Perry’s Business Blueprint: A Clear Path for Local Entrepreneurs

Starting a business can feel like standing at the base of a mountain without a map. You know there’s a way up, but the trailheads aren’t marked and you’re not sure what gear you need. Perry’s Business Blueprint closes that gap.

This free, self-paced online platform helps local entrepreneurs, whether at the “idea stage” or already operating - turn ambition into action. It offers short video modules, a companion workbook, captions and transcripts for different learning styles, and a direct line to the City’s economic development team. It’s government meeting entrepreneurs where they are, with tools that fit into a lunch break, an early morning, or a late night.

Clear and Practical Learning

Instead of overwhelming entrepreneurs with zoning, permits, finance, and marketing all at once, Business Blueprint organizes content into bite-sized modules.

New entrepreneurs begin with idea validation: testing assumptions, identifying customers, and defining the problem they solve. Many businesses fail not from lack of effort but from building something people don’t want or can’t sustain. Validation avoids that by encouraging interviews, mapping pain points, and sharpening value propositions before major expenses.

Owners further along can dive into funding and financial planning. These modules cover cash flow, pricing models, and preparing for bank conversations so decisions are grounded in numbers, not guesswork.

Designed for Busy Entrepreneurs

Ease matters as much as content. Each lesson is video-based, short enough for fifteen minutes, and supported by captions, transcripts, and a workbook.

Entrepreneurs juggling day jobs can chip away without losing momentum. Those who prefer reading can scan transcripts and highlight key ideas. The workbook organizes goals and action lists in one place, turning learning into progress. Combined with the self-paced format, the platform helps entrepreneurs move forward one small win at a time.

Built-In Support

A simple “I need help” button connects entrepreneurs directly to the City’s Economic Development Department From there, they can receive answers, connections to the Small Business Development Center, or guidance to the right City resource.

This prevents stalls at bureaucratic roadblocks. The combination of on-demand learning and real human support reflects how entrepreneurs actually work: learn, try, ask, iterate.

Partnership and Quality

The City partnered with the Startup Support Center, whose trainers teach entrepreneurship nationwide. Modules combine best practices with Perry’s local context. Entrepreneurs don’t just learn how to price a product; they also learn how to navigate City processes.

That alignment means when it’s time to apply for a permit or review a plan set, entrepreneurs understand the steps and the language - making the process smoother for everyone.

Free, but Not Lightweight

The program is free, lowering barriers for side-hustlers or cautious explorers who want to test ideas before committing. But free doesn’t mean basic.

Content spans validation, market research, branding, customer discovery, financial modeling, funding, and operations. Crucially, it also explains local realities: how to work with City departments, what to expect during reviews, and what can be prepared in advance. This prevents the shock of learning generic advice online only to be tripped up by local requirements.

Momentum Over Perfection

Business Blueprint is about momentum. By breaking the journey into small, clear steps and providing quick wins, like finishing a module or workbook section, entrepreneurs see progress and keep going.

Momentum beats perfection. One week you validate a customer segment, the next you refine pricing, then schedule a chat with the City. That rhythm turns hesitation into execution. And because the platform is always available, business owners can return later for refreshers or new stages of growth.

Why It Matters

Entrepreneurship powers Perry’s economy, but the path isn’t always obvious. Business Blueprint makes it clear, approachable, and connected to local resources.

It’s more than lessons, it’s a partnership between the City and its entrepreneurs. By lowering barriers, organizing knowledge, and building confidence step by step, Business Blueprint helps entrepreneurs start, grow, and sustain.

For Perry, that means stronger businesses, a resilient economy, and a community where ambition has a map and a clear path to the top.

Ready to Start?

Signing up is easy. Visit https://www.perry-ga.gov/businessblueprint for more information.