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Maine SBDC provides one-on-one business counseling to over 2,000 small business owners each year. Almost 4,000 small business owners participate annually in Maine SBDC technical business skills training. Maine SBDC Client Real Stories
Linda Lewis and Kristin Saunders-Falla Two new jobs were created when Linda Lewis and her business partners successfully launched their wedding and event planning business, mid-coast Maine’s only one-stop bridal shop. To do so, they approached Maine SBDC to help them put together their financing proposal. Their marketing plan seemed solid with good research to identify their opportunity and justify their strategy. Certified business counselor Brad Swanson, from the Maine SBDC service center at CEI, helped them with cash flow projections, focusing on pricing, and the timing of receipts and disbursements. Several different locations were considered and the financial impact of each was run through their projections. With an affordable, well located retail site identified, the women obtained a bank loan, bought inventory, fixtures and furnishings, marketing materials and start-up advertising. Linda and Kristin recently celebrated their first anniversary in business, and they are looking forward to many more successful years to come.
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Douglas Goldhirsch This small mid-coast boat building and marine services enterprise became a Maine SBDC client in October of 2007, in an outreach effort funded by NSAI. Since then, the owners of this 8-person business have worked with Maine SBDC certified business counselor, Brad Swanson, on the organization and management of their business. From an early stage assessment of the operation's strengths and areas for improvement, a plan was developed to guide the owners’ work with Brad. The core of the plan focused on organization, marketing planning and process management to increase sales and better control costs. The net goal was profitability. Brad helped Doug and his partners develop a vision statement to guide their efforts. The vision, the company's first, provided a clear destination toward which the owners could commit their resources. Additionally, the owners developed a new mission statement with a statement of purpose and company wide values. All these documents, shared with staff at a work session on organization and work flow, will serve to guide the future growth of this Maine company.
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Dr. Sarah Kotzur In December, 2008, Dr. Kotzur told her Maine SBDC certified business counselor, John Sanders at the Maine SBDC service center at USM, that her business was “really taking off.” Dr. Kotzur moved to Maine last fall after completion of her medical degree, with the hopes to open a naturopathic medical practice in Portland. She knew little about business but was willing and motivated to learn. Dr. Kotzur and John met on a weekly basis and each week would work on a "to/do" list. The list included everything from the least expensive way to obtain the medical equipment and office furnishings to financial information such as break –even analysis and record-keeping. Time was also spent on marketing, including promotion, brochures and networking. The business has taken time to "get off the ground" but the doctor is currently meeting patients and is happy with the progress of her practice.
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Terri Perron When Terri Perron lost her job, she enrolled in the Maine Enterprise Options program (sponsored by Maine DOL and coordinated with Maine SBDC). In this program, qualified recipients of unemployment compensation can pursue the development of their own business. Terri worked with certified business counselor, Gordon Platt from the Maine SBDC service center at the Southern Maine Regional Planning Commission, to develop a business plan. Terri had extensive experience as a virtual assistant to a realty office. She leveraged that experience to start her new business, setting up a well equipped home office to provide administrative support to clients who can be located anywhere. Terri has targeted 30 billed hours per week as her initial sales goal. After three months of operation, she is booking nearly 22 hours per week. Terri credits Maine SBDC’s help in developing her business plan as the reason her business is on such a good track. She is pleased with her growth and recently began working with an accountant to keep more complete financial records while she concentrates on producing the work and developing new clients. When we contacted Terri for permission to use her story, she said, “I would like to state that I was impressed with Gordon and have since referred a handful or more individuals who asked me how I started my business.”
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David Jansen P.E. While this five-year-old Maine machine shop employs unique technologies to serve the needs of a growing marine composite materials industry, the future expansion of the organization will come through diversification. To accomplish that diversification, David has been working with Maine SBDC certified business counselor, Brad Swanson from the Maine SBDC service center at CEI. Brad is working in a program supported by NSAI funds targeting marine and composite industries. Brad and David originally began working on financial planning and financing for growth but it became apparent that the company would need to diversify to avoid risk associated with the single, relatively unique service that it offered. David and Brad strategized about approaches to drive growth beyond marine-related work. As part of the comprehensive business plan, they developed marketing and sales ideas and decided to target other industries with growing demand for composite materials and processes. In the end, sales increased and three jobs were created.
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Scott Conrad Six River Marine turned to their Maine SBDC business counselor for support growing their quality focused marine service and boat building business. Scott and his partner Chip Miller, dissatisfied with their choppy growth, made a decision to build their company with intention, and a focus on lean manufacturing and continuous improvements. Working with certified business counselor Brad Swanson, from the Maine SBDC service center at CEI, they coordinated their work on their business management improvements with those of a lean manufacturing consultant. Looking forward and weighing their options, they realized that their financial forecasting model was inadequate to accurately project their resource requirements. Over the course of several meetings with Brad, they constructed a projection model that allowed them to set sale goals and project the staffing hours required to reach certain profit goals. Working with Brad, Six River Marine has created a more strategic business plan complete with improvement goals to chart their future growth.
