Many small businesses do quite well due to the blood, sweat and tears of their proprietors. Unfortunately in doing to well often you find that the competition uses the government to attack you. They do this by complaining to various local agencies about how you are not following certain rules, such as the dumpster out back has broken hinges on the doors or that your handicap spot in front of your store is fading? Often they will even make stuff up simply to get the enforcement folks out there who will start to go through your business with a fine toothcomb, we all know what that means, they will indeed find something wrong and you will get a fine of some type. This general harassment is so common that it takes its toll on the small businessperson.

There are some ways you can combat these issues and these methods will get you further quicker than any other possible tit for tat game with the competition via local enforcement folks. You need to develop a local government relation strategy and plan. In our company, which is a franchise company we encountered issues in nearly every state we went to as local companies which were first to market in their respective regions attempted to turn us in for all kinds of stuff. We are in the business of setting up mobile car wash units and have done so in 23-states and four countries. www.CarWashGuys.com Please review this outline below and then modify it to fit your individual business, then write a paragraph or two next to each item and use this are you government relations strategy to help your small business combat over regulation and selective prosecution from other small businesses who try to attack you. Good Luck.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT RELATIONS

I. MEETING POWERS TO BE

A. City Council/Manager

B. Board Of Supervisors

C. Department Heads

D. Police Departments

E. Fire Departments

II. OTHER V.I.P.S

A. College District Trustees

B. School Board

C. Purchasing Agents

D. Park District Boards

E. Code Enforcement

F. CEOs

G. Mayor

III. TYPES OF CONTACTS

A. Quick Note

B. Fax, email

C. Letter

D. Phone Call

E. Show Up

F. Public Meetings

G. Invite To Fundraisers

IV. HELPING ON CAMPAIGNS

A. Hanging Signs

B. Flyers Distribution

C. Monetary Contributions

D. Letters To The Editor

Lance Winslow

Currently Lance is retired at age 40 and is running an Online Think Tank Forum while traveling North America. Perhaps considering something extremely challenging to do that will exercise his mind and utilize all his experiences, observations and skills. Any ideas?