August 2004 Client of the Month

Kevin & Sandy Smith
Best-Way Building
Oelwein, IA

In 2003, when the lumberyard in Oelwein closed, Kevin and Sandy Smith realized the potential of starting their own business. Kevin's experience in construction and the couple's knowledge of remodeling and building houses encouraged them to establish Best-Way Building Center, Inc. The business, which opens in August 2004, will offer "lumber, building materials, a full hardware line, paint cabinets, etc…everything you need to build or maintain a home or business".

While the Smiths may be well known in the community for their more recent occupations, they are not new to the field of construction. Kevin worked in construction when he was younger and the couple increased their knowledge of the field by remodeling their first home and building their second home. During the past year, the Smiths have worked hard to successfully open the doors of Best-Way Building. In fact, they are currently in the process of building a ninety-six by seventy-six foot addition to serve as the office and main entrance.

The Smiths requested the services of the UNI Regional Business Center-SBDC when they started writing their business plan. They found the assistance and advice from Mike Hahn, SCORE, and the MyEntreNet program (a rural business accelerator program) to be very helpful during the long haul of planning, processing, and waiting. Maintaining such a technical support system helped the Smiths stay positive and conquer the challenges that came their way. Now having completed the start-up phases of a small business, the Smiths offer three pieces of advice to any entrepreneur thinking about starting a business: write a business plan, consult an attorney, and consult an accountant!

When asked if they would complete the process all over again, the Smiths replied with an enthusiastic "yes!" For Kevin and Sandy, the greatest reward has been watching the business come together and knowing that they "will be fulfilling the need for a lumber yard in the area". Consumers will no longer have to leave town to get what they need. The Smiths are confident that Best-Way Building, Inc. will be a success because it is a "one-stop shop with everything under one roof".

Look for Best-Way Building to open this August!

Kevin and Sandy Smith
Best-Way Building, Inc
829 1st Ave. SE
Oelwein, Iowa

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