Starting Your Own Business

On Saturday, Feb. 13, 10 a.m.– noon, Brad Rickelman, Assistant Director of the Meridian Technology Center's Center for Business Development, is holding another session of “How to Start a Business." The class, which will be held at the library, teaches potential business owners the essential details necessary to begin their own start-ups.

Brad has taught the class two or three times a year over the past several years and if I were thinking about starting a business, I would not do so without first attending Brad's class. He really knows what he is talking about and is entertaining to boot!

Students attending the class will learn how to create a focus for their business, research financial requirements, determine the revenues needed to offset expenses, hiring the right team, handling marketing and advertising, searching competition and reviewing the requirements for a business loan application.

For anyone who cannot attend the class or would like to read more about starting a business, the library has a rather large collection of books on all facets of the topic. Because business owners are often very busy, we urge you to check our digital collection of e-books available day and night for free on Oklahoma Virtual Library. Some especially helpful step by step titles include:

"Practical Financial Management: A Guide to Budgets, Balance Sheets and Business Finance" by Colin Barrow, which introduces basic financial literacy to budding entrepreneurs.

"Starting a Successful Business: Choose a Business, Plan Your Business, Manage Operations" by Michael Morris, which provides the information that business owners who fail within a year usually do not consider. The book covers how to turn a new  idea into a stable and profitable business and takes the reader through each important step of the start-up process.

The digital library also includes modern business classics, such as one of my favorite, "Start with Why" by Simon Sinek, which helps leaders determine the purpose behind their business or organization. It is a process that helps focus your efforts and inspire you, the people you work with, and your customers.

These books are available to borrow with a Stillwater Public Library card. You can browse the collection from our website.

“How to Start a Business" is free and open to the public. Registration is required, but will be taken up to the day before the class. To sign-up,  go to the registration tab on the library's website at library.stillwater.org, email askalibrarian@stillwater.org or call 405-372-3633 x 8106.