With your business set up, it’s time to bring it to life. This phase focuses on what comes next—finding customers, building your team, and making your presence known. Whether you’re planning a soft opening or a big launch event, the resources below will help you start strong and grow with confidence.
Choose a step or scroll down for recommended resources.
If your business plan includes building a team, now’s the time to get ready for hiring. That means understanding employment laws, setting up payroll systems, and registering with state and federal agencies. Eau Claire has local and regional partners who can help you recruit talent, write job descriptions, create onboarding processes, and more that set your employees up for success.
Guides
Who Can Help
Offers job training and placement services for individuals seeking employment in various industries
🔗 workforceresource.org
Offers job search assistance, career planning resources, and access to unemployment benefits and other support services
🔗 jobcenterofwisconsin.com
Offers workforce resources and programs including apprenticeships, job training grants, and unemployment insurance
🔗 dwd.wisconsin.gov
Offers networking events, business workshops, and resources for entrepreneurs and small businesses
🔗 eauclairechamber.org
Offers career counseling services, internship programs, and networking events for students and alumni
🔗 uwec.edu
Offers career counseling services, job placement assistance, and support for continuing education and lifelong learning
🔗 cvtc.edu
Offer workforce staffing assistance for businesses
🔗 Find an Agency
Opening day is a major milestone and a great opportunity to create buzz around your business. Whether you’re planning a soft launch or a grand opening event, local organizations can help spread the word, connect you with community leaders, and make sure everything runs smoothly. A strong start can set the tone for long-term success.
Guides
Who Can Help
Hosts ribbon-cutting ceremonies and provides expansive promotional support for new businesses
🔗 eauclairechamber.org
Publishes press releases, news articles, and event notifications about new business openings
Helps downtown businesses plan and promote grand openings, including access to DECI’s marketing channels and local event calendars
🔗 downtowneauclaire.org
Assists with temporary permits for events that may include food, outdoor signage, or live music
🔗 eauclairewi.gov
Marketing your business is about more than placing ads; it’s about connecting with the right audience. From building a website and growing your social media presence to joining local business groups and attending networking events, there are many ways to get noticed in Eau Claire. Regional partners can help you craft a strategy that fits your goals and budget.
Guides
Who Can Help
Offers print and digital marketing opportunities for businesses
🔗 volumeone.org
Offers print and digital advertising opportunities for businesses
🔗 leadertelegram.com
Offers broadcasting and other digital advertising solutions for businesses
🔗 weaumarketing.com
Offers broadcasting and other digital advertising solutions for businesses
🔗 wqow.com
Offers radio and digital marketing solutions for businesses
🔗 midwestfamilyeauclaire.com
Offers sponsorship and advertising opportunities for businesses
🔗 eauclairewi.gov
Offers marketing and promotion assistance to businesses
🔗 Find an Agency
Launching your business isn’t the finish line; it’s the beginning of ongoing responsibilities. From renewing licenses and permits to filing taxes and maintaining insurance, staying compliant helps protect your business and keep operations running smoothly. Eau Claire offers support to help you stay organized and up to date with local, state, and federal requirements.
Guides
Who Can Help
Handles city-level business licenses, including alcohol licenses, secondhand dealer licenses, and others required to operate within city limits
🔗 eauclairewi.gov
Provides guidance on zoning requirements, conditional use permits, and sign approvals. A good first stop if you’re unsure whether your business is allowed at a specific location
🔗 eauclairewi.gov
Oversees building permits, occupancy inspections, signage permits, and code compliance to ensure your physical space meets city requirements
🔗 eauclairewi.gov
Conducts fire safety inspections for commercial spaces and enforces fire code compliance, which are required for most businesses occupying a new or renovated space
🔗 eauclairewi.gov
Issues licenses and conducts inspections for food and beverage businesses, personal care services (like salons), and other health-regulated industries
🔗 eauclairewi.gov
Handles state-level licensing for a wide range of regulated professions, including contractors, cosmetologists, engineers, and others
🔗 dsps.wi.gov
Administers seller’s permits and collects state sales tax
🔗 revenue.wi.gov
Once your business is up and running, your customers become one of your most valuable resources. Listening to their feedback can help you fine-tune your offerings, improve service, and build lasting loyalty. Whether it’s through surveys, reviews, or informal conversations, creating a system for gathering and responding to feedback will help your business grow stronger over time.
Guides
Who Can Help
A free, simple tool to create surveys and collect customer feedback with automatic data organization and real-time response tracking
🔗 workspace.google.com
Provides engaging, conversational online forms and surveys designed to improve response rates and deliver detailed customer insights
🔗 typeform.com
An easy-to-use online survey tool that helps businesses create customized questionnaires to collect customer opinions and measure satisfaction
🔗 surveymonkey.com
An advanced feedback management platform offering tools for customer experience surveys, analytics, and actionable reporting
🔗 qualtrics.com
Allows businesses to collect and respond to customer reviews on Google Search and Maps, plus track customer engagement metrics
🔗 business.google.com
Enables businesses to monitor, respond to, and analyze customer reviews on Yelp, helping improve reputation and customer relations
🔗 business.yelp.com
A social listening tool that helps track customer sentiment and feedback across social media platforms, enabling timely responses and trend analysis
🔗 hootsuite.com
Even after you open your doors, your business journey is just beginning. Whether you’re looking to expand, add new products or services, or open a second location, there are resources available to help you grow strategically. Keep track of your metrics, revisit your business plan often, and lean on local experts when you’re ready to take the next step.
Guides
Who Can Help
Provides free, one-on-one advising for growth-stage businesses, including help with expansion planning, financial forecasting, hiring strategy, and operational scaling
🔗 wisconsinsbdc.org
Supports small businesses in scaling operations, reaching new markets, and expanding their customer base, especially in rural and underserved communities
🔗 westerndairyland.org
Offers support for growth-oriented businesses through strategic planning, site selection, financing options, and connections to regional economic development tools
🔗 eauclaire-wi.com
Provides a wide range of state-level grants and tax credits for business expansion, export readiness, workforce training, and innovation initiatives
🔗 wedc.org
Learn more about key topics you’ll encounter during this phase of starting your business.
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Read More →Reach out to the City of Eau Claire Economic Development Division for introductions to local partners who can help you prepare for opening day.