Charlie Smith founded Charles D. Smith & Associates, LLC,
in July of 2011 after working for years in a large law office in Columbus, Ohio.
Shortly after, he joined NFIB. The law firm focuses on employer rights of
employment, workers compensation, and
bankruptcy law. His firm provides practical solutions to the day-to-day
problems individuals may encounter in the employee-employer relationship.
The firm currently has five full-time employees. He was
attracted to National Federation of Independent Business because NFIB advocates
for small businesses that do not have the resources to research and lobby on
their behalf on their issues.
Charlie says that “with the support and advocacy of the NFIB,
small businesses like ours can have a
voice in the legislative arena.” In addition to providing his business a voice
within the legislature, Charlie remains active with the organization because NFIB
responds to surveys and the concerns their members have about small-business
issues.
The biggest challenges that Charles D. Smith & Associates
LLC face are
the effects of new legislation on his
clients and tax issues. According to him, NFIB can better help him as a
small-business owner by creating a more effective networking strategy by hosting events for business owners to meet
each other. Charlie has attended NFIB Area Action Councils, Small Business Day
at the Capitol, several NFIB receptions, and even testified before legislative
committees at the Ohio Statehouse for the organization.
The best of being a small-business owner are the daily
rewards of having close relationships with clients. Advice Charlie has for anyone starting their own small business is to
have a solid business plan and share it with people. Communicate your plan with realistic goals,
growth, a budget, and then surround yourself with good people. Those are the
keys to a successful start of a small business.
