Join the Missouri Small Business Development Center (SBDC) hosted at Missouri Southern State University (MSSU) as they celebrate entrepreneurship and continue to foster and support the vibrant business community of our area.
Whether you’re looking to expand your skillset, or simply to connect with fellow professionals, the Missouri SBDC has something for everyone. Don’t miss out on these opportunities to learn, network, and thrive.
Welcome to May: A Season to Refocus, Refresh, & Reimagine
May often brings a noticeable shift in energy — warmer days, longer evenings, and for many businesses, the beginning of a slower sales season. If you’ve found yourself facing a dip in traffic or revenue, you’re not alone. Between Memorial Day and Labor Day, it’s common for customer engagement to taper off, especially in industries that depend on in-person shopping or event-driven demand.
But here’s the good news: slower seasons can be some of the most powerful periods in a business owner’s year. Why? Because they give you breathing room — a chance to step back, reassess, and invest time in the areas that often get neglected when things are moving at full speed.
Maybe this is the time to:
- Revisit your marketing strategy and test a few new tactics.
- Explore new financing tools to support cash flow or growth plans.
- Reconnect with your audience through fresh, authentic content.
- Evaluate whether your current location is still the right fit for your goals.
- Or simply take a break, recharge, and return stronger.
Whether you’re navigating supply chain constraints, planning your next big move, or just trying to make it through the slow season with confidence, we’ve got ideas and insights to help you stay grounded and growing.
Is It Time to Rethink How You Handle Payments?
As cash flow tightens and customer spending habits shift, more small business owners are exploring flexible payment options — not just for their customers, but for their own financial stability. One increasingly popular solution? Buy now, pay later (BNPL) platforms like Afterpay and Sezzle. These services let your customers split their payments into manageable installments while you still get paid upfront. That means better cash flow for you and less friction at the checkout for them.
Here’s why it might be worth considering:
- You get paid in full within days of the transaction (minus a small merchant fee).
- Customers are more likely to purchase, and spend more, when flexible payment options are available.
- You’re not responsible if the customer misses a payment. BNPL handles collections and repayment risk.
Adding a BNPL option could a simple way to drive sales during slower months while offering more value to your customers.
Upcoming Events
Introduction to Government Contracting
Tuesday, May 20 | 11:00 am | Virtual training session | No cost to attend
This online training is presented by Allen Waldo. Allen Waldo has worked with the Missouri APEX/PTAC since 2014. He offers counseling in government contracting for mainly small businesses. He can assist your small business in registering to do business with the federal government and the State of Missouri. He also offers expertise in assisting businesses in applying for various socio-economic certifications. Information about selling to the government and getting the right registrations (such as SAM) and certifications will be discussed. Advantages and disadvantages of selling to the government will also be presented. There will be a time for questions at the end of the training session.
Learn more and register here.
Introducing SBDC Summer Hours
In accordance with MSSU’s summer ours, the Missouri SBDC office is switching to summer hours:
- Monday to Thursday, 7:00 am to 5:00 pm
- Friday to Sunday, closed
Looking for something different?
The Missouri SBDC values your input and wants to tailor their training efforts to your needs! If there’s a specific topic that you’re eager to learn about or an area where you would like to sharpen your skills, don’t hesitate to reach out and share your ideas.
To share your ideas with your local Missouri SBDC, click here.
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