Select a Business below to view the Success Story!
Arlette’s Place
Arlette Price decided it was time to work for herself. She had a vision of a small but beautiful store selling unique items for the home and gifts that could be personalized. She already had the experience, having been a buyer for Wal-Mart, and she had European retail buying experience as well. Even as a young child, Arlette expected to own her own business someday. Arlette met with Kevin Monahan, Certified Business Analyst, at the Small Business Development Center at the University of North Florida. Kevin quickly realized Arlette had great vision and buying skills, but recommended she take a few workshops to ensure her model would work. At the same time, Kevin helped Arlette create a plan for her business.
Arlette had already found the location she wanted before she had taken her first business workshop. She had done her homework and it demonstrated that the customer base she wanted was in the Fleming Island/Middleburg area of Clay County. The population, income, traffic and buying habits all matched her model.
Arlette went on to take all seven of the small business start-up workshops and with her business plan completed, she was ready to seek financing. Kevin helped her with an application for SBA 504 funding. The process led to Arlette receiving funding and the store, to be called Arlette's Place, was born.
Arlette designed a logo and signage. She utilized SBDC staff as an impromptu focus group to test her designs. Kevin discussed with her the value of having an attorney, and Arlette utilized the Small Business Resource Network to find one.
Today Arlette's Place is a well visited and highly regarded store on Fleming Island. Arlette continues to be on the lookout for unique gifts and home furnishing for her discerning customers. After working with the SBDC at UNF, Arlette recounts her positive experience by saying, "Kevin was with me the whole way. I'm not sure this store would have been here today without the guidance of the Small Business Development Center at the University of North Florida."
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Sneak Peek Studios
Kerii LaBombarbe is an ARDMS Certified, experienced Obstetric sonographer who wanted to start a professional independent elective 4D ultrasound studio in Jacksonville. The business, soon to be known as Sneak Peek Studios, would offer a memorable and detailed first peek at an unborn baby through state-of-the-art ultrasound imaging using 3D/4D technology, with multiple 3D/4D ultrasound packages from which to choose.
Kerii visited the Small Business Development Center at the University of North Florida in August of 2007. Kevin Monahan, Certified Business Analyst, helped Kerii get started on a business plan, which she knew would be the roadmap to a successful startup and would help her secure funding for the business. Kevin worked with Kerii to tweak the plan into a document that was the model she was looking for.
Upon completion, Kerii presented her plan to a local bank and received the funding she needed to purchase state-of-the-art ultrasound equipment. She found a suitable location in the Southpoint area of Jacksonville that was central to her customer demographic.
Kerrii soon began to receive referrals from physician practices in the area and today, Sneak Peek Studios is ahead of projections and is a profitable and highly regarded business; a place where friends and family can come and share the miracle of life. Kerrii would like to continue working with Kevin Monahan and the UNF Small Business Development Center saying, "Kevin helped me all the way through opening and we're still working on marketing. It is very reassuring to have expertise like that available to Sneak Peek Studios".
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Bluewater Exhibit Group
Jennifer Sample and Joe Dorety were longtime neighbors who decided to start a business. After working years in totally different fields, Jennifer and Joe became sales reps at a local display company. They eventually talked about their business ideas and galvanized their philosophy of excellent customer care.
Based on their experience working in the display industry, they decided their new business would provide portable and modular displays for companies seeking professional exhibits for trade shows and special events. Since they both love the water - fishing, boating or just hanging out at the beach - they settled on Bluewater Exhibit Group for their company name.
Jennifer did some research on the internet about financing a new business and learned about the SBDC at UNF. She soon met with Tanya Douglas, Certified Business Analyst at the SBDC. "When I first met Jennifer and Joe, I knew they had the tools and expertise to make this business work. Joe was ready to get started that day. Jennifer was more relaxed and listened to the process to obtain financing," Tanya recalls.
Since Joe had previous experience writing business plans, he knew that was the first step in obtaining funding. Tanya helped the duo revise their business plan. Once their plan was ready, they met with a few lenders. They wanted a line of credit in the amount of $50,000 for working capital. Through Tanya's contacts, Joe and Jennifer met with a local community bank, CenterBank, and were approved for the amount requested.
In addition to getting approved for financing, they received more good news. Bluewater was authorized as the local distributor in north Florida for an internationally known display company, Nomadic Display. This company is known throughout the industry as the world's leading provider of display solutions. Bluewater now has two locations including offices in Jacksonville and Tallahassee.
Since starting in mid - 2007, Bluewater has met with several large corporations that want to upgrade their trade show displays. In addition to designing and creating displays, Bluewater will also install and dismantle displays for their clients, as well as store and ship the displays to a conference or show. This convenient service allows clients to relax and not worry about getting their display to these events.
Bluewater's future rests with its long-term approach to creating value for their clients. By guiding their clients to make good investment decisions, and following up with excellent service and products, Joe and Jennifer have become part of their clients' in-house teams. As these relationships flourish, Bluewater will expand its small showroom and increase its warehouse capacity later this year.
Joe has this to say to other potential business owners: "Tanya Douglas was the real catalyst that helped us get our plan organized and get our finances in order. I recommend a conversation with the SBDC at UNF to anyone starting a new business."
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DASH
In search of a better life, Danita & Shannon Heathcock saw an opportunity in October 2001 and became entrepreneurs. As residents of Citrus County Florida, they noticed that there was a large elderly population, plenty of doctors, nursing homes, and two hospitals. With no formal training, they started doing research on the county and what was required to start a non-emergency medical transport company. They decided to incorporate in November of 2001, they called their new company DASH; an acronym for Danita and Shannon Heathcock. However, some obstacles loomed large: little money, little credit, no vehicles, and no customers. The most troubling obstacle was no customers or even the prospects of customers.
After a lot of praying and research, they took our entire savings of $3,000 and bought two vehicles that did not even run. But, by December 2001, they had one vehicle in shape to transport people. It took four months of knocking on doors to receive their first call.
Eventually the calls started coming from the hospitals, then nursing homes; soon they had to put a motor in the other vehicle. Not long after, they hired their first employee and added another vehicle. By the fall of 2003, they realized we needed help so they contacted the Small Business Development Center, located in Ocala, Florida. They meet with Dr. Philip Geist, Certified Business Analyst, who told them about a program called “Fast Trac” that was starting the winter of 2004. Shannon attended the course and in May 2004 completed the course. Soon after, the Heacocks completed the business plan that would guide DASH Transport, Inc. (DASH) into the future.
With their business plan, they received a small SBA loan that gave DASH a boost. Later in November 2004, they moved the business operation out of our home and into a small office. By the end of 2004, they were grossing close to $300,000 annually. In December of 2004, they began negotiations to buy their largest competition. Eight later - after many conversations with Dr Geist, attorneys, bankers, accountants – they agreed on a price and closed the deal on August 5 2005.
DASH is the largest transport company in Citrus County and is the only non-emergency medical transport company in Citrus County. The company now has15 vans, 27 employees, a Medicaid contract and several other contracts with facilities and organizations. Now DASH has quadrupled in size, making it one of the fastest growing companies in north Florida. It has been a wild ride they hope to continue!
