According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, more than half of Americans either own or work for a small business, creating about two out of every three new jobs in the U.S. each year.

The Better Business Bureau Serving Central East Texas encourages business owners to take advantage of services BBB offers, such as business toolkits, guides and workshops, which are provided at no cost to BBB Accredited Businesses.

BBB Code of Business Practices

The BBB Code of Business Practices represents sound advertising, selling and customer service practices that enhance customer trust and confidence in business. This code should be a road map for creating and managing a trustworthy business. Businesses that follow this code may wish to pursue BBB Accreditation. Accredited businesses who utilize the trusted seal on their marketing and website showcase to consumers that they are upholding BBB’s Standards for Trust. This trusted seal provides businesses with a competitive edge.

BBB Code of Advertising

BBB was founded on the principles of truth in advertising, and believes the responsibility for advertising honestly rests first and foremost with the advertiser. BBBs review local advertisements and work with companies to adhere to BBB’s Code of Advertising, which lays out principles, definitions and suggestions for ethical advertising that all businesses can adopt.

BBB data privacy advice for small businesses

Whether your small business sells goods and services online, or you’re simply using your website to market to your customers, having a quality website privacy policy can build consumer trust and distinguish your business in a crowded online marketplace.

BBB advice on protecting against a data breach

You’ve worked hard to build trust among your customers; the last thing you need is for cybercriminals to steal sensitive information through a data breach of your systems. The BBB has data security advice on how to keep your customers’ information and your reputation safe. BBB also has advice on what to do if a data breach has already taken place.

BBB Lunch.Learn.Lead Workshops

Your BBB offers these workshops to our Accredited Businesses in order to help them learn ways to grow and expand their businesses, even in tough economic times. We believe the most effective way to expand the local economy is to focus on existing businesses and providing them with the tools to succeed and grow.

Small business is the backbone of the national economy with more than half of the country’s workforce employed by small businesses. Our Small Business Workshops are held on the second Monday of every month at the West Campus of Tyler Junior College. The workshop and lunch are provided at no cost to our Accredited Businesses. For more information, please call 903-581-5888.

For additional resources on how to build a better business and to find out how to network with other businesses, go to bbb.org.

 

Mechele Mills is the president/CEO for the Better Business Bureau Serving Central East Texas. Prior to her role at BBB, she led and consulted organizations of all sizes, managing operations, sales marketing and personnel for both the public and private sector. She holds a bachelor’s in journalism/PR from The University of Texas at Tyler and a master’s in business administration from Baylor University.