Free classes help you start new business, improve old one

By: Holly Ramsey | McDowell News
Published: February 18, 2012

A “REAL” opportunity is being offered to anyone interested in starting a business or improving an existing one.

Rural Entrepreneurs through Action Learning (REAL), a series of entrepreneurship classes, begins Monday at 6 p.m. at the Historic Marion Depot.

Freddie Killough, director of the Marion Business Association, will conduct the eight-week course, which is free to the public and runs each Monday, consecutively.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for anyone starting a home-based business to learn the basics of running one,” Killough said. “We encourage individuals to start out this way, get a foundation going and then let it grow into a retail or service establishment.”

The event is being sponsored by the Marion Business Association and McDowell Tech Small Business Center. Each course is three hours.

Killough said attendants will learn how to set goals, manage money, market a business and more.

“These classes are not lectures,” she stated. “There will be hands-on activities, interactions with current business owners and a lot of useful information being offered. Folks just need to be willing to learn when they come, and ready to have a good time.”

Individuals will also get the opportunity to form and present a business plan.

The course was offered last fall, Killough stated, and of those who attended, 10 completed the course.

“Those who finish will receive a certificate for their efforts,” said Killough.

One of the 10 to finish was Shane Harris, owner of Gloss Werks, a local floor cleaning business.

“I decided to take this course to improve my business, which has been up and running for eight years,” Harris told The McDowell News.

Harris said he received a lot of useful information and was also able to help others just starting out by providing his own “in-business” perspective.

“I received help with budgeting, servicing clients’ needs and expanding my profit margin,” he stated. “I applied this to Gloss Werks and the results were good.”

Registration for the classes is not required. For more information, call Killough at 652-2215.