1. iCAST International Center for Appropriate and Sustainable Technology SBA Technical Assistance Helping Remove Challenges and Barriers of a Small Business http://www.icastusa.org

2. iCAST International Center for Appropriate and Sustainable Technology iCAST International Center for Appropriate and Sustainable Technology. Mission: “to provide economic, environmental, and social benefits to economically disadvantaged businesses and communities while providing education and training that builds local capacity.”

3. iCAST International Center for Appropriate and Sustainable Technology Services Offered iCAST specializes in providing technical assistance for small businesses in: Renewables Energy Efficiency Technology Engineering Organizational Evaluations Green Buildings

4. iCAST International Center for Appropriate and Sustainable Technology Challenges & Barriers iCAST provides solutions through partnerships with clients seeking support for small business challenges and barriers. Your success is our success!

5. iCAST International Center for Appropriate and Sustainable Technology Identifying Areas of Concern Not enough funds or access to funds Organizational problems Location / Visibility Hiring the right people Lack of Sales Marketing & Advertising aren’t working Failure to adapt to a changing market Technology Issues

6. iCAST International Center for Appropriate and Sustainable Technology Not Enough Funds or Access to Line of Credit Verify you are following your business plan Review and reduce expenses Make sure your expectations are realistic Work with Small Business Development Centers Research banks who specialize in supporting small business Start slow and don’t spend all your cash up front Create a cash flow report and review it often

7. iCAST International Center for Appropriate and Sustainable Technology Organizational Problems Set up a filing system and use it Follow your business plan Use project management tools Don’t reinvent the wheel Make sure you aren’t too top heavy – Too many leaders and not enough workers equals failure Talk with mentors and coaches to prevent issues before they happen (iCAST is here to help!)

8. iCAST International Center for Appropriate and Sustainable Technology Location & Visibility Location Join other small businesses to afford a premium location Set up business in a high traffic area Put your location on all collateral Attend networking sessions Get out and meet people

9. iCAST International Center for Appropriate and Sustainable Technology Hiring the Right Staff Spend the extra time to screen all resumes – don’t just glance over Conduct phone interviews Ask for referrals Hire an outsourcing agency Be prepared with an interview template Ask the tough questions – examples Call all references Ask “Is there anything else I should know about you?” Conduct Back Ground Checks Seek candidates with motivation and “can do” attitudes Don’t be rushed into your selection

10. iCAST International Center for Appropriate and Sustainable Technology Lack of Sales Practice on friends and family Create a forecast of what is needed to meet financials Hire commission sales personnel Incentivize the sales team Network, network, network Know your competition Research sales solutions on the internet Sign up for sales training in your industry

11. iCAST International Center for Appropriate and Sustainable Technology Marketing & Advertising Suggestions Review various types of marketing materials Identify what marketing and advertising initiatives work for you Make sure you have the right message Outsource if you don’t have the experience on staff Track various methods to see what works best Create numerous options to select from Get the opinion of others before you go to print Tell the truth

12. iCAST International Center for Appropriate and Sustainable Technology Pay attention to the political environment and support Understand supply and demand If the strategy isn’t working, change it Research the industry Listen to your clients Be flexible and willing to change Be willing to over haul your business Track preferences and buying trends Failure to Adapt to a Changing Market

13. iCAST International Center for Appropriate and Sustainable Technology Technology Issues Purchase new hardware and software Replace defective equipment Purchase enough equipment Ensure employees have the proper training Create a Technology Road Map for growth Create an inventory tracking sheet Know when to renew licenses Ensure security

14. iCAST International Center for Appropriate and Sustainable Technology Standard Operating Procedures & Process Re-Engineering Create Standard Operating Procedures for business tasks Document End-to-End processes Cross train for better use of resources Identify what’s working and what’s not working Update and revamp SOP’s and Processes to keep current Stop doing what doesn’t work!

15. iCAST International Center for Appropriate and Sustainable Technology What if You Don’t Know the Answer? Look it up on the internet Talk to experts Work with iCAST or your local SBDC Do something about the problem early on - don’t wait Give it your best shot using creativity Read books Be open minded and don’t believe everything you hear

16. iCAST International Center for Appropriate and Sustainable Technology Quality & Safety is Critical Quality inspections will ensure you are performing quality work Customer Service Surveys Quality service = more business OSHA Safety Standards for Small Businesses OSHA Certified 10/30

17. iCAST International Center for Appropriate and Sustainable Technology Flexibility & Change Know when to make a change or who to talk to when business is not going well (iCAST is here to help) Flexibility is the key to a changing market Diversify so you don’t put all your eggs in one basket Listen to your customers and investigate your competition for changes in the market place

18. iCAST International Center for Appropriate and Sustainable Technology Continuous Learning Sign up for webinars and attend online classes. Utilize Youtube and other internet websites Look for free opportunities Attend Conferences in you industry to both learn and network Upgrade your skills and be open to learn new skills Share knowledge amongst employees Call others to see what worked and what didn’t work for them

19. iCAST International Center for Appropriate and Sustainable Technology Thank You! Any Questions?

20. iCAST International Center for Appropriate and Sustainable Technology Chris Stoneman (Chris@icastusa.org)(Chris@icastusa.org) iCAST (International Center for Appropriate & Sustainable Technology) www.icastusa.org 777 S. Wadsworth Blvd. 4-205 Lakewood, CO 80226 1.866.590.4377 X 802

21. iCAST International Center for Appropriate and Sustainable Technology International Center for Appropriate and Sustainable Technology SBA Disclaimer This U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Cooperative Agreement is partially funded by the SBA. SBA's funding is not and endorsement of any products, opinions or services. All SBA funded programs are extended to the public on a non- discriminatory basis.