Tara Palacios of Arlington Economic Development joins us to talk about her role as BizLaunch Program Lead and how she helps prospective businesses owners become successful business owners. AED works with for-profit and nonprofit businesses of all sizes and Ms. Palacios worked for a decade with AED's nonprofit capacity building program and she encourages nonprofits to seek their services as well. The main problem she sees -- particularly with for-profit companies, but also with nonprofits -- is lack of planning at the beginning and inability to grow or scale. Avoid these and other common start-up problems with realistic goals and plans. 

Tara Palacios is the Director of Arlington Economic Development’s award-winning BizLaunch program. Ms. Palacios launched the initiative in 2002 and has overseen the growth of the program which has seen over 40,000 small businesses launch and grow in Arlington, Virginia. BizLaunch, Arlington’s small business and entrepreneurial assistance network, offers over 40 workshops and seminars each year, as well as Counseling & Mentoring sessions for small businesses with the aim of helping entrepreneurs design their businesses plans, as well as to develop and grow their enterprises.