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Grandma’s Country Pharmacy
On December 10, 1998, Marianne Glorius consulted with the Small Business Development Center at UNF concerning the possible purchase of a small pharmacy in Ocala. Ms. Glorius has a degree in Pharmacy and is Nationally Certified in Immunization and Asthma programs. She had extensive experience working for national pharmacy chains and decided the time was right to make the leap into business ownership. After careful evaluation of the business, she decided not to purchase but to start a new pharmacy in an underserved rural area of Marion County.
Ms. Glorius returned to the SBDC for guidance on March 1, 1999. SBDC Business Analysts helped her develop her business plan and start up her business, answering her questions along the way.
With the help of the SBDC and an SBA loan, Grandma’s Country Pharmacy, Inc., was open for business in Fort McCoy on July 12, 1999. This business is the only pharmacy in a 25-mile radius and is a real asset to the community. Ms. Glorius has been able to manage the many problems of a start-up business and has been exceeding her business plan projections to date. Next year she will celebrate 10 years in business, a milestone many entrepreneurs don’t accomplish.
Grandma’s Country Pharmacy offers a free delivery service for the local areas, next day special orders, compounding services, a childhood immunization program, seasonal flu shots, and specialty care in asthma. Ft. McCoy is fortunate to have this great resource and the SBDC is glad to have helped make it a reality.
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Fingershield Safety
Geoff Moseley had already completed a full and very distinguished sales career in the IT industry and just when his buddies were sitting back relaxing and collecting their retirement checks, he decided to take the helm of a start up business and a begin a new career as a business co-owner and CEO.
A chance meeting brought Geoff together with the owner of Fingershield (UK) Ltd, a United Kingdom-based company that wanted to expand into the American market. They manufacture door hinge guard covers which stop finger pinch accidents occurring in the gaps created between the door and door frame when the door is opened.
Initially not that interested in the offer, Geoff sat down at his PC and did some desk top research. He was absolutely astounded to discover that in the USA, there are over 300,000 accidents each year involving doors. 45,000 of those accidents were to children under the age of 14 and amazingly there were 15,000 amputations as a result of these injuries each year. Realizing that here was a market just waiting for a product, Fingershield Safety (USA), Inc. was created in February 2004.
Geoff operated as a home-based internet business for the next three years. The United Kingdom company provided modest funding and a dedicated UK based link manager called John Stockwell. This enabled the company to start marketing the product, but they had to be very focused with these limited dollars. They chose a market segmentation route (child care centers) with customer intimacy as a primary means of delivering value. Despite reasonable success, Geoff and John were getting concerned that they did not have the skill set to expand the business and move out of the house so John took the bold step of moving himself and his family to the USA to provide full time on site support to grow the business. Despite this extra resource Geoff and John knew they needed help to develop a growth plan.
In November 2007, they first met with Cathy Hagan, Certified Business Analyst at the UNF SBDC. After a series of e-mail exchanges and interview sessions, Geoff was realized that he could learn in this type of environment at his own pace and was not sent “back to school”. In the meantime, John took advantage of the workshop series offered by the UNF SBDC – including sessions on the nuts and bolts of getting started, taxes, recordkeeping and marketing. “The guidance and support from Cathy and the SBDC is ongoing and has proved invaluable to the business,” said John.
Fingershield Safety (USA) now occupies offices in Ponte Vedra Beach, with three staff members and a fourth planned. In addition to pursuing sales in the child care center market, they have expanded their focus and are now marketing to manufacturers and distributors of doors and door hardware. Marketing efforts like attending trade shows and advertising in trade publications have really paid off.
Moving from a home-based business to a commercial office isn’t the only way Geoff and John have moved “out of the house”. They recognize that marketing is the key to their success so they spend as much time as they can “out of the office” telling people the story of Fingershield. And they definitely see the value in getting “out” in the community having recently joined the St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce.
Geoff says “We have a really socially responsible product with a strong market demand. Thanks to Cathy and the SBDC team, we now have a well rounded growth strategy. I’m looking forward to a long fruitful business relationship with the SBDC.”
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St. Johns Power Sports
With successful careers as US Navy officers and carrier aviators followed by 20+ years as pilots and Captains at major commercial airline, Don Passell and Paul Barreto were ready to pursue a business that would keep them closer to home. After conducting due diligence on several businesses, they decided to purchase St. Johns Power Sports in Palatka.
During the due diligence process, Don and Paul met with Cathy Hagan, Certified Business Analyst at the SBDC at UNF. Cathy helped them evaluate how much the business was worth and the pros and cons of potential funding sources. They also discussed potential marketing strategies. “Cathy provided us valuable insight to help us decide on the best way to finance the purchase of the business,” said Don. “And she also brainstormed with us to come up with innovative marketing ideas.”
Don and Paul decided to buy the business with the help of owner-financing and they took over operations in October 2007. They partnered with Yamaha to increase marketing efforts and now have an updated web site and better signage on a busy thoroughfare. Both owners spend a lot of time at the store, working the sales floor, providing support for the mechanic shop, or keeping track of sales and expenses.
The store’s inventory includes ATVs, watercrafts, motorcycles, scooters, and utility vehicles. What, no airplanes? No, Don and Paul stick to ground transportation these days… but the “sky is the limit” for the success of St. Johns Power Sports.
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Body Design Cosmetic Spa
Cherron Johnson has always known she would open her own cosmetic spa – it was just a matter of time. Cherron is a board certified nurse practitioner and was working for a family practice medical group when she decided the “time was right”. Initially, she considered purchasing a business condo for the spa and met with a certified development company (CDC) and a bank to pursue an SBA 504 loan. The CDC referred Cherron to Cathy Hagan, Certified Business Analyst at the SBDC at UNF, for help in developing a business plan and financial projections. Cathy assisted her in setting up a spreadsheet to develop cash flow projections based on the number of procedures and retail products she expected to sell each month. She also helped Cherron find demographic information to measure the number of potential customers in the area. The CDC was eager to get the package in, so Cathy and Cherron worked quickly to put together a list of assumptions for the projections and a business plan describing the business concept, the market, and Cherron’s expertise that would make it a success.
Cherron was not approved for the 504 loan but that didn’t damper her entrepreneurial spirit. In fact, she was inspired to pursue other options and found an ideal retail location to lease that has great frontage on a heavily traveled road, and it did not take much capital or time to do the build out she needed for the spa. On March 4th, 2008, Cherron opened the doors to Body Design Cosmetic Spa on Southside Blvd. in Jacksonville. Cherron decided to make an investment in a full page ad in SKIRT Magazine and it paid off, bringing lots of potential customers to her grand opening held in April who got to “sample” services.
Body Design offers a wide variety of spa treatments to pamper customers including facials, laser hair removal, spray tanning, microdermabrasion, and botox injections. The store also offers high end retail products so customers can treat themselves at home to the same products used at Body Design. One of the coolest services offered at Body Design is the SpaCapsule. This self-contained, full body massage system incorporates aromatherapy and an audiovisual entertainment system into one futuristic capsule-shaped relaxation center. The SpaCapsule gives Body Design the ability to offer “standard” services with a new and exciting twist.
Cherron sees her biggest challenge is staying organized so she can balance running her new business and raising three young children. She is confident she can do it. Cherron says what really attracted her to owning her own business was to be in control of the money - what comes in and what goes out. And in fact, she already has plans to start another venture once Body Design is generating enough cash to support its operations. She will once again turn to the SBDC at UNF for help. “Working with the SBDC was a great experience. Developing financial projections and assumptions was all new to me. Cathy Hagan walked me through the process.”
