The second Rise and Thrive business series event takes place at 9 a.m. Tuesday, March 18, at the Granby Library. It couldn’t come at a better time.

Numbers from NerdWallet and other entities, such as the federal reserve bank of St. Louis, state that entrepreneurs started 4.38 million new businesses in 2020, and that number has been increasing annually ever since.

Grand County has been an important part of that trend, with businesses starting and expanding. Some did so to help meet the post-COVID surge in visitation, and some did so because owners wanted to earn more, gain control in their lives, and enjoy flexibility and autonomy.

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And while some started and expanded, a few others ran into issues with an evolving market and high housing costs. Some even closed their doors.

Most people start their own businesses because they want to increase their income. I think that’s a great goal, and in the long term, that just might pay out. But initially, new businesses are usually not great money makers. That’s why I tell many such entrepreneurs to see if they can get their new businesses going while keeping their day jobs.

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Interestingly, people are increasingly finding that their “day jobs” just aren’t cutting it financially, so they are looking for supplemental forms of income. Starting a business can help to meet that demand.

One way people can get a new business off the ground is to cultivate a “side hustle” and make it into a job rather than just a hobby. There are many kinds of fun hobbies that people enjoy that can also make money. Doing this requires careful money management and — perhaps — keeping that day job to make things work financially.

For some people, starting a new business comes down to time management and flexibility. Rather than continuing with the drudgery (for some) of an 8-5 job all year round, maybe some people would prefer to have jobs that allow them to work when they want to work. Sounds great, doesn’t it?

It’s possible to find work that can be scheduled on an as-needed basis, but many people in this category soon realize they have traded one boss for many other bosses, or clients, who have their individual schedules, as well. Ultimately, many times these entrepreneurs end up working more than they did before, so keep that in mind.

Surveys have found that people work significantly more in their business than when they were employees.

And then there are the nuts and bolts of getting a business off the ground. Do you have a plan? Do you know what your start-up costs will be? Are you prepared for the seasonal fluctuations that are a part of the Grand County economy? Do you know who is going to buy your product or service? And if so, how will you reach those markets?

These are key questions for people wanting to get their businesses off the ground and will be covered in Tuesday’s session. They also apply to people expanding their business ventures.

So enjoy the fellowship and networking that’s going to take place at the Rise and Thrive business session Tuesday. Be a part of the growing and evolving entrepreneurial culture in Grand County.

Patrick Brower is the enterprise facilitator for the Grand Enterprise Initiative. He offers free and confidential business management coaching to anyone who wants to start or expand a business in Grand County. Contact him at 970-531-0632 or pbrower@consultbrower.com.