VancouverBusinessResource.org
WHERE SW WASHINGTON BUSINESSES GO TO GROW

Expanding your business successfully

depends on many factors.

When you are ready to take your business
to the next level, we're here to help.

Below you'll find questions to ask yourself,

resources to make good decisions and the

folks to help you make it happen.

Strategic Planning

Do you have a master plan and a plan for growth for your business?
Contact an advisor:
http://www.wsbdc.org
www.scorevancouver.org
http://www.wsbdc.org/business-plans

Relocating

Do you want to locate your business in Clark County?
Access industrial database:
http://www.credc.org

Access city locations:
Vancouver: www.cityofvancouver.us
Camas: http://www.ci.camas.wa.us/
Washougal: www.cityofwashougal.us
Ridgefield: www.ci.ridgefield.wa.us
Battle Ground: www.cityofbg.org

Learn about Clark County:
http://www.credc.org
http://www.visitvancouverusa.com/
http://www.choosewashington.com
http://www.co.clark.wa.us/Property-Information.html
http://www.cityofvancouver.us/
http://www.co.clark.wa.us/index.asp
http://www.dowegetit.com/about-us/
Do you know about incentives for reocating your business in Clark County?
Find out if you are eligible for relocation incentive programs:
http://www.credc.org
Do you know how to do a location analysis?
Determine the best location for your business:
http://www.wsbdc.org
http://www.scorevancouver.org
www.sizeup.com

Do a lease analysis vs current market:
http://www.scorevancouver.org
http://www.wsbdc.org
http://www.ccim.com

Evaluate whether it is time to lease or buy:
http://www.scorevancouver.org
http://www.wsbdc.org
http://www.bankrate.com/calculators/mortgages/rent-or-buy-home.aspx

Financing Growth

Do you need help finding the money to grow?

Washington State Small Business Development Center
Mercy Corps Northwest

Mission/Services: Mercy Corps Northwest works to assist motivated low-income individuals improve their lives through starting or expanding a small business. We provide small business loans and access to online mentor services that help clients increase their economic self-sufficiency through self-employment.
Website: http://www.mercycorpsnw.org
Email: loans@mercycorpsnw.org
Phone number: 206-547-5212
Minority Business Center
Mission/Services: Professional business and financial consulting services to increase the competitiveness of minority businesses.
Website: http://www.mbecwa.com
Email: rhondad@mbecwa.com
Phone number: (206) 267-3131
New Equity Business
Mission/Services: Website to find small business financing products, learn about important small business financing news and information, and connect to consultants who can assist in accessing these financing products.
Website: http://www.newequitybusiness.com
Email: info@newequitybusiness.com
Phone number: (312) 850-0600

Managing Workers

Do you know how to recruit and interview employees?
Learn how to interview and avoid legal pitfalls:
http://www.esd.wa.gov/hireanemployee/index2.php
Do you know the difference between employee and Independent Contractor?
Read guidelines for independent contractors:
http://www.esd.wa.gov/uitax/taxreportsandrates/whoandwhattoreport/independent-contractors.php
Do your workers need training?
Identify training needs and create a plan:
www.clark.edu
http://www.swwdc.org/
Are you having trouble finding qualified workers?
Identify your needs:
http://www.esd.wa.gov/
https://fortress.wa.gov/esd/worksource/employer/emplogin.aspx
http://www.wa.gov/esd/calendar.htm
http://www.commerce.wa.gov/smallbizhelp/
Do you expect to layoff workers?
Find out about options:
http://www.esd.wa.gov/
Do you know your rights as an employer when you fire or layoff employees?
Learn about employers rights and obligations:
http://www.esd.wa.gov/
http://www.esd.wa.gov/hireanemployee/layoffs/get-help-with-layoffs.php
Do you need help with labor negotiations?
Find out arbitration and negotiation services:
http://www.dol.gov/dol/topic/labor-relations/index.htm
http://www.lawyers.com/Washington/Vancouver/browse-by-area-of-law.html
Do you have an overall human resources plan or need a consultant?
Develop human resource policies and procedures:
http://www.wsbdc.org/hr
http://www.vancouverusa.com/
Do you know how much to pay workers?
Use the State's wage database:
http://www.workforceexplorer.com/cgi/dataanalysis/?PAGEID=4&SUBID=146
http://www.lni.wa.gov/workplacerights/wages/minimum/
Do you know if you meet Americans with Disabilities Act requirements?
Find out what accommodations your business must make to meet the needs of disabled individuals:
http://www.dol.gov/dol/topic/disability/ada.htm
http://www.ada.gov/
Do you know when you can afford to hire?
Do an analysis of production capa:
http://www.wsbdc.org
www.scorevancouver.org
Do you know when to hire people or automate?
Do a time/cost benefit analysis:
http://www.wsbdc.org
www.scorevancouver.org

Managing Risk

Do you have the required insurance?
Find out how about federal and state health care:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/health-care/
http://www.dshs.wa.gov/health.shtml
http://www.sba.gov/content/health-care-health-care-reform