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Brian Blood Thirty-three year old Brian Blood loves his hometown. His many fond memories included an old time filling station on Northport Avenue that was once a Belfast fixture but was now closed. He decided to buy the old station and bring it back to life. He envisioned pumping gas, checking oil, fixing cars and providing service just like they used to when the station first opened in 1956. The bank liked Brian’s idea and enthusiasm but needed more details. They sent him to work with Tom Gallant, a Maine SBDC certified business counselor at Maine SBDC’s service center at Eastern Maine Development Corporation (EMDC). Tom helped Brian develop a detailed business plan and make decisions about financing options. As part of his plan, Brian got important letters from two prospective customers – the local police department and the local sheriff’s office – who said they wanted him to service their fleets at the new garage.
Ellen Converse and Linda Converse Certified business counselor, Gordon Platt, is helping business partners, Ellen Converse and her mother Linda Converse, launch their catering business. Platt, who is part of the Maine Small Business Development Centers service center at the Southern Maine Regional Planning Commission, has given the entrepreneurial duo guidance and tools for getting started on their business plan. Recently, Ellen met with Gordon to update him on their progress. She reported that the two have registered the business, moved their website to their own domain, and recently catered several functions. Ellen also brought in a sample of English muffins that she is producing for a local restaurant. She and Gordon discussed ideas on packaging and pricing the caterers’ meals and strategies for developing products for families with newborns. Gordon suggested that Ellen consider developing a similar line, marketed under a different name, for customers who might want to purchase meals for new neighbors as well as for aged, ill or hospitalized family members . Gordon will continue to work with Ellen and Linda in the weeks ahead to diversify their client base and find new customers.
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Joyce Transue Restaurateur Joyce Transue has developed a delicious, new salad dressing. Customers at her Courtyard Café love it but Joyce wants to broaden the market for her new creation. To do so, she’s been working with certified business counselor Rod Thompson at the Maine SBDC service center at Northern Maine Development Council (NMDC). Rod is helping Joyce finding someone to pack her product and has been working with a Maine Department of Economic & Community Development business specialist to help locate a packer. Meanwhile, Rod helped Joyce access a small manufacturing grant from NMDC. When Joyce had computer and e-mail issues, Rod also provided assistance. Now she has plans to participate in one of Rod’s upcoming e-commerce training sessions.
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James and Holli Owsley Although these clients already had the basics of a business plan, a local banker suggested that they see Maine SBDC certified business counselor Tom Gallant to strengthen their plan. James and Holli started their business selling “wedding dresses for less” in April 2008 and they needed additional financing to buy more inventory. They buy last year's models of dresses and are able to sell them for reduced prices, compared to the other wedding dress stores. Even though their prices are comparatively low, they are positioned to run a profitable business. In short, they're developing a nice market niche.
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Mike Brasslett This five-year-old retail saw and service business struggled financially until a local banker suggested that owner Mike Brasslett work with the Maine SBDC. When Mike met certified business counselor Tom Gallant at Maine SBDC’s service center at Eastern Maine Development Corporation, sales were down, business was slow, profits were non existent, credit card debts were mounting up and there was no cash. Seven employees depended on this business for their livelihood.
Barry Estabrook Barry Estabrook is a third generation Maine logger. Last year, he contacted his local state representative because rising diesel prices were not only endangering his own business but the entire Maine logging industry. Rep. Nancy Smith referred Barry to Maine SBDC for help. Maine SBDC certified counselor Tom Gallant, director of the Maine SBDC service center at Eastern Maine Development Corporation, met with Barry. He recognized immediately Barry’s strengths and helped Barry determine what business opportunities he should focus on to increase cash flow. Tom noted that Barry also had a few clients for whom he hauled trash. Tom encouraged Barry to separate his small rubbish hauling business from his logging business. Through many hours of counseling and financial forecasting, Barry was able to demonstrate the growth potential in the rubbish business. He used this planning to prepare a successful loan application. In the end, Barry developed a revenue stream which had a better cash flow and business model than his logging business. Tom coached Barry on purchasing additional equipment and focusing marketing efforts to expand this profitable revenue stream. With Tom’s help, Barry re-invented his business, and because his business is still growing, Barry continues to work with Tom to plan for the future. He has already hired his son, Barry, and daughter, Samantha. Both, he says, are helping to expand the business and allow Barry to pursue logging opportunities when they arise.
Keri Stoorza, P.T. Physical therapist, Keri Stoorza from Limington, wanted to open her own pediatric physical therapy practice. To do so, she decided to obtain a bank loan and set about the task of preparing a business plan. She approached certified business counselor, Gordon Platt, from the Maine Small Business Development Centers. Gordon is assigned to the Maine SBDC service center at the University of Southern Maine in Portland and serves York County. Keri had a strong understanding of what should be contained in her plan but benefitted from the on-going review that Gordon did of each of her drafts. Gordon typically meets with small business clients to review the components of a good business plan. Then, like Keri, the client works on a first draft and when it is ready, e-mails it to Gordon. By the time a client comes in for a second meeting, Gordon has reviewed the draft and has specific comments. Keri and Gordon used this process, revising through several drafts, until the plan was done. Keri’s business plan helped her obtain a bank loan to help her finance her business dreams. Today, Keri has a successful niche practice with two employees who serve children from infancy to 18 years of age with a variety of physical therapy services.
Used with clients’ permission. |