Entrepreneurs from Walworth County and surrounding rural communities gathered September 21, at Gateway Technical College for the free Small Business Clinic, a full day of workshops and networking designed to help small businesses start, strengthen, and grow.
The free event brought together lenders, economic development organizations, business advisers, government agencies, and entrepreneurial support providers. The recurring Small Business Clinics take place in various cities across Wisconsin and are supported by Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC), the Universities of Wisconsin Office of Business & Entrepreneurship (OBE), and the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI).
Participants had lots of positive feedback about the event. One attendee said, “I am really blown away by how much we are getting for free. It’s fantastic!” Another shared, “As a person who doesn’t own a small business, but is a team member of a small business, it’s very informative. I am enjoying myself a lot.”
Focusing on finances and capital
One of the most popular workshops was the Funding Resources Panel. The discussion featured staff from Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corporation (WWBIC), Associated Bank, the Small Business Administration’s Wisconsin District Office, and the Walworth County Economic Development Alliance (WCEDA). Panelists discussed financing options and ways to prepare before approaching a lender.
Lenders from Associated Bank stressed the value of being able to educate those at the event who were in need of financing. “Helping our business customers go through the hurdles of lending – they’re thinking it’s a scary proposition, but it’s not.”
Get the inside scoop from the lenders themselves about the event
Wendy Potratz, Financial Consultant at OBE, hosted the Financial Records and Strategy session, giving participants tools for understanding financial statements and using business metrics to guide decisions. One attendee said, “She talked about billing and making sure you get your invoices out right when the job is complete. It was excellent advice.”
Listen to other great feedback on the value of the session and the event
Making sure it’s all legal
Small Business Tax Basics, presented by the Wisconsin Department of Revenue, covered common filing requirements, sales and use tax responsibilities, and tips to stay compliant and avoid common mistakes.
The UW-Madison Law & Entrepreneurship Clinic (L&E) helped attendees understand basics of small business law such as contracts, intellectual property, and employment law. The L& E Clinic also offers assistance through the SSBCI program to eligible entrepreneurs, such as those located in rural communities.
Bringing assistance directly to the entrepreneurs
Throughout the day, entrepreneurs could schedule one-on-one consultations, attend educational sessions, and visit resource-provider tables. An LLC Formation Lab offered hands-on assistance for people establishing a limited liability company. That model reflects the effort to bring business assistance into communities rather than requiring entrepreneurs to navigate a network of organizations on their own.
Learn about the “electric” and “welcoming” atmosphere of the event
Another favorite session, led by OBE SSBCI Specialist and Wisconsin SBDC consultant Nora Roughen-Schmidt, introduced the Business Model Canvas creation as a way for entrepreneurs to practice defining their customers, value proposition, and business strategy. Courtney Cohen Zubow, owner of Mannah Culture, said, “I realized even though I am already in business, I can still develop a business plan that will actually help me refine how we’re going to be moving forward.”
Listen to more insights on the value of the business planning session
Additional sessions on digital marketing, SBA resources, growth strategies, and business support systems all provided practical tools and knowledge entrepreneurs could use in their own realms.
Understanding AI use in small business
The day’s programming also included two sessions on artificial intelligence. Leveraging AI explained practical AI strategies for efficiency and marketing. From Prompt to Profit gave attendees a practical framework for turning AI use into consistent business workflow processes. For rural businesses with limited staff and resources, technologies that reduce administrative or repetitive work tasks or expand reach can potentially help owners accomplish more without expanding their workforce.
Keeping it local
A highlight of the day was a local entrepreneur panel led by Robin Walker of the Women’s Business Workshop, giving participants an opportunity to hear directly from business owners in the local economy. Panelists answered questions about overcoming obstacles, increasing visibility, and other topics. Dr. Kimberly Jarvis from All Career Matters shared one of her favorite secrets to success: prioritize tasks by importance for better time management; James Kyle from Millenium stressed treating people like people to build relationships and trust; and David Redford from Friends Coffee Co. mentioned the importance of continuing to learn as an entrepreneur, especially when it comes to scaling and rebuilding.
The Small Business Clinic’s message was practical: entrepreneurs do not have to navigate challenges alone. By putting local lenders, advisers, and support organizations in the same place as the business owners they serve, the event created a direct connection between rural entrepreneurs and the tools they need to succeed.
