Small Business Development Center hosts conference to boost contractor success in region

WASHINGTON COUNTY, Va. (WCYB) — The Small Business Development Center hosted a contractor’s conference in Abingdon to help contractors grow and become successful.

Contractors from all over the region gathered at the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center to learn more from industry professionals about what it takes to be a licensed and successful contractor.

Director of the Virginia Highlands Community College Small Business Development Center, Cindy Fields, told me right after COVID-19, they began to notice a shortage in licensed contractors.

We have a lot of individuals in the area that are skilled, but they are not registered; they may not have insurance, said Virginia Highlands Community College Small Business Development Center Director, Cindy Fields.

So Fields said they wanted to host an event where trade workers from all over the area can learn the different aspects of the business side of things.

A lot of the challenges for individuals are they just don’t know where to begin. In order to be successful you not only have to know how perform the job, you also have to know how to manage a business, said Fields.

The event’s goal is for industry professionals to help individuals take their careers to the next level.

We have a great participation from our localities building official offices and local partners there to serve as resources, said Fields.

Especially with learning how to be a licensed contractor and handle insurance.

The more an insurance agent knows more about your business, what types of assets you need to insure, what you’re doing in your business and understand the liability that exists, it helps you tailor a plan with your needs, said Fields.

Glade Spring, Virginia Resident Kenneth Bolyard runs a small handyman business and wants to expand his services. He told News 5, “This was a big learning experience. There are alternate routes, and it pays to go out and talk to people.”

There are four Small Business Development Centers in Southwest Virginia and two in Northeast Tennessee.

For more information on Small Business Development Centers in Virginia, click here.

For information on Tennessee Small Business Development Centers, click here.

When it comes to professional licenses for businesses and contractors, Abingdon Town Manager Mike Cochran told News 5 he recommends that business owners take the next step and get a professional license. Cochran says it will result in a better product for the customer and allow them to earn more money as licensed contractors.

If you are a homeowner and you’re trying to get work done to your house, you need to get a licensed contractor because sometimes if you’re doing plumbing work, the last thing you wanna do is find out that the plumbing doesn’t work cause it wasn’t done right. There are different types of licensing within the state and so when they contractor when they can get it, it’s an A, B, or C license and each one is qualified to do certain types of things and so once they get that, then they come to the town, said Abingdon Town Manager, Mike Cochran.