Today’s Article

GM Filing Bankruptcy… NCR moves to Georgia, over 1200 jobs lost…

Today’s business in today’s economy need to look “out of the box” for solutions.

By Donald Martin

It seems by the newspaper headlines large corporate America keeps downsizing and resizing. The ‘cliché’ for the first decade of the 21st century may well be “under-employed” or “un-employed”.

If large corporations can no longer support the economy of the Dayton Market, then where do we turn for our domestic product that will help feed our economy? We still have Wright Patterson Air Force Base, and some large corporations like Lexis Nexis and a handful of others. However will Lexis Nexis be like another Procter and Gamble move of relocating the infamous IAMS Corporation further south? Or worse yet, accept a large tax incentive by another state to move out entirely.

I believe that Dayton was built on the entrepreneur spirit and it will be the innovations and tenacity of small business that will be what helps Dayton thrive. We can be that “Gem” city again, and not the “dying city” that Forbes magazine called us less than two years ago. Many of the products and ideas that greatly contributed to the national economy came from Dayton whether it was the invention of flight, the cash register or the pull top can.

Our city is full of talent, expertise and passion. Those recently unemployed are seeking to start their own companies. We just need the tools and vehicles to help the entrepreneur get there. One hindrance is the ability to market and compete with challenging access to funds to drive an idea or help the small business owner. It may take additional tax breaks, loosening of credit regulations and tight purse strings from banks, however one viable tool is outsourcing.
No, I am not referring to outsourcing overseas, I am speaking of utilizing the talent and expertise or local outsourcing entities such as BPO (Business Process Outsourcing), ASO (Administrative Outsourcing Organizations), PEO (Professional Employer Organizations) and other experts that provide functions and tasks that will help a small business focus on the core competencies verses the function of employee management, administration, and human resources.

These organizations take much of the burden of running a business off the plate of the small business owner so they can focus on what they went into business in the first place. A average small business didn’t go into business to handle accounting, administration, compliance, Workers’ Compensation, employee benefits, or retirement programs. This list can go on and on. A small business owner went into business to sell, promote or make the “widget” in which they have a great passion and expertise.

Outsourcing organizations specialize in areas that may be crucial, however not revenue generating. “Plugging” into an outsourcing organization allows a business owner to take advantage of economies of scale in which often allows the business owner to save time, save money and reduce risk so they can focus on why they went into business in the first place.

The “out of the box” solution for this coming decade may be outsourcing. I call it, “A viable solution for today’s small business in today’s economy.” If utilized, Dayton may no longer be called a “dying city”, but a “thriving city.”