Published: March 19, 2008 09:51 am      

Officials hear from economic development consultant

OAKLAND — For almost three years, small businesses in Garrett County have had the advice and assistance of someone who had “been there, done that and got the T-shirt,” Bev Williams, small business consultant, said.

“I’ve been self-employed for 20 years,” Williams said. “I helped others with their business.”

Williams gave a review of her position with the county’s economic development to the commissioners Tuesday.

She said her role is to advise and consult with area businesses. Some, she said, contact her when they are just starting up while others seek her out when they are running into problems operating their business.

She said that many people who have the skills to do a certain job do not always have the entrepreneurial skills to oversee it or manage accounts and finances. She also said that many go in unprepared for the taxes and costs they incur in owning their own business.

One of the most important things the average business owner often neglects to do, Williams said, is a business plan. Some feel they do not need one as they are not financing their business through a bank, which she considers a guide to where a business is planning to go.

“I ask them how they’re going to go anywhere without a road map,” Williams said.

This is one of the biggest mistakes businesses make, she said, if for no other reason than when they might need a line of credit in an emergency situation, a business plan cannot be drafted in a short amount of time.

Williams also has worked on creating entrepreneurship workshops and classes, but she said some of the work she does with businesses lasts only as long as a 5-minute phone call.

“We do quality control checks on Bev,” Jim Hinebaugh, director of economic development, said. “We’ve had very good, excellent feedback on her.”

Fred Holliday, commissioner, said he wished she had been available 20 years ago to have given him counseling on his business. He said he always felt there were things he didn’t do right or he could have done better.

Williams joked she would have liked to have someone to turn to when she was operating her own business. She added that she is not the only one available to businesses, as she is working out a Business-to-Business mentor program.

In contacting retired business owners, she said she found willing mentors for start-ups in the county, and already has two participating mentors.

Contact Sarah Moses at smoses@times-news.com.