Can you build a growing small business in a declining small town?

It may be possible to build a growing small business in the midst of a declining small town. If so, it will be because we worked together.

The defining characteristics are:

• A small business,
• In a rural or small town setting,
• In a flat or shrinking economy and population.

The challenges include:

• Pressure from competitors in bigger cities,
• Pressure from competitors online, world wide,
• Scarce, or variable quality, resources to assist you locally,
• Tight labor supply, and a graying workforce,
• Lack of skills in your workforce,
• Isolation from your industry peers.

But for each challenge, there is also opportunity.

• The online market opens the world to you.
• Involvement in your community is your way to fight against decline.
• Land is usually cheap, compared to growing areas.
• Regulatory burdens tend to be lower than in well-developed regions.
• A little payroll usually goes a long way.
• Work ethic is usually high.

These are the issues and subjects this blog may cover in the coming months. Expect to see links, article summaries, and editorial comments. If this sounds like your new favorite subject, then hang on!

• About the Author
• Latest Posts

About Becky McCray

Becky started Small Biz Survival in 2006 to share rural business and community building stories and ideas with other small town business people. She and her husband have a small cattle ranch and are lifelong entrepreneurs. Becky is an international speaker on small business and rural topics.

• Rural tourism trends say small towns are still cool - March 27, 2023
• Move Your Money and Bank Local - March 22, 2023
• Using a building as a warehouse or storage in a small town? Put up a sign - March 13, 2023
• How to get customers in the door of small town and rural retail stores - February 19, 2023
• Check your small business website for outdated pandemic changes, missing info - January 31, 2023
• Rural Tourism Trend: electric vehicle chargers can drive visitors - January 15, 2023
• 2023 trends for rural and small town businesses - December 26, 2022
• Local reviews on Google Maps drive enduring value - December 17, 2022
• Extra agritourism revenue from camping, cabins and RVs with HipCamp - December 12, 2022
• Harvest Hosts attract vanlifers and RV tourists, Boondockers Welcome - December 2, 2022