3 Bold Strategies to Grow Your Business in 2025
Step outside of your comfort zone with free help from others.
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—Katie and Angela
On to our story.
“I will give you $1000.00 if you drive to my office and fill out some forms. The best part is you don’t have to pay me back!”
Who wouldn’t take that deal? Free money.
Sadly, thousands of small flower farmers said, “Pass.”
In December, the USDA launched the Marketing Assistance for Specialty Crops (MASC) program, providing support to help market crops. It was an opportunity for farmers growing fruits, vegetables, herbs, nuts, or other specialty crops.
Farmers had a very short window to apply. The funding needed to be spent before the new administration took office, and the brief application window seemed to create chaos when applying.
I saw all kinds of excuses for not applying for the funds on social media.
The pay rate was so low that it wasn’t even worth it. -Hmm, how is free money not worth it?
When I read that this would be taxable income, I didn’t bother. - This is one of my favorites. Flower farmers have thousands of dollars of expenses to offset their taxable income.
They are not going to grant money to new growers. - The USDA said new growers qualify. How do you know if you don’t try?
The Negative Nellys were out in full force.
My go-to response is always, “If you don’t ask, the answer is always no.”
Katie did apply for the program. She filled out some forms. She turned in some invoices as proof of her flower’s value, and a check was deposited in her business account a few weeks later.
It was enough money to pay for her new entrance sign and some branding for her flowers, precisely what the money was intended for.
The money doesn’t have to be repaid, and the cost of the signage and logos will offset the taxable income.
Do things that may feel uncomfortable and hard, but do them anyway.
What did we do to grow in 2024?