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DAK Resources
"The transition from military to the private sector is rough," said David Moorefield, owner of DAK Resources. After 22 years serving his country as a Marine, David returned to his hometown of Jacksonville to start a new life. As a service-disabled veteran, he was fortunate to have contacts to help him transfer his experience and skills as a Major in the Marines to employment back in the States. With significant logistics training and expertise, David connected with Network Resources Inc. (NRI), a placement firm in Atlanta, GA. Kathy Shoff, the owner of NRI, worked with David to find a consultant position. When the contract fell through, David asked Kathy if she would join forces with him to start a placement firm focused on helping men and women transitioning out of the military. She was so inspired by his passion and his mission that she couldn't say no. "These soldiers and their families make tremendous sacrifices. When they return, the world has moved forward without them. They don't know the marketplace. They don't know how their skills fit into the private sector," says Kathy. DAK Resources was created to help transition these soldiers back to a "new normal" life.
David didn't know much about starting a business, so he turned to the Small Business Development Center at UNF (SBDC). In October 2007, he participated in "Fast Trac for Veterans", a program sponsored by the SBDC and WorkSource. This six-week program designed specifically for veterans focused on developing a business plan. During this program, David also met one-on-one with Cathy Hagan, a Certified Business Analyst at the SBDC. With Cathy's help over several months, David and Kathy completed their plan to be presented to a bank for start up financing. The first bank that reviewed the plan wasn't interested because DAK Resources had no operating history. David and Kathy turned to the SBDC again for advice on what to do next. Cathy introduced them to the Small Business Resource Network where they found American Enterprise Bank. Banker Marge Cirillo loved the plan and submitted it to the SBA under the Patriot Express loan program. This program provides banks with a higher percentage guarantee than the standard SBA 7(a) program to encourage access to capital for veterans and their family members.
In January 2008, David and Kathy officially opened the doors to DAK Resources. And in March 2008, they closed on the Patriot Express loan that will provide working capital for major contracts. The company has submitted proposals for federal, state, and local government contracts that would provide hundreds of jobs that could be filled by veterans. The next step is to market to major corporations. David and Kathy will once again turn to the SBDC to use ReferenceUSA, a database of businesses throughout the US that can be searched by industry classification, size and geography. From this database, Cathy Hagan will help them build a prospect list for their future marketing efforts. They have also embarked on a networking campaign to let people know who they are and the services DAK Resources provides as part of the community. In addition to local business associations, they joined the Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce as a Trustee and have been taking advantage of the speaking opportunities this has afforded them.
The heart and soul of DAK Resources lies in the shared passion of David and Kathy. They believe in their mission to say "welcome home" to veterans by making it easier to transition into the workforce. An outsider may see the strengths of this management team being their past - David's leadership and logistics experience as a Marine and Kathy's experience in running a successful placement firm. But they see their sincerity and passion for fulfilling DAK Resources' mission as the real strength. And if you ever have a chance to meet them, you will too.
The UPS Store
“The SMART assessment reassured me that I was doing the right things to grow my business. But more importantly, the process opened my eyes to things that could be better. Cathy helped me develop a game plan…. and its working."
In 1998, Brett Duncan joined his aunt as co-owner of a Mail Boxes Etc. franchise located in Ponte Vedra, Florida. She started the business in 1990 and was the original franchisee. In 2002, he purchased the other 50% ownership from his aunt, becoming the sole owner of the franchise store which would ultimately become The UPS Store.
Brett is very focused on the operations of his business and puts in a hard day's work every day, doing the best he can at serving his customers. Brett wanted to be sure he was doing everything he could to make his business as successful as it could possibly be and was concerned that he was getting narrow-minded in his focus. In October 2001, he attended the SBDC's Street SMART Business Planning workshop. While this was a good overview, Brett wanted more help to create a growth plan for his business. He first met with Cathy Hagan, Certified Business Analyst at the UNF SBDC, in 2002. Brett was a perfect candidate for a SMART assessment. The Strategic Management Audit Research Tool (SMART) is built around intensive interviews and site visits to uncover strengths and areas for improvement of a business. Cathy and fellow SBDC Certified Business Analyst Robert Myers used the SMART assessment to provide Brett with insight on how to reach his goals. Interview sessions looked at Brett's business in terms of customer and market focus, human resources, process management, leadership, and strategic planning. Cathy and Bob also analyzed the store's financial position. Following the sessions, they prepared a detailed feedback report for Brett.
Brett valued the recommendations provided by Cathy and Bob, and has implemented many of them as his business has grown over the last 5+ years. One of the key recommendations was to encourage Brett to increase his visibility and networking outside the store. This was a challenge for Brett because he loves working behind the counter and interacting with the customers.
The step out into the community has proven to provide a tremendous return on the time invested. Brett was already a member of the Ponte Vedra Chamber of Commerce - but wasn't necessarily active. This year, he has risen to the ranks of President of the Chamber. Increasing his involvement has directly resulted in an increase in business with Chamber members.
Brett opened his second UPS Store in 2005. He now has 10 employees with very little turnover and meets with Hagan periodically to review his financial performance and explore future opportunities. Recently, Hagan encouraged Brett to read a book by Jon Spoelstra called "Marketing Outrageously". "It really got my wheels turning," said Duncan. He will work with Cathy to develop "out-of-the-box" marketing ideas.
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Edible Arrangements
“Thank you for being so helpful. The SBDC got me started the right way.”
Jackie Polanco served in the Navy as a first class petty officer in an administrative role. After the Navy, she moved on to be an executive assistant with the mortgage sales division of Fidelity National Information Services Inc., in Jacksonville.
She discovered the possibilities of owning her own business through exposure to Edible Arrangements® , a franchise that specializes in creating delicious fruit designs filled with fresh strawberries, pineapple, grapes, oranges, cantaloupe, honeydew, bananas and pears. The Edible Arrangements® concept was launched in East Haven, Conn., in 1999. Jackie thought it would be a great adventure to own a store and was confident she could do so.
She started the process by visiting the Small Business Development Center at the University of North Florida for advice. Certified B business Analyst Kevin Monahan advised her that the first step was to write a plan to serve as a blueprint for the project. She utilized Pitch Then Plan software and came up with a quality draft very quickly. "She was extremely dedicated to getting the plan written in a way that made it valuable to her," said Monahan. "We worked on demographics and figuring out what her margins needed to be. From there we worked on her presentation."
Jackie needed financing, and the plan helped her identify how much she would need to borrow. She was initially turned down by a bank, but Kevin encouraged her to keep going. American Enterprise Bank showed interest immediately. The bank was considering participation in the U.S. Small Business Administration's new Patriot Express Program, a streamlined loan program for veterans like Jackie. The program features a higher guarantee than is offered in other programs. She was able to secure Patriot Express financing for $215,200, enabling her to lease 1,310 square feet of space at the Magnolia Layne Shopping Center in Green Cove Springs. She intends to hire ten employees. The SBDC at UNF salutes Jackie for all her hard work.
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1-800-DryClean
“I wish we had known about the SBDC when we first started. The assistance and information Cathy provided was invaluable.”
