Resources

Proper finances and bookkeeping are cornerstones to successful business ownership. The links below should help business owners keep things on track.

• Know Your Number$ Webinar Series – These financial literacy webinar shorts are guided VtSBDC staff with the goal to empower entrepreneurs to feel confident in their financials.
• Creating Monthly Financial Projections – Monthly Projections are an important tool for running your business in “normal times”. During the pandemic, they are doubly so. Follow this link for examples, worksheets and explanations.
• Cash Flow Template – Appropriately predicting cashflows is the best way to plan for your business’s future. This comprehensive workbook will show HOW cash is flowing.
• Year-End Accounting Checklist – To help with the process of preparing your year-end items for your tax preparer, this complete checklist will empower you to understand your business’ financial picture and know the important questions to ask.

Business planning can be the key to turning a great idea into a successful business venture. The links below provide some of the tools to help get you there.

• Business Plan Template – A business plan is the cornerstone of your business. It’s essential for financing, strategic planning, management and more.
• Business Model Canvas – This video, from the creator of the Business Model Canvas, will walk you through the importance of this tool and how to use it.
• Business Model Canvas Template – The business model canvas is a quick way to see the key components that make up your business in one snapshot. There are many templates online, one free advisor recommended BMC builder is canvanizer.com.
• Business Planning Book
• Business Plan Worksheet

Here are some start-up resources. More information and reviews from our clients on our 

• Start Your Own Business Guide – Step by step guide for successfully starting a business in Vermont
• Does it Have Legs? – A visual to help you contemplate if your business has what it takes to stand and survive.
• Start Your Own Business Workshop – This beginners workshop will help prepare you to meet with an advisor and start your business on the right foot.
  

Having a marketing and sales plan is integral to your small business success. The links below provide some important resources for ensuring your marketing efforts are maximized.

• Marketing Plan Template – An effective marketing/communications plan will help you create awareness of your business, build relationships with your stakeholders, and will ultimately generate leads for your products or services.
• Online Presence Guide – No matter what stage of business you’re in, this tool will offer best practices for your website and help set you up for success as you continue to refine your online presence.
• How to Use Your Business Story – The typical elevator speech starts out “Here is what we do and who we are…” Instead, we want to write this version from the customer’s viewpoint.
• Google my Business Guide – This info sheet gives a quick guide to Google’s free analysis of what Google my Business looks like.
• Know Your Social: Facebook Expert tips on the key elements of a Facebook Business Page, and what makes a good Facebook post, will help make your social media efforts more engaging and effective for your business.
• Know Your Social: Instagram Expert tips on the key elements of an Instagram Business Page, and what makes a good Instagram post, will help make your social media efforts more engaging and effective for your business.
• Know Your Social: Linkedin Expert tips on the key elements of an Linkedin Business Page, and what makes a good Linkedin post, will help make your social media efforts more engaging and effective for your business.

Solid management and efficient business operations can be a challenge for many small business owners. The links below provide tools to ease that burden and ensure your business runs smoothly.

• Strategic Planning Guide – Map out your written plan to help your business reach specific goals, objectives and define your purpose
• Business Management Matrix – There are many layers to running a business and it’s important to know where your strengths and weaknesses lie. 
• Entrepreneur’s Weekly Schedule – Time is the most valuable resource you have. No matter what stage of business you are at, it’s important to consider how your personal life fits with your business responsibilities.

We understand COVID-19 has created stressful conditions on your business and you may have difficult decisions ahead as you consider the best options for you, your business, employees & customers.

• COVID Grant and Loan Dashboard – To help business owners document and organize important information on each loan and grant your business has receive.
• Disaster COVID-19 Business Lending & Grants (State & Federal) – For detailed information, including eligibility, deadlines, and how to access COVID-19 related federal, state, regional loans & grants.
• 2021 COVID-19 Roadmap – As a business owner, you will have to continuously assess and respond as the pandemic impacts your staff and your customers. Staying informed and nimble is key.
• Disaster Recovery Guide – Surviving any disaster is complex. We have created a 72-page bound workbook containing all the steps needed post-disaster to create the most successful and sustainable outcome for Vermont’s businesses.

Managing staff and human resources obligations is a challenge many small business face, especially once they decide to hire employees. The links below provide answers to many of your human resources questions.

• Vermont Department of Labor – Follow this link to find the Vermont Department of Labor webpage which is comprised of four major divisions; Workforce Development, Labor Market Information, Unemployment Insurance, and Workers’ Compensation & Workplace Safety.
• Hiring Best Practices – Follow this link to go to SBA.gov to find ways to establish a basic payroll structure to help you hire employees and how to manage employees properly with a general understanding of state and federal labor laws.