You've finally decided it's time to be your own boss - to put down roots in Newtown and finally establish your own business. It's an exciting but challenging prospect, especially with all the unknowns and expenses involved.The Newtown Bee that one of the untapped sources that could take great advantage the local chamber's resources are individuals who are thinking about, or who recently launched, home-based businesses.newtown-ct.com.helenbrickfield@gmail.com.

So why should joining the local Chamber of Commerce be one of the first investments you make - even if you are still exploring ideas about what kind of business or service to offer?

According to the Newtown Chamber of Commerce's new Business Development Director Helen Brickfield, getting involved with the chamber at the earliest stages of business development could serve an aspiring entrepreneur.

"For a little more than a hundred dollars, it could be one of the most important investments a person could make if they're either trying to find the right niche in the local business landscape, or if they already are on the path toward establishing a new business," she said. "The chamber is not only there as a business-to-business promoter - we're there for consumers, too.

"We do all these seminars, and educational workshops along with loads of networking activities," she added. "But we have a lot to offer to consumers - people thinking about going back to work or starting a business."

She has found that people who take that early step of joining the chamber can end up miles ahead once they open their new business.

Ms Brickfield says she is brainstorming ideas with her board right now to envision more ways to help aspiring business people get involved with the Newtown Chamber.

"When you're just starting to think about establishing your own business, that's when you should join the chamber. You can learn about other similar businesses if they are already established in the community, and you can hear about the business landscape, and maybe meet a mentor or two," she said. "It's the perfect way to jumpstart your due diligence before you really take the plunge and begin your start up."

Chamber President Tim Haas previously told

Ms Brickfield agrees.

"I want to meet all the people who are planning to work from home," she said. "Then if they see the value in joining, they may get to know others, or about others who already have similar businesses so they can learn a little bit more what it's all about."

More importantly, aspiring business owners can identify others in the community and establish important vendor relationships before they open, versus while they are in the process of opening.

"These are relationships they may not be able to see from the outside. But once they join the chamber - even if it's months or even years before they plan to open - they are already inside the local business community," Ms Brickfield said.

She knows this from experience, having also recently established a home-based consulting firm.

"That's how I ramped myself back up to go to work after leaving a job I held for years," she said. "I went to free chamber events everywhere. And when I went, somebody would inevitably invite me to something else - and it was great, making those contacts launched a really positive domino effect."

Joining the Newtown Chamber can also give start-ups as well as established businesses a new stage for self-promotion through announcements on the organization's social network sites, through e-notifiers and the chamber's newsletter.

"For home-based businesses that don't have store front or even signage - we would encourage them to submit some pictures so potential clients and customers could see your work space and that you are serious about your business," Ms Brickfield said. "Put that together with a head shot, your logo, and pictures of your products or images of your finished projects."

Established businesses could submit exterior photos of their locations - to help create client recognition, promotional products, images of key employees, and unique stories about their staff or customers.

"They should also send up notices of their involvement with local charities, donations, recognition in their industry, milestones, and how they are making it easier and better for their existing customers - maybe even client testimonials - how they are making life easier and better for their customers," she said. "We're even asking our members to promote each other, when appropriate. We want every one of our chamber members to be their own brand ambassador."

While the chamber encourages all members to be active on the web and on social networks, the organization itself is ready to help boost any member's brand and presence in the community through its own social network sites.

"It's people in the chamber who are helping create this new buzz about Newtown," Ms Brickfield said. "Let's all raise our digital footprint together, and tell the world that Newtown is a great place to live, to work, to start a business, or grow one that is already established."

Learn more about Newtown Chamber events and opportunities at its Facebook site (Chamber of Commerce of Newtown, Inc), and by visiting

Reach Ms Brickfield by calling the chamber office at 203-426-2695 or e-mailing