In 2002, Cynthia Olson and David Shaffrick wanted to pursue owning their own business. After considering their options 1-800-DryClean seemed to be a good fit. It did not require intensive training, and there was no cold-calling of customers. It could also potentially be run as a part-time business in case they decided that the business couldn't support this husband and wife team.
1-800-DryClean of South Jacksonville opened for business in October 2002, and five years later, is very much a full-time venture. 1-800-DryClean offers busy consumers a new level of convenience by providing a delivery service with twice a week pick up and delivery of dry cleaning and laundry to customers in residential neighborhoods in selected zip codes in St. Johns and Duval County. They currently operate two vans and run four routes per week, averaging 350 customer visits a week.
Cynthia and David's goal is to double the company's revenue each week over the next three years. To do this, they needed to add one route to each van and purchase a third van. With a sufficient territory of target customers, a proven marketing method and reliable employees, they knew they could handle the growth. The obstacle was the cleaning/processing of the garments. With their current business model, they focused on the pick-up and delivery of garments, customer service and marketing while the processing of the garments was done by a partner cleaner. This made them dependent on a plant to do the actual dry cleaning. Cynthia and David were having trouble finding one that could handle their volume and provide the required level of quality. They had already outgrown three partner cleaners, and the fourth indicated that he couldn't handle any more. One solution would be to build or acquire their own dry cleaning plant.
In March 2007, Cynthia met with Cathy Hagan, Certified Business Analyst, at the SBDC at UNF. The couple had recently been presented with the opportunity to purchase a plant (which also has a retail component). The owner was willing to finance the purchase with a down payment. Cynthia was concerned that this would put a strain on cash flow.
Cathy talked to Cynthia about the SBA's Community Express Loan. The SBDC at UNF is a technical assistance partner in the loan program. While it could not be used to purchase the dry cleaning plant, it could be used to purchase the van and fund working capital to expand their routes. In turn, this would generate cash for the acquisition of the plant. The next step was to develop a business plan. Cynthia used Active Plans, a business planning Netware, provided through the SBDC at UNF, to get her plan on paper. With Cathy's help, she customized the financial spreadsheets to reflect the growth anticipated with the expanded routes.
In May 2007, Business Loan Express approved the company for a $50,000 Community Express Loan. With the funding now in place to expand the company's routes, Cynthia and David were then able to commit to the acquisition of Dry Clean City, providing them their own plant and also adding a new revenue stream - a retail outlet for drop-off customers. Now that they own their own plant, they are in control of all the key components of their business. And the future is bright.
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A. Chef's Cooking Studio, Inc.
“You are one of the best organizations anywhere for helping small businesses. It would have been much harder for me to have accomplished what I've done without your help.”
Andrea Estes has been involved in the food service industry for over fifteen years. She has worked in various restaurants, cooking stores and other related businesses learning her trade. She started a catering business to sell and prepare gourmet meals for busy executives and others who wanted the convenience of finely prepared catered meals delivered and set up in their homes. She knew her ultimate goal would be to own her own store where she could design menu meals, teach cooking and sell associated food preparation items.
Starting in 2006, Estes investigated the opportunity of owning an office condo in the St. Johns County area and started negotiations with the developer. She knew she needed a sizeable funding amount to purchase the land and building as well as inventory, furniture fixtures and equipment. She came to the SBDC at UNF and met with Certified Business Analyst Robert Myers to inquire about financing alternatives and learned about the SBA 504 loan. She began writing her business plan and made an appointment at a bank recommended by the SBDC to review the loan characteristics and other requirements. She learned from the bank and the SBDC about Certified Development Companies (CDC) and how much she would have to inject into the business. A CDC is a company that has been certified by the Small Business Administration (SBA) to provide funding for small businesses under the SBA 504 Program.
After starting the loan process in October, 2006, Estes became involved in the site selection, licensing requirements and all the build out details. She was continually challenged by county and state regulations but overcame them one by one. She was dependent on the SBDC for advice as to how to deal with the bank, CDC and other state and local officials.
The SBA 504 loan was approved but after several new construction related issues arose, Estes came back to the SBDC to try to solve the funding shortfall situation. After determining she could afford another loan, the SBDC helped her with completing the loan application with a SBA Community Express loan program which is designed for small businesses in disadvantaged communities and small businesses owned by women, minorities and veterans. Estes closed on that loan in April, 2007 and moved into her new facility in May. Estes is currently doing a brisk business, has gained a large repeat business and is achieving more success in her catering and cooking school classes. She credits a large part of her success to her contact and excellent relationship with the SBDC at UNF.
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DearBook
“The SBDC has been the most valuable resource I have had in the creation of The DearBook Company. One-on-one meetings with Cathy Hagan (a Certified Business Analyst), provided unbiased feedback on my business plan, and the SBRN directory led me to our attorney and website developer, both of whom I have been very pleased with. It’s reassuring to know the SBDC will continue to be there for me as my business grows and I meet new challenges.”
As a mother of two young children, Angie Hughes realized how fast time seems to go by and how quickly one forgets the year’s special celebrations. She had a great idea for a product that would make it easy to plan and capture the wonderful occasions of the year. To fill this need to organize cherished memories before they fade away, Angie created DearBook. This easy-to-use yearly book contains planning and journal sections, helpful forms, archival album pages for keeping favorite pictures and invitations, and pockets for storing ideas found in magazines, report cards, ticket stubs or any other mementos. Everything is contained in a classic three-ring album. Organization helps make special occasions run smoother and ultimately more enjoyable. A priceless benefit is that the yearly planning journals become heirlooms that can be passed down for generations.
Angie was confident from the start that her idea for DearBook was something she could sell to others. She soon realized that the idea was just the beginning of the process of starting her business. Having no entrepreneurial experience, Angie turned to the Small Business Development Center at UNF for help. She met with Certified Business Analyst Cathy Hagan several times to review her business plan, refine the numbers, and discuss marketing. Angie also tapped into the Small Business Resource Network, where she found her attorney and website developer.
“The SBDC has been the most valuable resource I have had in the creation of The DearBook Company. One-on-one meetings Cathy Hagan provided unbiased feedback on my business plan, and the SBRN directory led me to our attorney and website developer, both of whom I have been very pleased with. It’s reassuring to know the SBDC will continue to be there for me as my business grows and I meet new challenges.” Angie said of her experience of working with the SBDC and SBRN.
While Angie says she has no entrepreneurial experience, she certainly demonstrates the characteristics of a successful entrepreneur. She is resilient and persistent, never giving up and always looking for a better way to make something work. She has a great support network and she is passionate about DearBook and truly believes it can help people help people capture those traditions that are the centerpiece of family life, creating comfort, anticipation, and joy.
Angie’s ultimate goal is for DearBook to be one of the many exclusive products selected as one of Oprah Winfrey’s “favorite things” she gives out to her audience every year on her show at Christmastime. (Angie has already sent Oprah a personalized DearBook.) That will definitely be a memory for Angie to capture in her own DearBook.
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Flaco’s
“The SBA loan made the café a reality, but learning how to manage the business money was vital for survival.”
With degrees in physics and electrical engineering, it only took Tim Darnell a few short-years working for an engineering company to know that he needed a change. He knew he wanted to do something completely opposite to what he had been doing as an engineer. Darnell decided he needed a partner and found them in longtime friend Sara Puyana.
