So, don’t let yourself fall into the “this is the way I’ve always done things” rut. Keep your eyes and ears open for new things. Are there newer or better ways to market your products and services? Are customers asking for something you’re not offering? Is there a different type of customer you should be targeting? Get answers by reading everything you can about your industry and listening to your customers.

© 2018 Attard Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved. May not be reproduced, reprinted or redistributed without written permission from Attard Communications, Inc.

About the author:
Janet Attard is the founder of the award-winning  Business Know-How small business web site and information resource. Janet is also the author of The Home Office And Small Business Answer Book and of Business Know-How: An Operational Guide For Home-Based and Micro-Sized Businesses with Limited Budgets.  Follow Janet on Twitter and on LinkedIn

By dallaschamber Business Spotlight • DACC • Member News • • • • • 0 Comments

Member Spotlight – Pfaff-Karren Insurance

In 1947, John Pfaff opened John Pfaff & Co in downtown Independence. John had a reputation for his commitment and amazing personal service that he gave his clients and friends. As the agency grew, he took a partner: Thomas Karren. In the mid-1970’s, John’s son Tom joined the agency. John would retire in 1978, and Tom Pfaff and Tom Karren formed the newly named Pfaff-Karren Insurance. The agency moved into the brand new Central Plaza in 1980, where it’s still located today. Tom and his family are legendary supporters of both our community and Central High School sports. After 40 years in the insurance agency, Tom Pfaff decided to start his retirement process and sold the agency to Karen Frascone and Kristin Thomas.

We pride ourselves on having many 3rd and 4th generation clients, which speaks volumes to the continued commitment and personal service John Pfaff believed in.

Karen grew up on a dairy farm in Wisconsin. Both she and her husband Joe graduated from the University of Wisconsin, then spent a year hitchhiking through Europe. They came to Oregon in 1979, and settled in Dallas. She worked for the law firm of Shetterly, Irick and Shetterly in Dallas until 1998, and became a licensed life and health insurance agent in 2000. She joined Pfaff-Karren Insurance in the fall of 2010.

​In the process of building her client base in the early 2000s, Karen tried using colorful business cards and became the “lady with the purple business card.” She has been a member of the Salem Chamber of Commerce since 2001, and has served as a Chamber Ambassador. She has been appointed to the Board of the Monmouth Independence Chamber, and have assisted with fund raising for Partnerships in Community Living. Karen is one of two agents authorized to offer Sons of Norway insurance products in Oregon, and she is actively involved on the board of Thor Lodge, Salem Sons of Norway, as well as the Eugene Sons of Norway Sonja Lodge.

Karen and Joe still live in the first home they bought in Dallas in 1981. She loves to work on the yard and plant as many flowers as possible. They are passionate travelers, especially to Europe and anywhere tropical.

Kristin was raised in Polk County, graduating from Dallas High School. Before entering the insurance industry, Kristin worked for the State of Oregon. She became licensed in Life & Health and Property & Casualty in 2009, purchasing TNT Insurance Services LLC in 2014. She moved to Pfaff-Karren Insurance in June of 2016 with her assistant, Alondra Hernandez., The next year, she purchased Pfaff-Karren Insurance with her partner, Karen Frascone.

​Currently, Kristin lives in Dallas, and is the mother of 5 wonderful children, and loves being a grandma as well! She is active in her community in regards to improving the access and availability for human services. As a business owner, she is involved with Polk County Community Connect, Polk County Family & Community Outreach, and personally participates in the Mid-Valley Suicide Prevention Coalition.

We encourage you to stop in and say hello. As always the coffee is on and our door is open.

By dallaschamber Business Spotlight • DACC • Member News • • • • • 0 Comments

Member Spotlight – Pacific Power

At Pacific Power, we proudly serve more than 764,000 customers in 243 communities across Oregon, Washington and California.

We’ve been serving customers for over 100 years, and while a lot has changed during that time, our commitment to innovation has only grown stronger. That’s why we’re partnering with customers to help turn their aspirations into reality and create a better energy future for all of us.

Through grants, volunteerism and clean energy solutions, we strive to help communities and organizations turn their aspirations into reality.

