No less an authority than Shark Tank investor Mark Cuban lists salesmanship, creativity, tenacity, and passion at the top of his must-have list of traits to be successful.
While most business owners would agree, entrepreneurs and even established small businesses sometimes need professional guidance to cement their success. That’s what Rhodes-Porter Business Development and Management Company offers.
Cynthia Rhodes grew up in a military family and has a background in logistics, and project management for construction and real estate. Ralph Porter was a combat Marine with credentials in agribusiness logistics. Together, the Rhodes-Porter team combined their experience for a business model to help others navigate their way to profitability.
“We put together strategies to make a business successful and then provide the training to back those up. If a business isn’t working, then we don’t work,” Rhodes explained.
Those strategies can include efficiency, logistics, minimizing client risk, creating sound revenue plans, marketing, and partnering with attorneys and accountants.
With Porter’s and Rhodes’ military backgrounds, they can also provide expertise for businesses who want to work with Fort Gordon or other military posts.
“We have about 130 clients and one of our sweet spots is micro businesses,” she said. “During an initial consultation, we identify their challenges and opportunities, observe their business and determine where they want to go from there and help them plan how to get there.”
According to the Small Business Administration (SBA), a small business may employ several hundred workers, but a micro business only has a handful of employees including the owner. The prediction is for 17 million new small businesses to form in 2022, and more than half will be micro businesses.
There’s a saying that’s older than your grandparents, “It takes money to make money.” That quote has been debated for years among business owners. Rhodes-Porter has some advice about that because many of their clients need money to make it.
“Many times, independent contractors and micro businesses don’t have the equipment or credit they need to build their business,” she said. “We can point them in the right direction for the best loan based on their needs.”
Rhodes’ best advice for entrepreneurs:
- start narrow, not wide
- don’t overthink everything
- stay focused and patient
- learn from mistakes
- talk to customers often
- don’t give up too early
If your small or micro business needs a strategy for growth, you can learn more about Rhodes-Porter Business Development and Management by calling 706-373-1200 or visiting their website.
Editor’s Note:
Mitzi Oxford is a veteran broadcaster and features writer who also worked at the same television station in Columbus, Georgia as Augusta’s Brad Means!
If you have a South Carolina story idea for Mitzi, please email her at mitzioxfordcreative@gmail.com.
