Entrepreneurs, You Don’t Have to Figure It Out Alone
One thing entrepreneurship will teach you quickly is that you don't know what you don't know.
You can have the idea, the business name, the logo, the social media pages and even customers. But actually building a business comes with questions that a motivational quote or a quick Google search can't always answer.
As an entrepreneur myself, I've learned that you don't get extra points for trying to figure everything out alone. Sometimes the smartest business decision you can make is asking for help.
That's why organizations like The Foundry are so important to Buffalo's entrepreneurial community.
The Foundry is a community makerspace on Buffalo's East Side that provides entrepreneurship, education, workforce development and hands-on learning opportunities. For entrepreneurs, that support includes business development, mentorship, affordable workspace and access to resources that can help turn an idea into something sustainable.
One resource entrepreneurs should know about is its monthly Small Business Legal Clinic.
If you're looking to form an LLC or have legal questions about your business, the clinic gives you an opportunity to sit down one-on-one with a legal expert and talk about your specific situation.
And I LOVE that. Because we tell people to start businesses all the time. "Go get your LLC."
Okay...but then what? Do you understand what you're filing? Do you know what should be included in your contracts? Are you protecting yourself and your business? What happens when someone sends you an agreement and you don't understand half of what's in it?
These are the conversations entrepreneurs need to have. The legal clinic is held on the fourth Thursday of each month from noon until 6 PM by appointment, giving business owners access to guidance on matters including LLC formation and contracts.
The program is a collaboration between The Foundry, The Exchange at Beverly Gray and the Small Business Legal Clinic, with funding support from the Regional Revitalization Partnership.
I also love seeing organizations collaborate instead of entrepreneurs having to navigate everything alone. The Exchange at Beverly Gray has become another valuable resource for business owners, connecting entrepreneurs with coaching, business development, funding assistance, MWBE support and specialized services.
That's what supporting small businesses should look like.Not simply telling people to become entrepreneurs, but making sure they have resources, information, access and guidance once they take the leap.
Entrepreneurship can already be challenging enough. There is no reason to struggle through something by yourself when resources exist right here in our community. So if forming your LLC has been sitting on your to-do list, or you have legal questions you've been afraid to ask, make the appointment today.
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