Home-based businesses are taking off in Hampton Roads and the Peninsula and this year’s annual conference hopes to bring even more interest to the areas.
“All the localities in the region are on board now, so they’re adding [home-based businesses] to their focus,” said Melissa Davidson, assistant director for York County.
This year will be the fifth annual Home-Based Business Conference hosted by the Greater Peninsula Economic Development. The conference originally started as just a York County initiative but three years ago James City County joined.
The conference now represents the Williamsburg, Newport News, Hampton, Poquoson and Gloucester County. Last year’s conference hosted 175 guests — Davidson said she’s hoping for at least 200 this year.
Davidson said since the event has become more regionally-oriented, sponsors are hoping it helps bring the areas together through home-based business connections.
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“If everyone is doing well, then we’re all going to do great,” said Laura Messer, tourism and marketing coordinator for James City County. “We just want people to be aware of the services they can get locally…and allowing those folks to connect is good for the economy.”
Home-based businesses recently have started to take the area by storm with data from York County showing that two-thirds of business licenses in 2012 were for home-based businesses.
Messer said there has been steady numbers of home-based business applications in James City County over recent years, but added she did not have the numbers immediately available to her.
In a previous interview, Davidson said home-based businesses help the county economically because they create a more diverse pool of companies in the area. In addition, York County data showed owners of home-based businesses tend to feel happier with their work and life balance despite usually working longer hours.
The conference is just one way the localities in the area have started to capitalize on this growing industry.
Davidson said the sponsors pay close attention to surveys and comments from the guests to improve future conferences. For example, this year’s conference will have a greater emphasis on marketing after feedback showed guests wanted to learn more about the topic.
Davidson said conference sponsors also look at current business trends and try to tailor the event to those.
In general, the conference is a way to connect home-based businesses to share ideas. Davidson said while the businesses are diverse, most owners find they can connect over similar ideas, challenges and goals.
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“The diversity [of businesses] is what makes our area so interesting,” Messer added. “There are all different kinds of businesses that are home-based, so it keeps businesses stronger in the long term.”
Business owners will also have a chance to connect with attorneys, accountants and other resources that could be beneficial.
Guests at the conference will get to hear from a number of speakers about various aspects of business.
This year’s opening speaker will be Allison Moore who, in addition to being a comedian, holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Management from Norfolk State University and a master’s degree in Human Resource Management from George Washington University.
The event’s keynote speaker will be Shanna Kabatznick, founder of FABWOMEN, an organization that brings together women to develop personal and professional relationships.
Kabatznick will discuss networking success strategies prior to the event’s resource fair.
The Home-Based Business Conference will be from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on March 20 at the Peninsula Workforce Development Center in Hampton. To learn more about tickets and speakers, visit the conference online.
