Houston County
Entrepreneurship Project
How to Start a Small Home-based
Business
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Recruit Project Planning Team
• Houston county chamber of commerce,
director
• Economic development committee
representative
• Attorney
• Bank representative
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Project Planning Team Cont.
• Minister
• Child care center, director
• Local workforce board representative
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Project Team Training
• Attend a 2-day volunteer training
– Curriculum training
– Project team duties/responsibilities
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Project Team Planning…
Working on the Logistics
• Review project objectives
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Project Team Planning…
Working on the Logistics
• Plan Houston county entrepreneurship project
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Workshop design/format
Select subjects/topics
Speakers available
Select time, date, place
Target audience
Accessibility
Publicity
Refreshment
Sponsorship/budget
Teaching schedule
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Publicity and Marketing
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News releases
Radio
Brochures
Flyers
Pre-registration & deadlines
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Marketing Plans
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Texas department of human services offices
Deep east Texas workforce
Limited income housing areas
Cable/TV
Local churches
– Bulletins, announcements
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Marketing Plans Cont.
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Beauty shops
Laundry mats
Women shelters
Media
– Radio, newspaper
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Workshop Topics
• Balancing work and family life
• Writing a business plan
• Marketing a new business
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Workshop Topics Cont.
• Setting the right price
• Customer satisfaction
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Materials Needed
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Curriculum material for teachers
Handouts
Notebooks for each participant
Copy paper
Audio visuals
Equipment (power point)
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Materials Needed Cont.
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Extension cords
Evaluation
Pen/pencils
Refreshments
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Class… Details That Matter
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Room arrangement
P.A. System
Screen VS wall
Scheduled breaks
Moderator for each day
Questions/answers
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Results
• Reached 31 Individuals & completed
project
– 14 Blacks (10 females, 4 males)
– 16 Whites (12 females, 4 males)
– 1 Hispanic (female)
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Results Cont.
• Three (3) Started a Small Home Based
Business
– Creative Art (home furnishing)
– Trucking
– Hair Care Products/Accessories
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Results Cont.
• Six (6) trained volunteers
• Texas A&M Lifescapes magazine (fall 2002)
– “Rural entrepreneurs prospers”
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Future Plans
• Job preparedness workshop series
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How to get a job
How to fill out a job application
Interviewing process
Dressing for interviews
You’ve got the job… now what?
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Willie Mae Phillips
County Extension Agent
Family and Consumer Sciences
401 East Goliad Avenue Suite 102
Crockett, TX 75835
(936) 544-3255 Ext. 265
Fax: (936) 544-5321
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