With national unemployment rates peaking and unfavorable economic conditions, the last thing many would think about is starting a business.
But for the community of Brownwood, these obstacles don’t seem to phase them. The Chamber of Commerce holds regular small business workshops, usually with a packed audience.
Randy Thomas, of the Small Business Development Center, calls Brownwood a “business friendly market”.
“I think right now is a real advantageous time to start a business in this market, especially in the Brownwood and Brown County areas, because you got a very receptive political climate here”, says Thomas.
An example of a small business start-up that’s used Brownwood as a launching pad is Common Grounds Deli and Coffee. Opening just last year, this family-run business brewed up their recipe for success with ingredients such as: a thorough business plan, financial projections, and a lot of sweat equity.
“They had done a survey to see what was lacking here, and something people wanted was a coffee house. So, we put the two together, the coffee house and the delicatessen, and the community has been very good to us”, says Marco Sandoval (pictured above), Common Grounds owner.
Advice for those looking to go into business? “Do it while you’re still young, cause you don’t want to get too old and regret it and say ‘Well, I should have done it, what if'”, Sandoval tells us.
The Small Business Administration says that the top reason for business start-up failure is due to lack of planning. Companies like Common Grounds are living proof that new businesses can thrive, even in the current state of the economy.
For more information about business start-ups or the SBA, click here. For full story and video click here.
