Small Business Help

FCF/FFC advocates for and delivers tax relief for small business owners

FCF/FFC advocates for and delivers tax relief for small business owners

First Capital Finance/Florida First Capital (FCF/FFC) won big for small businesses in Florida during this legislative session. Working hand-in-hand with members of the Florida House of Representatives and the Senate, FCF/FFC secured passage of language addressing the double taxation of SBA 504 loans.

“This is a huge win for both small business owners and our lending partners,” said Todd Kocourek, FCF/FFC President and CEO. “By signing this bill, the state has provided flexibility in structuring loans, reduced lender risk, and removed the double taxation many small business owners incurred.”

FCF/FFC has 40 years of experience working with private-sector lenders to provide small business owners in Florida with long-term, fixed-interest below-market financing through the Small Business Administration (SBA) 504 Loan Program. These loans are used by businesses to buy or build commercial property and purchase heavy-duty machinery and equipment.

The passage of this year’s tax package eliminates the requirement for additional documentary and intangible taxes when issuing a note to transfer interim loans to an SBA loan.

The unfair language of the original statute was evident to legislators who saw no reason to impose additional taxation on 504 loans to small business owners simply because the named lender on the interim loan was different than the one on the first mortgage. Governor DeSantis signed the legislation into law on May 25, 2023, and it goes into effect July 1, 2023.

FCF/FFC thanks the legislature and the Governor for passing such an important piece of tax relief for small business owners and borrowers.

About First Capital Finance/Florida First Capital 

With 40 years of experience, FCF/FFC is one of the nation’s top-ranked CDCs promoting economic development and job creation in Alabama, Florida, and Georgia. FCF/FFC is a non-profit-certified development company promoting economic development and job creation.

Under the SBA 504 Loan Program, FCF/FFC works with private-sector lenders to provide eligible small business owners in Alabama, Florida, and Georgia with below-market, fixed-interest rate long-term financing to buy or build commercial property and/or purchase fixed heavy-duty machinery and equipment. Florida First Capital also lends under the Rebuild Florida Business Loan Fund as well as the Florida Recycling Loan Program and other small business assistance programs.

 

Get in Touch: Email us at [email protected] or call us toll-free at 800.504.LOAN.

 

Treasure Coast Business is a news service and magazine published in print, via e-newsletter and online at tcbusiness.com by Indian River Media Group. For more information or to report news email [email protected]

Jun. 1, 2023|

Bank of America Breakthrough Lab™ seeks founders of early-stage startups

Bank of America Breakthrough Lab™ seeks founders of early-stage startups

BOA Logo

Bank of America is pleased to officially launch its impact accelerator program named Bank of America Breakthrough Lab with the call for applications for the September 2023 cohort. The six-month program provides tailored mentorship, digital expertise, networking with industry experts and access to potential investors to Black, Hispanic-Latino, Native American and other entrepreneurs from underrepresented communities so that they can scale-up their technology-related businesses.

Founders of early-stage startups from underrepresented communities are encouraged to apply to the program that promotes financial inclusion and financial technology development with the goal of increasing the number and growth of small businesses. The deadline for applications is June 8, 2023 for a September 2023 start date.

“The bank’s long-standing commitment to supporting economic opportunity for people and communities we serve is at the core of Bank of America Breakthrough Lab,” said Rina Arline, Breakthrough Lab Program Director in Global Transaction Services at Bank of America. “We’re excited to play a role in giving emerging entrepreneurs from a range of backgrounds access to the bank’s vast resources and industry networks.”

Bank of America plans to host a new cohort each year. Program details and instructions for how to apply appear below.

Breakthrough Lab Success

In 2021, the bank launched a pilot program with five startups from the New York area. Following the initial success, in 2022 the bank expanded the pilot with 17 companies from the U.S., Mexico, United Kingdom and France.

Bank of America’s Efforts to Advance Economic Opportunity

Bank of America remains committed to supporting business owners and entrepreneurs from underrepresented communities grow their businesses, which generates economic opportunities that helps create jobs and build wealth. Bank of America also works with an established network of community partners that provides capital or serves as depository institutions, and offers businesses with access to other funds, investors and vendors by creating connectivity within the venture capital sphere. In 2021, the bank launched the Access to Capital Directory for Entrepreneurs - Access to Capital Directory to help connect women-owned businesses to resources on navigating the capital landscape and identifying potential sources of funding. This directory has now expanded to encompass Black and Hispanic Latino entrepreneurs.

