“A lot of the assumptions that we had when we started this business have been proven otherwise, and so we’ve learned a lot about the patterns of the community and the area and what people do,” …

Michael Doss, creator of Emerson Park, started making his own coffee soap as a hobby. Seeing a demand, he started selling products online and to retail stores across the country. Doss says they …

Sean Brownfield, owner of Dapper and The Hepburn, says spending the money to create and app was one of his best investments. When he first opened, he was busy cutting hair, answering the phone and …

Elizabeth Brooks, Owner of Springfield Riding Club, says when she started her business, she knew about horses and farming, but should have known more about how hay production affects her bottom …

Abbie Brown, owner of Brown Abbey Gourmet, wowed Catherine and Thor Bersted when she made her Greek salad dressing for Lavender Falls Farm. They encouraged her to start her own company selling her …

Catherine and Thor Bersted, owners of Lavender Falls Farm say trying to meet customer demand can be challenging. The Bersteds previously dried more than 50% of their lavender crop, but have shifted …

“We hire more on culture than we even do expertise, because they can grow to be experts in their area, but they’ve got to culturally fit with our team, because we function like a family. ” says …

“We’re selling three things really — we’re selling quality beer, we’re selling a hip atmosphere to consume that beer within the neighborhood, and finally and maybe even most importantly, …

“We do have a progressive approach to building a company. We are a flat organization and try to give everyone equal weight as far as business decisions are concerned,” says Tyler Drenon, Director …

Katie Baker, owner of The Gracious Plate, says the biggest challenge for a new business is making sure the money you have coming in covers your expenses. While renting a kitchen lessened expenses and …

“We started doing this long-distance. We were in Denver when we were first getting the project up and running,” says Jennifer Leonard, Head Brewer at Tie and Timber Beer Company. Leonard says …

Debra Horn, Senior Associate with BKD, LLP, says it’s critical to keep track of cash flow in your startup. “Don’t mix your personal cash with your business cash. So you’re going to want to …

Rachel Anderson, Acting Director at The efactory, says they commonly see entrepreneurs who focus on only one aspect of their business. “It’s hard to be the jack-of-all-trades when you do have a …

Debra Horn, Senior Associate with BKD, LLP says the amount of startup capital you need depends on the type of business you’re starting. “The main plan is for you to have a written business plan …

Jessica Ollis says she and her Husband Chris had wanted to start a business together since they got married. It took them some time to find the right business and the right time. “You have to be …

“I had some money that was left from my inheritance from my father, and the rest of the financing I got through a home equity loan,” says John Twomey, owner of Bits of Britain Cafe. Twomey says …

“I get everything local, as much as possible,” says Ashley Tate, owner of Sugar’s Pies and Sundries. Tate uses local fruits and berries in her pies as well as other ingredients that come from …

“We would really like to be able to source all of our ingredients locally, but we’re gonna have to build up to that and have a better understanding of the seasonal availability of everything that …

“We have been looking for something to do together and escape the rat race of the corporate world for sometime now,” says Curtis Marshall, who co-owns Tie and Timber Beer Company with Jennifer …

Ashley Tate, Owner of Sugar’s Pies and Sundries, had been working a number of side jobs, but decided to focus on her love of baking. Tate says she had already been baking for holidays and …