Business Coach Rene Hollebrandse helps local business owners select the best strategies based on what their number one issues are and what they can do in 90 days.

Hollebrandse explains that a strategy and game plan for the future can help tremendously.

"Four out of five companies do not survive the first five years," says Hollebrandse. "Of the companies that do survive the five years, 85% have regular business planning meetings. So that tells you that business planning is really one of the conditions to survive," adds Hollebrandse.

Kathleen Horton, owner of B.K. Security And Home Automation opened her business with booming demand seven years ago.

"I look at it today and it is not as much as having business fall into your lap anymore," says Horton. "You actually have to go out and get it, you need to know how to do that, and you have to have strategies in place to do that," adds Horton.

Business owners have also been trying to help each other. For instance, they have thought of the idea of offering guarantees for their services and products, as well as coming up with a catchy tag-line.

Nibblin's Edibles And Gifts owner Susan Dolinar says she has been relatively successful in the Apple Blossom Mall, but still has her weaknesses.

"I think we are all finding out our weaknesses of where we need to plan better and communicate better to customers, employees, and other business owners," says Dolinar.

Dolinar agrees with the common theme of Thursday's meeting...business planning.

"Make sure you have a good plan in place and that you have enough capital or funds behind you to live through the first few lean years," adds Dolinar.

Business Coach Rene Hollebrandse says he will see most of the business owners for a follow-up. He wants to work with chamber of commerce to make this a regular event.

"When they go home, they will have paperwork of the most important things they need to work on," says Hollenbrandse. "The whole goal of this exercise is that the business owner has learned how to work on their business, instead of in the matters of the day just working in their business," adds Hollenbrandse.