We take seriously our responsibility to provide safe, reliable and affordable electric service to customers.  We’re also committed to providing accurate and timely information to communities, news media and others.  If you’re looking to move or expand your company — whether it’s to be near materials you need for manufacturing, or closer to end users of your product — we can help. We have spent the past century building relationships throughout the West.

By dallaschamber DACC • Marketing • Member News • • • • 0 Comments

Member Spotlight – The Grand Hotel

The Dallas Area Chamber of Commerce serves beyond the borders of the City walls of Dallas, Oregon.  Salem businesses have found value in being a part of our organization.  The Grand Hotel in Salem is one of those businesses.  Oversized, beautifully appointed, and newly renovated Hotel accommodations just over the bridge in Salem, Oregon.  The Grand Hotel features 193 luxurious and comfortable rooms and premier suites.  Headquarters hotel for the Salem Convention Center, they are a 100% non-smoking facility.  Their room settings are arranged perfectly for business and leisure travelers, conference attendees, small or large families and groups.  Proclaimed by many to definitely be the most elegant and spacious rooms in Salem, Oregon.  The team at The Grand Hotel invite you to transition from productivity to reward in the Willamette Valley’s most refined hotel.  The Hotel, Restaurant and Convention Center are all Earth WISE certified too, so the environmentalist in you can rest assured that while you bathe in luxury you are also helping to protect the environment.  If you are looking for a great meeting space, consider making your next meeting or event a success by using the myriad meeting spaces.  The Grand Hotel in Salem adjoins the Salem Convention Center with 30,000 square feet of meeting space, successfully hosting groups of anywhere from 5 to 1500 people.  Offering first-class catering and banquet services.  Be sure to look them up when you’re having some Salem adventures.

By dallaschamber DACC • Marketing • Networking • • • • • 0 Comments

What do Chamber Ambassadors do?

The Dallas Area Chamber Ambassadors are volunteers from the community that serve as the welcome committee for new members, help with membership campaigns and act as liaisons related to networking/social events sponsored by the Chamber.

As the Chamber’s member touch committee, the Ambassadors perform many important tasks for the Chamber. Most importantly, they help recruit and retain members, assisting the Chamber in meeting its membership goals for the year.

To become a Chamber Ambassador, an individual must be an employee of a Chamber member.

Chamber Ambassadors are active members of the Chamber who enjoy the benefits of the Chamber and have a desire to serve by sharing these benefits with others.

Chamber Ambassadors have the opportunity to participate in high-visibility networking throughout the year and are often recognized at Chamber events.

Chamber Ambassadors receive a Chamber Ambassador badge, which many consider an honor to wear.

Chamber Ambassadors are often the first Chamber members to learn of new programs and events being introduced to the community.

Chamber Ambassadors create business relationships with local businesses while serving the community.

Chamber Ambassadors are expected to attend Ribbon Cuttings, Grand Openings, Business After Hours Mixers and Wake Up Wednesday meetings.

If you have interest in being a part of this group of community catalysts email us at info@dallasoregon.org

By dallaschamber Business Spotlight • DACC • • • • 0 Comments

West Valley Hospital Member Spotlight

Why wait?  With 24/7 service and lower than average wait times than Salem Hospital, West Valley Hospital Emergency Room is a smart choice for Polk County.

Why choose West Valley Hospital for your imaging needs?

  • The Dallas hospital’s digital imaging capabilities are comparable with what is available in Salem and other larger metro areas, so you won’t need to sacrifice quality for convenience.
  • Other imaging centers in Polk County may not offer direct integration with MyChart, your digital medical record.
  • West Valley Hospital has 14 licensed technologists with more than 250 years of combined experience in medical imaging.
  • Physicians can view images digitally to get the most accurate measurements, assessments and diagnoses.

Salem Health Medical Clinics in Dallas, Monmouth and Independence

Salem Health offers neighborhood clinics where you and your family will find excellent health care and a warm atmosphere. Save time by finding a family-friendly clinic near you.

Services

West Valley Hospital and its affiliates offer services far beyond what you might expect from a small-town hospital. Explore many of our specialties and common services below. Keep in mind that many unlisted services may still be available from us or one of our partners around the Willamette Valley.  See site for details.

To learn more about all that this awesome healthcare resource has for you go to http://www.salemhealth.org/services/salem-health-west-valley