Darnell and Puyana liked the people aspect of the food and beverage business. They wanted to have more control over their time and decisions. Cuban food menu was chosen because Sara’s mom, Marta, was a good cook at home and she is Flaco’s chef. The café name, Flaco’s, is Spanish for skinny man, Sara’s nickname for Tim.
The friends took their idea and plan to Dominic Orsini, a Certified Business Analyst at the Small Business Development Center in Gainesville. With Orsini’s assistance and guidance, the young entrepreneurs evaluated their business idea and developed a business plan. They worked hard and applied for a BLX community express loan and formalized their business plan.
The SBDC motivated the new owners, with assistance in understanding cash flow and managing the business. Darnell says, “The SBA loan made the café a reality, but learning how to manage the business money was vital for survival.”
Nothing prepared them for opening day in May 2006. Darnell concedes this was the worst time of the year to open, going into the summer months with University of Florida students away for three months, but they were able to break even.
Flaco’s has three full time and three part time employees. The partners agreed that owners don’t get shifts; they are in the business from opening until closing. They trade off, each putting in 80-90 hours per week.
Located in Gainesville, Flaco’s has 900 square feet with an open but intimate front dinning area and 500 square feet in back. The café’s clientele is split between downtown business people for lunch and neighborhood locals for night business. Late night weekend clientele consists of locals and students.
Café hours are adjusted to accommodate the downtown traffic flow. This is the only place in downtown Gainesville to serve food late, after the bars close. Many college students come in to eat after a night on the town.
A phone-in, take–out service is provided for the convenience for patrons to pick-up. Flaco’s beer, wine and tobacco license will allow future plans to have a small beer and wine bar in the rear of the property.
After six months, the young entrepreneurs are reinvesting into the business and seeing their sales increasing. Now they have an accountant to manage the café’s inventory, to track the money, to prepare payroll and taxes.
Darnell offers this advice, “Listen to everybody, you can’t create it all on your own and watch your money. Cash is king."
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Omni’s Kitchen
“Call Dominic at the Small Business Development Center before you try to do it all on your own.”
Omi Risco had been catering for friends for 16 years and that business grew so much that she needed to open a storefront for catering and walk-in business.
Risco had secured financing from her local bank, and struggled with her business project for about two months, before she called the Small Business Development Center at UNF (SBDC) for help. She was pleasantly surprised when Dominic Orsini answered the phone because they had met while she was a student at the University of Florida.
Orsini directed Risco to attend the SBDC workshop on “How to S-T-A-R-T-U-P Your Own Business” held monthly at the Gainesville Technology Enterprise Center. Orsini also helped Risco focus on management requirements with the Division of Hotels and Restaurants: Food Service Plan Review, Food Employee Training, and highlighting the important steps needed before opening date.
“Dominic took me by the hand and led me through the whole process,” Risco laments.
Omi’s Kitchen officially opened Labor Day weekend 2006 and was overwhelmingly accepted. Four months into her business Risco had already established a good repeat clientele and a steady lunch group that even includes owners and chefs from other restaurants. The café is open for lunch and only sells take out in the evening. Professionals in a rush, make up most of the take-out business. They dash in, check out the six entrée-limited menu posted on a large wall chalk board, order and they are out the door.
Distinctively different from the café is the larger catering side of the business; Elegant Catering. Risco loves this side of the business because the events are almost always happy occasions. Some clients simply have a budget that Risco is happy to work with to provide a beautiful, tasty presentation that stays within the budget. It is not unusual to have multiple catered events on the same day requiring a huge service inventory of dishware, flatware, and glassware for 600 guests. Omi’s Kitchen uses contract help on an as need basis for the café and catering business.
The most satisfying part of the business is the complements about the food and service from happy clients and customers. Risco is thankful for the invaluable coaching assistance she received from the SBDC. She encourages others to utilize the SBDC by saying, “Call Dominic at the Small Business Development Center before you try to do it all on your own.”
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Decontamination Specialists LLC
"Kevin was very helpful in encouraging me to proceed. He helped me realize the potential of my idea."
Keith Gooch has had a successful accounting practice in Jacksonville since 2003. Despite being busy with the business, he had an idea he wanted to test out. He realized from conversations with a friend who toyed with the idea in Kentucky that there might be a niche for a very separate company that would make a home or business where violent crime or contamination occurred whole and safe again. Client has small accounting practice.
He visited Certified Business Analyst Kevin Monahan at the Small business development Center to explore the idea further. Kevin assisted with research for Keith’s business plan and critiqued his final draft. Everything they learned seemed to point out that the business could succeed.
Being an accountant, Keith had excellent skills in creating a startup budget and projections. He concluded that about $65,000 would be required to open the business that would henceforth be known as Decontamination Specialists LLC.
Keith and Kevin talked a lot about marketing. Keith was concerned about how best to communicate to clients the array and type of services his fledgling company offered.
"How do you advertise such a morbid subject?" he asked. The answer, Gooch said, is by handing out business cards to apartment associations, police, hospitals and hotels, and others who might need the company's services or know someone who does. Web sites and brochures also can get the word out. Gooch's Web site is www.deconhome.com.
An innovative idea was the company’s ability to process and verify credit card payment at the scene to ensure reliable cash flow.
While Kevin identified a few other competitors in the market, Keith was confident he would be the best in the industry. “Our Specialists are trained in the proper handling of everything at the site. Our specialized equipment will also remove any lingering odor from a clients home or business. At Decontamination Specialists LLC courtesy and professionalism are really important to us.”
The business has two full time and 10 part time employees. As the business grows, Keith expects to make well performing employees full time.
Kevin and Keith are currently working to procure additional contracts for Decontamination Specialists LLC with various levels of government through PTAC.
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Dine by Design
“We came with energy and passion, and Dominic helped put it all into perspective about the business side”.
Mebelissa Acevedo and Arlene Colon were friends who had a love for and knowledge of food and decided to translate that passion into a business. Acevedo is a licensed dietitian with a master’s degree in Health Administration, and Colon is a teacher who has traveled the world and developed an appreciation for unique cultural foods. Once they decided to go into business together, they needed to figure out how to get started.
Acevedo and Colon were networking at a downtown Latino health fair when they met Dominic Orsini, a Certified Business Analyst with the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) in Gainesville. The Florida SBDC Network is a statewide program that offers training, advice and information to new and prospective business owners at little or no cost. Orsini helped Acevedo and Colon determine the business model they wanted to pursue. He provided information and assistance with a business plan, market research, cash-flow projections, site selection, and more. Acevedo and Colon took the information they gathered and have not looked back since.
“Writing a business plan, a marketing plan, and learning how to approach potential customers taught us how to think outside the box,” said Acevedo. “We spent hours in the library researching our target market, being very specific.”
Dine by Design moved into University Towne Center on SW 34th Street in Gainesville in early December 2006. The holiday season was a great time of year to begin their new business because they quickly booked up with events.
Dine by Design does catering for private home or event locations. Other services offered by Dine by Design are themed gift baskets, with Gator gift baskets being very popular as are gift certificates.
“A great majority of our customers want to serve healthy food,” said Colon. “We modify the clients request to make it healthy and still keep the food tasty.”
Much of their marketing has been by word of mouth, but they have plans to use radio, TV, and print advertisements. Another part of Dine by Design’s marketing plan offers fund-raisers and not-for-profit events. The owners work with organizations and tailor the events to suit their customers’ particular needs.