To date, Bank of America has committed $421 million to more than 130 minority and women-led funds.  Those funds will in turn invest in an estimated 2,000-plus minority- and women-led companies over five years.

“Our investment in minority and women-led funds has a catalytic effect in supporting diverse communities,” said Tram Nguyen, Global Head of Strategic & Sustainable Investments at Bank of America. “Each time we support a minority-led fund, they in turn support diverse entrepreneurs, which ultimately helps us to achieve our goal of advancing economic opportunity.  Each cohort of Breakthrough Lab founders plays a critical role in helping us to drive progress.”

Program Application Details

  • Timeline: The six-month part-time program runs September 2023 to March 2024.
  • Who can apply: Pre-seed stage companies with ideas related to FinTech or tech-enabled ideas promoting inclusion such as HealthTech, WealthTech, EdTech, and housing. While the aspirational goal of the program is to increase access for underrepresented groups, all eligible entrepreneurs regardless of background are encouraged to apply.
  • Online application

Highlights:

  • The program is offered at no cost1to the BTL participants and there is no expectation or requirement to exchange equity with the bank.
  • Each cohort is assigned mentors at the managing director or executive level from Bank of America.
  • 94 hours of live instruction spanning a diverse range of business management topics.
  • Technology support.
  • A branding package covering website and logo design.
  • Guidance on how to partner or sell to large enterprises.
  • Exposure to investors and providers of capital, including a pitch day at the end of the program where each cohort will present their business case.

Bank of America

Bank of America is one of the world’s leading financial institutions, serving individual consumers, small and middle-market businesses and large corporations with a full range of banking, investing, asset management and other financial and risk management products and services. The company provides unmatched convenience in the United States, serving approximately 68 million consumer and small business clients with approximately 3,900 retail financial centers, approximately 15,000 ATMs and award-winning digital banking with approximately 56 million verified digital users. Bank of America is a global leader in wealth management, corporate and investment banking and trading across a broad range of asset classes, serving corporations, governments, institutions and individuals around the world. Bank of America offers industry-leading support to approximately 3 million small business households through a suite of innovative, easy-to-use online products and services. The company serves clients through operations across the United States, its territories and more than 35 countries. Bank of America Corporation stock (NYSE: BAC) is listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

 

Treasure Coast Business is a news service and magazine published in print, via e-newsletter and online at tcbusiness.com by Indian River Media Group. For more information or to report news email [email protected]

May. 18, 2023|

Treasure Coast Business News Nov. 29, 2022

*|MC:SUBJECT|*

FPL donates $50,000 to 
support Florida SBDC disaster recovery efforts

The Florida SBDC Network, the state’s principal provider of small business assistance, is committed to ensuring that small business owners impacted by Hurricane Ian receive the resources and assistance they need to rebuild and recover. The network is pleased to announce that Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) has provided the Florida SBDC with $50,000 to support the network’s continued efforts to help small businesses impacted by the storm...Read More>>

'Tis the season to share your good news with thousands of regular readers and customers

We know good things are happening with your business, and wouldn't it be nice to share that good news with customers, other businesses, residents, and visitors to the Treasure Coast? You can do that with just a simple press release or email to us at [email protected]

Data speaks volumes first free workshop/webinar of Marcia Salmon 2022 fall series


Learn how to get your agency data and statistics ready to create a compelling story to incorporate in your Statement of Need. This webinar is ideal for new non-profits that are eager to submit a grant application but have little or no data available in a suitable format... Read More>>

IRSC Promise Program 2023 questions and answers

 

On Nov. 16, 2022, Indian River State College (IRSC) revealed the IRSC Promise Program 2023—its most significant investment in eliminating barriers to higher education. Promise 2023 offers tuition-free Associate degrees for qualifying 2023 graduates from public and public charter high schools in Indian River, Martin, Okeechobee and St. Lucie counties, as well as eligible, in-district home school graduates.
 
