What's Inside:

• Highlight: Human Resources
• Client Spotlight
• Upcoming Events
• Advisor Spotlight

The Kansas Small Business Development Center has a variety of resources to assist you with your Human Resource needs. 

Steps to take when adding an employee: You don't have to be an HR professional to learn the basics. The Kansas SBDC can work with you on hiring processes, regulations, team building, staff roles, and creating an HR manual for your business. 

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Employee Management: The Kansas SBDC can work with you on typical Employee Management activities such as hiring/terminating/laying off processes, rules & regulations, staff roles, and manuals. 

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Employee Development: It’s one thing to have employees, its another to maximize their potential for your business. Your Kansas SBDC Advisor can work to highlight training programs (including training grants if applicable) to help better turn your employee’s “potential” into “reality”

HR/Employee Webinars: The Kansas SBDC Video Library also offers free webinars that discuss key topics about Human Resources, including Human Resource Basics which goes over what needs to be known when adding your first employee, as well as general rules and regulations. These videos can be found on our site at https://www.kansassbdc.net/hr-employees-webinars

Learn more about how the SBDC can help you by visiting our website www.kansassbdc.net.

Hickory Hollow is a historic farm established in 1911 and has been home to seven generations. Their 100-year-old gift shop offers unique, handmade products such as free-range eggs, homegrown mums, vine fresh pumpkins, beautiful home décor, and hand-poured candles. The Hickory Hollow Company approached Kansas SBDC to help address local and state guidelines, in addition to their new business requirements. The Kansas SBDC provided Allison Langlois’s business with knowledge, resources, and confidence. This confidence allowed them to successfully open an Agritourism destination and safely provide a memorable outdoor experience for the whole family. 

Langois was successful in addressing all the government guidelines effectively and efficiently. They were provided with various vital resources, which included local networking opportunities.

The client was gracious for all the wisdom shared, and recommendations made by the Kansas SBDC. She said, “Even after our initial encounter, our business advisor, Ashley Still, continued to reach out with helpful information and resources as she saw it relevant to our industry. This constant resource was extremely reassuring and helpful.”

Their advice to new businesses is to make sure that one is passionate about what they are doing. Allison mentions that although this advice is considerably simple, it is difficult to follow. Langois mentioned, “Our seasonal farm requires year-round planning, and we are continually implementing those plans. It is a 24/7 operation and is constantly on our minds.” She adds, “But because we love our business, it rarely feels burdensome.” Apart from the number of sales coming in, Allison measures the success of her business by witnessing genuine, unprovoked smiles and glee on the faces of her guests, young and old. 

To learn more about Hickory Hollow Pumpkin Patch, visit their website at www.hickoryhollowks.com, or visit them at 1247 Lariat Rd., Spearville, Kansas.

To learn more about how the Kansas SBDC can help your small business, visit https://www.kansassbdc.net

Virtual Events (Free Unless Noted)

• Nov 1, 12:00 pm - Small Business Strategies for Employee Retention 
• Nov 02, 09:00 am - State Tax Webinar
• Nov 02, 01:00 pm - State Tax Webinar for Construction Contractors
• Nov 30, 12:00 pm - Social Media - Where to Start

In-Person (Free Unless Noted)

• Nov 01, 10:00 am (Columbus) - How to Start a Business 
• Nov 02, 8:30 am (Chanute) - How to Start a Business
• Nov 02, 12:30 pm (Iola) - How to Start a Business
• Nov 02, 5:30 pm (Topeka) - How to Start a Business
• Nov 02, 2:00 pm (Iola) - Human Resources, Rules and Regulations, First Employee
• Nov 02, 10:30 am (Chanute) - Marketing 101: Think Like a Marketer
• Nov 15, 10:00 am (Columbus) - How to Write a Business Plan 
• Nov 15, 1:00 pm (JCCC) - Kansas Retail Sales and Compensating Use Tax - $20
• Nov 15, 9:00 am (JCCC) - Kansas Sales and Compensating Use Tax for Construction Contractors - $15
• Nov 16, 7:30 am (Liberal) - Business Over Breakfast: The Golden Rule of Customer Service
• Nov 16, 9:00 am (Chanute) - How to Write a Business Plan
• Nov 16, 10:00 am (Emporia) - Contractor's Sales and Compensating Use Tax Workshop
• Nov 16, 1:00 pm (Emporia) - Sales & Compensating Use Tax Workshop
• Nov 16, 1:00 pm (Iola) - How to Write a Business Plan
• Nov 17, 1:30 pm (JCCC) - Trademark & Copyright Basics - $30
• Nov 30, 1:00 pm (JCCC) - IRS Small Business Tax Workshop - $4

To register for our upcoming virtual and in-person events, click here

With 8 regional offices and several outreach centers covering the state, no matter where you are, there is an SBDC nearby to help! 

Find Your Local SBDC Office

Call our Kansas SBDC Statewide Call Center - 7 days per week assistance

(800) 949-7661