In the future, Acevedo and Colon plan to offer special events at the shop featuring health professionals from around the area as guest speakers. Colon is also pursuing a chef’s certification, as they are planning to offer cooking classes in the future.
“We came with energy and passion, and Dominic helped put it all into perspective about the business side,” said Acevedo.
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Cyberspace Café
"I would tell anyone interested in starting their own business to start by going to the SBDC at UNF."
Looking for B.I.G. Fun? Cyberspace Café is an innovative service where customers have access to computers for business and for fun. Cyberspace has Business applications, Internet surfing and Gaming for all ages. In addition, there is a café for customers to purchase snacks. It's a great place to bring your kids and get some work done.
Cyberspace Café is a family-owned and operated business. Trent Johnson served in the military for over twenty years. As he was nearing his retirement, he and his son, Kenneth, discussed starting a business. Kenneth was an avid video gamer. He suggested the idea for the cyber cafe to his dad and they begin researching the gaming industry.
Trent consulted with a gaming consultant who advised him to write a business plan. When Trent completed his plan, he contacted Tanya Douglas, director of micro enterprise development for the SBDC at UNF. Tanya gave Trent top marks for his efforts, "Trent did a fantastic job with his business plan. His plan really explained the concept he had in mind." The next step was obtaining financing to turn his concept into realty. After making a few suggested revisions to his plan, Trent met with a local community bank. He was approved for $130,000 to purchase equipment and build out his location.
Now open for over a year, Cyberspace Café is a fun place for kids of all ages to hang out and play the latest video games on Xbox, PlayStation and GameCube. Cyberspace also hosts birthday parties and tournaments where gamers compete against each other.
Trent gives this advice to other potential business owners, "I would tell anyone interested in starting their own business to start by going to the SBDC at UNF. Attending the workshops and working with the counselors will help in your success; it's tough not to succeed with the SBDC. I definitely would not achieve my dream of owning my own business as quickly without Tanya's help and that of the SBDC."
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Pool Dude Services, Inc.
“You need to get to know this young lady. She’ll help you grow your business.”
Willie Crosby, Jr. kept that in mind after attending a workshop several years ago.
“You need to get to know this young lady. She’ll help you grow your business.” Willie Crosby, Jr. kept that in mind after attending a workshop several years ago. When Willie finally started his pool cleaning service in 2002, he knew just who to call when he discovered he had a lot to learn about managing a small business.
The young lady mentioned was Tanya Douglas, Director of Micro Enterprise Development at the SBDC at UNF. When Tanya met with Willie, he had an array of challenges he wanted to address. "Tanya has helped us to identify and prioritize each step," Willie said.
First, since Willie operated as a sole proprietor, he incorporated his business, Pool Dude Services, Inc. Then, to streamline day-to-day operations, he learned and started using QuickbooksTM computer software.
"I learned I could use it for more than general accounting purposes," Willie said. "Now, I can manage my customer database, forecast trends and generate customer information so I know where to spend my marketing dollars."
As a direct result of what he's learned so far, Willie has been able to grow his company from one to nine employees. He now services both residential and commercial accounts.
His relationship with the SBDC is a continuous one. With Tanya's assistance, Willie recently passed the commercial pool building license exam and has applied for state licensure. Willie is focusing on expanding more into commercial pool cleaning for housing developments, apartment complexes and recreational centers. Additionally, wanting to expand his market reach, Willie has completed numerous workshops and is refining his marketing.
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Camp Bow Wow®
“The workshops were like pep rallies. Since it was a series of workshops, I saw a lot of the same people in the sessions and we were all cheering each other on.”
But these are not your typical campers – they are the four-legged and furry kind. Camp has literally “gone to the dogs.” It is a growing trend – dogs are increasingly seen as part of the family and lots of money is spent to keep these family members happy. Seeing an opportunity in this dog-meet-dog world, Melissa Taketa opened the doors to Camp Bow Wow®, a doggy daycare and boarding franchise.
In her former life, Melissa spent 19 years as a college basketball coach. Her husband, Jim, is a golf coach at Jacksonville University. When she decided to pursue another career, Melissa and Jim searched the Internet for ideas and came across the franchise’s web site. Camp Bow Wow® Premier Doggy Day and Overnight Camps provide a fun, safe and upscale environment for dogs to play, romp and receive lots of love and attention. Camps provide doggy day camp for clients wishing to drop their dogs off in the morning and pick them up in the evening, as well as overnight boarding for travelers. It’s a place “where a dog can be a dog.”
As dog owners/lovers, Melissa and Jim were intrigued by the concept and decided to pursue it. In July 2004, Melissa attended a workshop conducted by the SBDC at UNF to learn about sources of funding to purchase the franchise. Later that summer, she met with Cathy Hagan, Certified Business Analyst at the SBDC, to review her business plan. Melissa had done an excellent job of putting the plan together. Cathy provided her with feedback to help fine tune the projections.
Cathy also introduced Melissa to the Small Business Resource Network. The SBRN is a statewide network of professionals who work with small businesses – bankers, accountants, lawyers, etc. Melissa needed all of them. From this network, Melissa found American Enterprise Bank to finance the purchase of the franchise – and an accountant to help with her recordkeeping.
By the end of 2004, the Taketa’s had a commitment letter from the bank and signed on with Camp Bow Wow®. Melissa attended the franchisor’s national convention where she met other franchise owners who shared their experiences with her. She still keeps in touch with these contacts to discuss ideas and issues in the day to day operations of the franchise. Melissa returned to the SBDC at UNF in early 2005 to attend more workshops – one on recordkeeping, another about taxes, and yet another on marketing.
The Taketa’s still faced what was to become their biggest challenge – finding a location. The camps are considered “kennels” and therefore require the appropriate zoning for a kennel. Working with the franchise, they found a great location near business and residential areas with high traffic flow. The owner of the property was willing to help get it re-zoned by the city. They spent almost a year dealing with red tape and addressing concerns of surrounding businesses. Melissa relied on her competitive nature and persistence to keep going during this lengthy process. They also had a significant amount of time and money invested and couldn’t walk away.
The zoning issue was finally resolved and Camp Bow Wow® of Jacksonville opened the doors to campers in December 2006. Jim still works full time as a golf coach and helps when he can, but Melissa is the “Camp Ranger” everyday, so her biggest challenge now is time management. She has her hands full managing six part-time employees – and a lot of dogs. Melissa admits that sometimes it is easier to manage the dogs. And in her “spare” time, she tries to network with veterinarians and attend pet expos to get referrals – the primary source for new campers. Melissa also gets referrals from other doggy day care facilities and kennels when they have no vacancies.
If you’re not a dog lover, you may find sending your dog to “preschool” one to three times a week (or more) a bit frivolous. But the socialization creates happy, tired dogs for owners to take home, not to mention avoiding chew-and-destroy missions or annoying the neighbors with excessive barking that can happen when dogs are left home alone. The market for this service is tremendous and growing. Yes, entrepreneurship has “gone to the dogs” – and the dogs can’t wait to go to Camp Bow Wow®.
Melissa says her experience with the SBDC at UNF was “fantastic” and when she meets new franchisees, she tells them to look for the SBDC at their local universities. “The workshops were like pep rallies. Since it was a series of workshops, I saw a lot of the same people in the sessions and we were all cheering each other on,” says Melissa. “Cathy was a great resource and supporter throughout the process. I looked forward to her monthly e-mails to check up on me.”
