Las Vegas organizations can assist entrepreneurs
When William Payne moved to Henderson from San Diego a few years ago, he noticed a change in the business climate different from what local boosters were touting.
Instead of lower taxes and less regulation, he discovered a much skimpier network of organizations geared toward nurturing entrepreneurs.
"In San Diego, it was really easy to find help," said Payne, a small-business adviser and investor. "In Vegas, it is much tougher. For people who need help, it is sort of difficult to find the right resources here in town."
He attributes this partly to the long-standing dependence on gaming and construction that has made it difficult for other industries to take root. In addition, Las Vegas has enjoyed such a long-standing boom that a gold-rush mentality has deep roots; business owners think that merely turning on the "open" sign will be enough to attract customers.
But with a more punishing economy now well settled in, help with basics such as price setting or startup-capital raising have become much more important to businesses hoping to survive their fragile first few years.
Aside from private consultants who charge fees for their expertise, several groups will give over-the-shoulder guidance for little or no charge. Read full story:
