Small Business Development Center at USF
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SBDC Success Stories and Testimonials


There’s a lot to Love About Sublime Yoga in Dunedin
Small Business Development Center at Pinellas County Economic Certified Business Analyst, Kurt Forster, with clients, Jason and Jade Seibert, at Sublime Yoga.

Small Business Development Center at Pinellas County Economic Certified Business Analyst, Kurt Forster, with clients, Jason and Jade Seibert, at Sublime Yoga.

Jason and Jade Seibert love yoga. In fact, they fell in love after Jason attended his first Yoga class taught by Jade.  As their love for yoga and each other grew, they decided it was time to start their own yoga studio in their home town of Dunedin. But, before they did, they contacted the Kurt Forster, a Certified Business Analyst with the Small Business Development Center at Pinellas County Economic Development (SBDC at PCED). Now, the couple offers 15 different classes a week and has hired some of the top yoga instructors in the Tampa Bay area.

The Seibert’s goal was to create a cozy community oriented yoga studio where people would enjoy hanging out in their comfortable lounge before or after a class, or just to use the Wi-Fi and enjoy a cup of coffee.  They wanted yoga classes tailored to meet everyone’s needs— from the first time yogi to the seasoned yoga veteran. In order to do accomplish this they first worked with Forster to develop cash flow projections. This allowed them to determine the feasibility of their business idea and set a budget for success. the solution »

I'm most impressed by how helpful the one-on-one advice is. There's no feeling that one is being talked down to, even if the questions no doubt are elementary at times.
— Jeff Karon




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Latest Small Business Development Center Information


Maintaining Customer Service Under New Ownership

The maintenance light in my car came on about two weeks ago.  As usual, it took me a while to find time to get to my mechanic to get my oil changed, so I ignored it for a bit.  But I happened to be driving down Hillsborough Avenue in Tampa last Wednesday, and was very close to his shop, so I decided to drop in and see if he could squeeze me into his schedule.

I’ve been taking my cars to the same mechanic since 1985.  At first, Jim worked for a small shop that had been highly recommended.  So after a few years, when the two owners decided to close their shop, Jim chose to start his small business.  full story »


The Big Start-Up Business Mistake!

You’ve probably heard the alarming statistics saying that start-ups have failure rates of 80 percent and higher. While this statistic may be inflated, the truth is that many start-up companies do indeed fail. After working with hundreds of start-ups as a business consultant, I have identified the number one mistake causing most start-ups to founder is in the way they order the execution of the start-up process. Allow me to explain. When planning a start-up, burgeoning entrepreneurs usually think about the three main functional areas of a business in the following order: operations, finance and marketing. full story »

smallCoastBrothers

Transition from Fortune 500 to Florida Mid-Size

Transitioning from a multinational Fortune 500 company, to a Florida mid-size business is filled with challenges. When Steve Collins purchased Coast Brothers from the original owners in 2010, he took over the 13,000 square foot warehouse and its 10 employees and 8 account managers in Pinellas County. Keeping with the business’ all in the family tradition Stephen’s son, Patrick, joined the company. Now, Coast Brothers, which was established in 1988, is a multi-million dollar leading wholesale distributor providing over 1,000 items for the hospitality, healthcare, government, and commercial cleaning industry. full story »

Industry Highlights
small sbdc finance fair 2013

2013 SBDC Finance Fair August 22 and 23, 2013.

Cut through the clutter and confusion, and meet with a variety of lenders to explore options to finance and grow your business.  If you need to add equipment, supplies, payroll or insurance, this is the perfect opportunity to build effective relationships with lenders while learning about the borrowing process, programs and resources available for small businesses. details »

Small Business Development Center at The University of South Florida

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USF © 2010 Small Business Development Center at the University of South Florida
Funded in part by the U.S. Small Business Administration, the USF Small Business Development Center offers one-stop assistance to individuals and small businesses by providing a wide variety of information and guidance in central and easily accessible locations.