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Fernandina Beach Winery and Gifts
“The classes offered by the SBDC at UNF were extremely helpful. I recommend these classes for all new businesses and even for those that have been around for a while,” said Kim. “And Cathy was a great sounding board as I moved forward with opening the shop.”
Kim St. Jean grew up in a “business-savvy family,” and has always wanted to own her own business. Moving to Amelia Island six years ago provided the perfect opportunity to pursue this dream. Kim knew she wanted to be part of the historic district’s retail center, but it took her a while to find a concept that would offer something different from other shops on the island.
During her research, St. Jean read, about an opportunity to open a winery selling wines made in Florida from 100% fruit. St. Jean instantly fell in love with the idea of opening a boutique wine and gift shop in downtown Fernandina Beach.
St. Jean worked for over a year trying to find a downtown location that would attract tourists as well as locals. While she searched, St. Jean learned that Cathy Hagan, Certified Business Analyst at the SBDC at UNF, has been meeting with prospective and existing business owners in Nassau County for more than 10 years. Hagan met with St. Jean and they talked about many issues that St. Jean would have to address– business plans, financing, staffing, marketing, recordkeeping, insurance and licenses and permits.
While St. Jean took advantage of the workshops offered by the SBDC at UNF such as “How to Start Your Own Business” and “Dollars & Sense: Recordkeeping Essentials” she realized it was going to be difficult to open a business in the historic part of town because of the many regulations. But, with perseverance she finally made it through all the start up issues and opened the doors to Fernandina Beach Winery and Gifts right in the middle of one of the biggest weekends in Historic Fernandina Beach – Shrimp Fest – where the streets are packed with tens of thousands of people. Kim jumped right in, and has been having a ball every sine.
Fernandina Beach Winery and Gifts is located at 25 South 3rd Street in Historic Downtown Fernandina Beach. All the wine sold is made in Florida and there are 30 selections from which to choose - from blackberry to “pina colada” flavors and the store offers fun gift items that have nothing to do with wine, so you don’t have to like wine to enjoy a visit to her shop. “It’s just pure fun,” says Kim. “The locals are living in paradise and the tourists are happy to be on vacation. I offer such a unique product and all from Florida. It makes for great conversation.”
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Funari’s Italian Creamery
"Kevin Monahan and the Small Business Development Center gave us the encouragement and technical assistance we needed to be successful."
Marc Funari and Dawn Sessions both wanted to capitalize on the rapid growth in Jacksonville. Dawn works as a nurse and Marc was in construction but wanted something they could truly call their own. Marc was a superb cook and enjoyed making desserts. They took a class in business startup feasibility at the Small Business Development Center at the University of North Florida. After taking the class they were sure they wanted to open an Italian Ice cream parlor at the Beaches.
Dawn and Marc met with the feasibility class facilitator, CBA Kevin Monahan and agreed that they needed a plan. They worked with Kevin to construct a well thought out blueprint for their new venture. They now had a clear idea of who their customers, competition, suppliers etc. were going to be. The new business would be called Funari’s Italian Creamery
Kevin sent them to several banks that came close to funding their project, but in the end, they balked at Marc and Dawn’s perceived lack of experience in the restaurant business.
Kevin met with the clients again to explore self-financing as they had some cash and Dawn had home equity.
In the meantime, Marc and Dawn found that leased space at the beaches was expensive and opted to look at the bustling Southside area. Kevin looked at several locations they had identified and a small strip center near a popular movie theater called Avenues Junction was chosen.
They obtained a home equity loan from a non-bank lender which enabled them to sign a lease and make improvements. A line of credit was obtained as well. Kevin referred her to some lawyers to review the contract and assisted in researching the names of a good interior architect for leasehold improvements.
Kevin met with clients prior to grand opening. The store reflected their wish to make it stand out and have a contemporary European feel. They hand selected their colors, brand and logo. They even created a costume for their mascot called “Rocco Gelato”.
Funari’s was a hit from the moment it opened. Their location next to the theater had been helpful and they were getting word of mouth buzz. They did some clever promotions and signage to attract attention to the store. Besides gelato, coffee drinks and frozen deserts were offered. Marc seemed to have the ability to make gelato to taste like anything a customer craved and that added to their reputation.
Marc and Dawns have since been guest speakers in an UNF Coggin College of Business’ undergraduate marketing class. They tell their story well and give samples to all in attendance. Funari’s now has a large UNF student following.
Marc and Dawn have been asked by customers about franchising opportunities. They have even had an offer to export their model to Pakistan! They realized however that they were a new business and should proceed slowly.
Their cash flow over the first six months was excellent and they decided the time was right to open a second location at Beach and Third St. in Jacksonville Beach. The branding and colors all matched the Phillips Highway store. There is every indication this store will do well. Marc and Dawn have done a great job and have hired four employees and a manager to run this store. They sell t-shits there with their new slogan:” Marble Slabs are for dead people”!
It is likely that they will pursue franchising due to the incessant number of inquiries they have received. They have a model now that really seems to work. And they have realized a long held dream.
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Bottom’s Up Diving Services
"The help the SBDC provided was exactly what we were looking for. We felt like Kevin understood our needs and that we could trust him completely."
Wade Zaggy was working hard in the diving business but for someone else. Like many entrepreneurs, Wade and his wife Brenda felt that they should consider starting their own company they to would specializing in underwater hull cleaning, propeller changes, inspections, and 24hr emergency services, but with a much bigger emphasis on customer service. They decided to contact the Small Business Development Center at the University of North Florida. They took the “How to S-T-A-R-T-U-P Your Own Business facilitated by Certified Business Analyst Kevin Monahan. The class confirmed their interest in proceeding, but the saw the need for help and counseling.
While working on a plan, the Zaggy’s were told that Wade no longer had a job with the diving firm. While Wade did not mind separating from the company, he was glad that they had taken steps to support themselves. Monahan helped them finish their plan, which called for a startup budget of about $25,000. The Wades would need to borrow $20,000 for a truck and equipment. Their credit was excellent, but their collateral was just a bit short for a conventional bank loan.
Kevin explained and recommended a BLX Community loan as they met the criteria for lending. He helped them with the forms and submitted the package as technical assistance contact.
The Wades were approved for the full $20,000 and they went into business immediately. They decided to call the company Bottom’s Up Diving Services In a very short time, Wade’s excellent work underwater and Brenda’s customer relations skills above created a growing demand for their services.
Today they are showing increasing sales and have over 50 maintenance accounts. At the present rate, they will be hiring another diver to keep up with demand.
Kevin is continuing to work with the company to help them procure government contracts.
"Kevin Monahan's help was invaluable in taking my business from concept to fruition"
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Tropical Smoothie Café
“Cathy helped make the process of analyzing the numbers and making projections less intimidating,” said the Corbitts. “She also reaffirmed that we had done the appropriate homework before making the decision to purchase the franchise.”
Patty and Gary Corbitt have made many trips back and forth from Jacksonville to Tallahassee to visit their son who is attending Florida State University. On the return trip, they always stop at the Tropical Smoothie Café in Tallahassee. They really like the food – and the concept. They began researching the franchisor and talking to the local developer. After investigating several potential locations, the Corbitts decided to purchase an existing Tropical Smoothie location that had been closed with plans for renovations.
