Except for the difficulty some Americans have pronouncing the imported-from-french word (see video at the bottom of the page for help), the title “concierge” has worked for high-end hotels since the 19th century. From their desk or counter in the lobby, they help guests make reservations for meals, events and entertainment. The best of them perform magic by solving any travel-related, personal or business challenge you throw their way.

The term “concierge” has migrated from the hotel lobby to customer service or personal assistance roles in other industries. For instance, the EMMA email marketing service calls their user support team members concierges.

And in Columbus, Ohio, the title now is being used to describe a city official who helps small business owners in a very similar way. Recently, the Columbus City Council created the position, “small business concierge” to help individuals navigate the tricky waters of regulations, permits and ordinances—or, “Break through the log jam,” the first concierge, Ryan Schick, told the Columbus Business Journal.

Schick, an attorney and former national magazine reporter and editor, was named to the position in July. “What we’re doing is taking a process that by-and-large has been disjointed and, from A-to-Z, lay out how to open a restaurant, how to open a daycare, how to open a salon.”

What a great idea! Every city needs a small business concierge. (The only thing better would be if they also helped set up dinner reservation.)

Update, 5:20 p.m.: One of the Columbus concierge’s first goals, the launch of a website, turned its lights on today. You can find it at Columbus.gov/SmallBusiness.

How to pronounce “concierge”

Does your city have a small business concierge? If so, let us know in the contents below.

(Feature illustration by SmallBusiness.com. Photo by Stephen Wolfe via Flickr)