Learn what industrial insurance is required for employees:
http://www.lni.wa.gov
http://www.myownbusiness.org/s5/

Find out how what you need (General Liability, truck and auto, etc.):
http://insurancehelp.cpcusociety.org/
http://www.myownbusiness.org/s5/
http://www2.iii.org/small-business-guide/
Do you have a risk management plan?
Avoid unnecessary risk by planning ahead:
http://www.wsbdc.org
www.scorevancouver.org
Do you have a disaster plan?
Check for available information:
http://cresa911.org/
Have you protected intellectual property?
Tradenames: http://bls.dor.wa.gov/tradename.aspx
Trademarks: www.uspto.gov
Patents: www.uspto.gov
Copyrights: http://copyright.gov/
http://www.uspto.gov/smallbusiness/
Does your legal entity need to change?
Periodically evaluate your legal structure to make sure it is still appropriate for your business:
http://access.wa.gov/business/checklist/checklist1.aspx
http://www.lawyers.com/Washington/Vancouver/browse-by-area-of-law.html

Marketing

Do you want to expand market segments?
Investigate selling to the government:
http://www.thurstonedc.com/Page.aspx?hid=190
http://www.sba.gov
http://www.wsbdc.org
www.scorevancouver.org
Create a marketing plan to get and keep more customers:
http://www.wsbdc.org
http://www.scorevancouver.org
www.clark.edu
Are you getting in front of your customers and building relationships?
Join local networking groups:
http://www.vancouverwabusiness.com/
www.vdausa.org
www.vancouvernetworkingevents.com
Battle Ground Chamber of Commerce Home

Camas Washougal Chamber of Commerce > Home

Clark County Chamber of Commerce, Vancouver, Washington USA

Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce
East Vancouver Business Association
Do you have an advertising plan or strategy?
Develop a strategy to get the best return on your advertising dollars:
http://www.wsbdc.org
www.scorevancouver.org
Do you need advertising tools?
Seek out useful tools:
http://www.wsbdc.org
www.scorevancouver.org
http://www.vancouverusa.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=43&Itemid=38

Shop Ridgefield On-Line Directory http://mygovhelp.info/ridgefieldwa/_cs/supporthome.aspx?sSessionID=198361852[PNJDQWQOEFT[KOXJEOXBMGWUNNZVMP
Do you know how to use social media?
Take a class:
www.clark.edu
http://www.wsbdc.org
www.scorevancouver.org

Talk to an advisor:
http://www.wsbdc.org
Do you need a marketing / social media consultant?
Search through the Chamber of Commerce:
http://www.vancouverusa.com/index.php

Permitting for Construction

Determine your jurisdiction:
http://gis.clark.wa.gov/applications/gishome/property/index.cfm?fuseaction=showproperty&CFID=32118&CFTOKEN=30899952
Check with the jurisdiction to verify what permits are required.
Vancouver: City of Vancouver, Washington, USA
Battle Ground: http://www.cityofbg.org/leftLinks/forms.php
Clark County: http://www.co.clark.wa.us/Permits-Licenses.html
Camas: http://www.ci.camas.wa.us/pworks/building.htm
Ridgefield: http://www.ci.ridgefield.wa.us/resources/formsMapsDocuments.htm
Washougal: http://www.cityofwashougal.us/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=251&Itemid=74

Exporting

Do you want more information on how to export?
http://www.wsbdc.org
http://www.sba.gov/
http://www.choosewashington.com/business/export/Pages/default.aspx

Expanding your business successfully

depends on many factors.

When you are ready to take your business to the next level, we're here to help.

Below you'll find questions to ask yourself,

resources to make good decisions and the

folks to help you make it happen.

Do you have a master plan and a plan for growth for your business?

Do you want to locate your business in Clark County?

Do you know about incentives for reocating your business in Clark County?

Do you know how to do a location analysis?

Do you need help finding the money to grow?

Mercy Corps Northwest

Minority Business Center

New Equity Business

Do you know how to recruit and interview employees?

Do you know the difference between employee and Independent Contractor?

Do your workers need training?

Are you having trouble finding qualified workers?

Do you expect to layoff workers?

Do you know your rights as an employer when you fire or layoff employees?

Do you need help with labor negotiations?

Do you have an overall human resources plan or need a consultant?

Do you know how much to pay workers?

Do you know if you meet Americans with Disabilities Act requirements?

Do you know when you can afford to hire?

Do you know when to hire people or automate?

Do you have the required insurance?

Do you have a risk management plan?

Do you have a disaster plan?

Have you protected intellectual property?

Does your legal entity need to change?

Do you want to expand market segments?

Create a marketing plan to get and keep more customers:

Are you getting in front of your customers and building relationships?

Do you have an advertising plan or strategy?

Do you need advertising tools?

Do you know how to use social media?

Do you need a marketing / social media consultant?

Determine your jurisdiction:

Check with the jurisdiction to verify what permits are required.

Do you want more information on how to export?

When you are ready to take your business
to the next level, we're here to help.