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Whether You are Starting a New Business or Wishing to Grow Your Existing Business,
Your Path to Success Begins Here!
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Call the Chamber of Commerce TODAY at 740-393-1111 to schedule a confidential appointment with the executive director, Carol Grubaugh.
The Knox County Chamber of Commerce is dedicated to working with businesses from home-based to larger corporations. Supporting entrepreneurs as they make their first steps to owning a business and fostering existing business growth with the benefit of our free business counseling.
The Chamber seeks to develop businesses in all phases of development. We work with those wanting to start a business and existing businesses.
A free consultation is available so we can learn more about your products and services and direct your path to Open For Business!
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First Steps
You are on your way to creating a new business! Here are some of the first steps you need to take to make your business dreams a reality!
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Who is Your Professional Team?
Before starting your business, be sure to have your professional team in place. Your professional team includes:
Attorney
Banker
Certified Public Accountant
Financial Planner
Insurance Agent
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Villages in Knox County, Ohio
Our thriving villages are a great place to open your business. You can explore all of Knox County. To learn more about our community, visit the Knox County Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Bladensburg
Brinkhaven and Gann
Centerburg
Danville
Fredericktown
Gambier
Howard
Martinsburg
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Starter Questions
Who are you wanting to target?
For your target audience, you want have have a set range for: age, location, gender, and ethnicity. Make sure to keep each area niche, you cannot target everyone within a town. Don't forget word of mouth will help grow your business. You cannot create a successful business without knowing who you want to see in your business.
Problem and Solution VS. Opportunity
Is the product or service that is being sold through your business helping a problem within your set audience or is it an opportunity for them and you? For example, coffee or flowers is an opportunity for customers. In contrast, a repair service is a problem-to-solution service.
Competitors and Location
What does the market look like for your product or service? Are you going to be trying to fight with more or less competition? What is going to make you stand out among competitors that are already established? Are your prices not only affordable but competitive? Location MATTERS! Are potential customers going to be able to find and access your storefront easily? Are there organizations that will help with accessibility? Is it in a good area? Is parking and traffic going to be an issue to enter and exit your business area?
Marketing and Media
To help grow your business, it is not only important to create a website or social media page but also to create some sort of merchandise. You need both tangible and intangible forms of media by following what your target audience would use more of, it could be tote bags, shirts, stickers, or something similar. It is very important to use the correct forms of media when spreading the word about your business. If your target audience is younger, they are less likely to use Facebook or the local newspaper. They are more likely to use Instagram. You need to put yourself in the target audience's shoes and ask what they would like to see to understand them better.
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Online Resources
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Business Development
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Ohio Community Reinvestment Area (CRA): an economic development administered by the municipal and county governments that provides property tax exemptions for property owners who renovate or construct new buildings.
Tax Increment Financing (TIF): subsidizes companies by diverting a portion of their taxes to help finance development in an area or on a project site.
Opportunity Zones: development tools meant to stimulate investments in disinvested areas by offering capital gains tax.
Information located on Knox County Area Development Foundation website
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It's important to remember to get your business out in the community. This can be done by creating shirts or hats with your business's logo and attending community events. There are numerous opportunities to get involved within Knox County. Become familiar with community events in all the villages and in Mount Vernon.
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Zoning
Zoning permits:
The permit fee is based on the estimated cost of construction. Park development is also charged a fee. A new dwelling is $100 and an additional structure is $10.
Certificate of Zoning Compliance
A certificate of zoning compliance will be issued by the city of Mount Vernon. It is a $25 fee.
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Knox County
Find Your Community!
Mount Vernon
Population: 16.9k
Median Age: 30-34
Average Household Income: $46,000
Centerburg
Population: 1.7k
Median Age: 46
Average Household Income: $42,500
Danville
Population: 1.1k
Median Age: 35
Average Household Income: $49,600
Fredericktown
Population: 2.5k
Median Age: 36
Average Household Income: $51,100
Gambier
Population: 2.4k
Median Age: 20
Average Household Income: $76,200
Apple Valley (Howard)
Population: 5.3k
Median Age: 49
Average Household Income $76,300
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Upcoming Events
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