Gary spent most of his career as an educator and pursuing his passion for music and mission through his church’s music ministry. Patty worked many years in the retail grocery industry. She then decided to make a career change to work in the medical field, first as a nurse, and now in information services for a major hospital. While they have enjoyed their experiences in these fields, the Corbitts have always wanted to own their own business. They initially focused on starting a bed and breakfast, and then considered a major restaurant franchise. Both were fairly capital intensive and the right opportunities never came their way. The Tropical Smoothie Café was the right fit, both in terms of their goals of owning their own business and the lifestyle they wanted for their family.
The next step in the process was to secure financing. After meeting with a couple of banks, they began talking to Ward Rainnie at American Enterprise Bank. Ward liked their plan but wanted a third party to help evaluate the opportunity and build realistic cash flow projections. He referred them to Cathy Hagan, Certified Business Analyst at the Small Business Development Center at UNF. Cathy worked with the Corbitts to develop a sales forecast based on the plans they had to reinvigorate the existing location. The Corbitts presented the forecast to American Enterprise Bank and successfully obtained the financing to purchase their own Tropical Smoothie Café.
Then came the hard part. The Corbitts say that the biggest obstacles they encountered were the unexpected details. “It was often like a scavenger hunt,” said Patty, as they ran into unexpected surprises and tried to identify who held the “clue” to finding the answers. As they worked with contractors and the franchise developer, they had to deal with delays. This put them in the position of dealing with details at the last minute, adding a little stress to the process.
Finally, on June 21st, they officially opened the doors. And they are pleased with the response. At lunchtime, the line of customers stretches out the door. While Gary works at the café full time, Patty still works her job at the hospital, arriving to work with her husband every afternoon. She finds the change of pace between the two professions “like therapy” – she loves the customer interaction at the café.
The Corbitts possess many of the typical “entrepreneurial characteristics”. Integrity and respect drive how they deal with customers and employees. And they are not lazy – Gary and Patty believe in hard work – and work side by side with their 14 employees – most of them high school or college students (including their teenaged daughter). The Corbitts also believe in providing opportunities for these young employees to feel good about themselves and learn skills that will contribute to their success in the future. Patty recognizes that her employers have made it possible for her to grow in her career – and she believes that it is her responsibility to “pay it forward”.
Once the Corbitts have the café running smoothly and delivering consistent service and product that keeps their loyal customer base growing, they will consider opening a second franchise, or perhaps becoming a franchise developer. They can then instill this work ethic exponentially.
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Blue Streak
"I would recommend the SBDC to any prospective or existing business owner. The SBDC can assist with a variety of solutions for virtually any need.”
“Cathy was extremely helpful in analyzing Blue Streak’s financial statements and fine tuning the cash flow projections to help me arrive at a purchase price everyone was comfortable with – me, the previous owner, and the banker,” says Mr. Boyett. I would recommend the SBDC to any prospective or existing business owner. The SBDC can assist with a variety of solutions for virtually any need.”
Harold Boyett began his career in the delivery business at UPS when he was 18 years old. He worked his way up through many positions to a fairly high management level. Boyett participated in sales as well as operations at UPS, exceeding his goals every year, no matter what the position required of him.
It was while he was working at UPS in 1997 that he met the previous owner of Blue Streak, Glynn Barnes. One of Boyett’s UPS customers needed a unique solution which was just outside of the UPS list of service offerings. With Boyett’s top priority being to serve the customer, he sought out Blue Streak, a company that was an agent for UPS Sonic Air. The two companies worked together to meet the needs of the customer. Boyett liked the culture of Blue Streak. He and Barnes shared a similar philosophy regarding for the best way to treat customers. Over the next several years, the two became business associates, as well as friends. They continued to work together to provide customized solutions for other UPS and Blue Streak clients.
As time progressed, conversations about Boyett joining the Blue Streak team began to take place. The dialogue continued, and soon the discussion focused on the possibility of Boyett purchasing Blue Streak. After much due diligence, Boyett decided this was the right opportunity for him. The next step was to negotiate the terms of the sale and the selling price. American Enterprise Bank and HGH Consulting both referred him to Cathy Hagan, Certified Business Analyst at the Small Business Development Center at UNF. Together, Hagan and Boyett analyzed Blue Streak’s historical financial statements and fine-tuned the cash flow projections. With this information, along with advice from other professionals, Boyett was able to come to a conclusion about the sales price. He returned to American Enterprise Bank and closed on an SBA loan to purchase the business. In February of 2005, the transaction was complete and Boyett took ownership of Blue Streak Expediting.
Boyett demonstrates many key entrepreneurial characteristics necessary to ensure the success of Blue Streak. He is very detail oriented, plans well, has a strong work ethic, and is willing to take calculated risks. When it comes to sales, his friendly approach, along with his ability to communicate with people to understand their needs helps him create a bond that results in a loyal customer base. Most importantly, Boyett will tell you that he is “incredibly driven.” As a result of this drive, Blues Streak’s sales have doubled since he took ownership of the company.
The growth has come in spite of changes in the banking industry, which at one time made up 95% of Blue Streak’s business. Banks are no longer required to transfer paper copies of checks during processing, which overtime will drastically reduce their dependence on courier services. To address these changing dynamics, Boyett has diversified Blue Streak’s customer base. Today, banks only make up 40% of his client list. Boyett has focused on developing new markets, including the legal and medical industries.
Boyett says what enticed him the most about the opportunity to purchase Blue Streak was the way the company is positioned in the marketplace. Blue Streak is the only local courier company with drivers in a full uniform, with picture identification, neatly groomed, clean cut, friendly and polite. The entire staff is highly professional. “We understand the important role we play as ambassadors of service for the companies we represent”, says Boyett.
Boyett earned both his undergraduate and graduate degrees in business administration at the University of North Florida. As a graduate student, he took a small business consulting class, assisting an SBDC client in the development of a business plan. Boyett will participate in this class again in the Fall semester of 2006 – this time as a client business with a graduate student assisting him with the growth plan for Blue Streak.
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Racing Limos
John and Carrie Colbert had a good deal of experience in the automotive field and came across an idea they wanted to research further. They met with SBDC Certified Business Analyst Kevin Monahan and presented their idea of licensing a territory to operate a "NASCAR-like" Gran Prix stretch limo with custom racing appliqués. A company called Racing Limos had the Jacksonville territory for sale, and the Colberts wondered if this opportunity might be right for them. They thought the idea was novel and would be a can't miss given the racing fan demographic in the Jacksonville area.
Monahan encouraged them to write a full-blown business plan for submission to local banks for financing. The Colberts chose Pitch Then Plan Netware to assist them in writing their plan. Monahan helped the Colberts find appropriate demographic information and provided technical assistance throughout the completion of the plan. Monahan recommended several banks that he thought might be interested in financing the startup. He coached the Colberts as to what to expect in a bank meeting and asked them questions that a bank would likely ask. They were able to secure $88,000 in SBA 7(a) financing, leading to the territory being licensed and the vehicle manufactured and delivered in June of 2005.
The Colberts utilized the Small Business Resource Network for creation of a dynamic website and their media exposure and publicity. They have reached an agreement with ESPN to have its logo emblazoned on the limo. The demand has been so great that the Colberts are about to put money down on their second custom limo!
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