Here are some answers to commonly asked questions
...
 Read More>>

A Day’s Journey: self-discovery and personal growth workshop

Self-discovery doesn’t require you to reinvent yourself (unless you want to). You can simply desire to understand yourself better.  We all question who we truly are at some point on our journey...Read More

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Clerk of the Circuit Court - St. Lucie County
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Treasure Coast Hospice
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Harbor Place of Port St. Lucie
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Post Insurance
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State Farm/Bill Knight
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LAW OFFICES
Fee, Yates, & Fee, P.L.
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NONPROFIT
Treasure Coast Food Bank
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PRINTING/SIGNS
Fast Signs of Vero Beach
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RADIO
WQCS
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REAL ESTATE
Branca Realty Professionals
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Oceanside Realty Partners
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ROOFING
EP6 Group
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STONE WORK & GRANITE
Real Stone & Granite
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AIR CONDITIONING
Miller's Central Air
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AIRPORTS/AVIATION
Palm Beach International Airport
561.471.7400
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ART DEALER & FRAMING
Frank’s Hang Up
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frankshangup.com

ART GALLERIES/ARTISTS/
FRAMING

A.E. Backus Museum
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backusmuseum.com

Florida Art Exchange
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Vero Beach Museum of Art
772.231.0707
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ATTRACTIONS
Elliott Museum
772.225.1961
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MidFlorida Event Center
midfloridaeventcenter.com

Okeechobee County Tourist Development Council
863.763.3959
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St. Lucie Regional History Center
772.462.1795
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AUTO DEALERS
Bev Smith Automotive Group
772.464.8440
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Infiniti of Melbourne
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AUTOMOTIVE
St. Lucie Battery & Tire
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BANKING
SouthState Bank
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BEVERAGES
Natalie’s Orchid Island Juice Co.
800.FRESHHH
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BUILDERS
GHO Homes
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BUTCHER SHOP
A Butcher Shoppe & A Bit More
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CANDY/ CONFECTIONARY
Bruno’s Chocolate
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CAR WASH

Wash-N-Go Express Car Wash
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CASINOS
Seminole Brighton Casino
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CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE
St. Lucie County Chamber of Commerce
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CITRUS/PRODUCE
Nelson Family Farms
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CREDIT UNION
MidFlorida Credit Union
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DENTIST
All Smiles Dentistry
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DIVE & WATERSPORTS
Deep Six
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EDUCATION
Florida Atlantic University's Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute
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Indian River State College
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EYEWEAR/OPTICAL CARE
C.R. Lait
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Taylor Creek Optical
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Adams Ranch
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Danish Furniture Inc.
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Mattress Market
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Indian Hills Golf
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Savanna Club
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Champion Golf Carts
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Total Golf Cart
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Saint Lucie County Property Appraiser
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GRILL CLEANING
Florida Native Grill Cleaning

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A Moment’s Notice Healthcare
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amnhc.com

Indian River Home Care
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HOME IMPROVEMENT
Artistic Closets
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McMow Art Glass
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HOSPITALS
Cleveland Clinic Martin Health System
772.345.8100
martinhealth.org

Sebastian River Medical Center
772.581.8003
sebastianrivermedical.org

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Harbor Place of Port St. Lucie
772.337.4330
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The Palms of St. Lucie West
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INSURANCE
Geico Insurance - Maggie Deng
772.400.6680
geico.com/vero-beach-deng

McCall Insurance
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mccallagencyinc.com

Post Insurance
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InsureWithPost.com


State Farm/Bill Knight
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billknightinsurance.com

INTERIOR DESIGN/FURNISHINGS
Decor Envy
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shopdecorenvy.com

H. Allen Holmes, Inc.
772.245.8586
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Karen Kane Interiors
772.465.2574
kkaneinteriors.com

JEWELRY
Diamonds by Terry
772.781.1133
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St. Lucie Jewelry and Coins
772.336.2050
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LAW OFFICES
Fee, Yates, & Fee, P.L.
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Florida Personal Injury Law Team
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Rossway Swan
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RosswaySwan.com

LUMBER & HARDWARE
East Coast Lumber
772.461.5950
eastcoastlumber.com

MEDICAL
Ocean Chiropractic & Health Center
772.460.9000
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Orthopaedic Center of Vero Beach
772.778.2009
orthocentervb.com

South Florida Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine
772.288.2400
SouthFlaOrtho.com

MENTAL HEALTH
Mental Health Association Indian River
772.569.9788
mhairc.org

MUNICIPALITIES
City of Fort Pierce
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Cityoffortpierce.com

City of Port St. Lucie
772.871.5225
cityofpsl.com

NONPROFITS
Children’s Services Council of St. Lucie County
772.408.1100
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Family Meals
772.210.0900
familymealsinc.org

Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute Foundation
772.466.9876
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Project Lifesaver
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projectlifesaver.org

Treasure Coast Food Bank
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Treasure Coast Hospice
772.403.4500
treasurehealth.org

OPHTHALMOLOGY
New Vision Eye Center
772.257.8700
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PERFORMING ARTS
Sunrise Theatre
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Vero Beach Theatre Guild
772.562.8300
verobeachtheatreguild.com

PET STORE
The Noble Paw
772.348.0800
thenoblepaw.com

PET SUPPLIES
Pet Supplies Plus
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petsuppliesplus.com

PLASTIC SURGERY
Ocean Drive Plastic Surgery
772.234.3700
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RADIO
WQCS
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REAL ESTATE
ABC Realty 772465.5100 ABCRealtyFortPierceFL.com

Branca Realty Professionals
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brancarealty.com

John’s Island Real Estate Co.
772.231.0900
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Keller Williams/AnnMarie Napolitano
Cell: 954.675.2804
Office: 772.236.5700
napolitano.homesandland.com

Keller Williams Realty at Port St. Lucie
561.379.6875
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teambroomfield.kw.com

Mark Walters & Company
772.468.8306
WaltersCo.com

Oceanside Realty Partners
772.418.4420
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RESTAURANTS
Casey’s Place
772.231.4790
caseysplace.net

Crabby's Dockside
772.252.5672
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Ocean Grill
772.231.5409
ocean-grill.com

Sharkys
772.466.2757

ROOFING
EP6 Group
772.332.9100
ep6group.com

SENIOR CARE
Oasis Senior Advisors
772.600.8204
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SHOPPING
Best Value Jewelry & Pawn
772.467.1199
772.340.2424
bestvaluepawn.net

Kemp’s
772.221.9973
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Top Drawer Boutique
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topdrawerfl.com

STONE WORK & GRANITE
Real Stone & Granite
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SHUTTERS/WINDOW TREATMENTS
Florida Shutters Inc.
772.569.2200
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Impact Experts
772.285.9342
impactglassexperts.com

WEDDING/VENUES
The Crane Club
772.200.2662
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Adams Media Group
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Idea Garden
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ideaga.com

Nicolace Marketing, Inc.
772.299.4889

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Dec. 1, 2022|

Florida Department of Economic Opportunity Activates Business Damage Assessment

 Florida Department of Economic Opportunity Activates Business Damage Assessment

 

The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) announced the activation of the Business Damage Assessment Survey to gauge the impact of Hurricane Nicole on Florida businesses. Survey responses will assist the state in expediting recovery efforts by providing data on the needs of affected businesses.

On Nov. 10, Gov. Ron DeSantis issued Executive Order 22-256, declaring a state of emergency for the entire State of Florida. St. Lucie County encouraging any businesses impacted by Hurricane Nicole to complete the survey.

“The Business Damage Assessment Survey assists DEO and its federal, state and local partners in understanding physical and economic impacts to inform decision-making. I encourage businesses impacted by Hurricane Nicole to complete the survey at www.FloridaDisaster.biz,” said DEO Secretary Dane Eagle.

Results from the Business Damage Assessment Survey will be shared with various federal, state and local agencies to implement appropriate relief. Businesses can complete the survey online or visit www.FloridaDisaster.biz and select “Hurricane Nicole” from the dropdown menu. If you need additional assistance with your business, please call 850-815-4925 between the hours of 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. or email [email protected]Florida.com.

The Florida Small Business Development Center at Indian River State College wants to ensure all state and/or federal emergency lending tools and programs are available to area businesses. If local businesses have any questions regarding the survey or would like to speak with the local Florida Small Business Development Center, please contact Katie Muldoon at 772-336-6285 or email [email protected].

About DEO

The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity combines the state’s economic, workforce, and community development efforts, expediting economic development projects to fuel job creation in competitive communities and promote economic resiliency. For more information, including valuable resources for employers and job seekers, please visit www.FloridaJobs.org.

 

Treasure Coast Business is a news service and magazine published in print, via e-newsletter and online at tcbusiness.com by Indian River Media Group. For more information or to report news email [email protected]

Nov. 17, 2022|

Florida SBDC IRSC teaches how to become a bankable business

Florida SBDC IRSC teaches how to become a bankable business

 

 

The Florida Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Indian River State College (IRSC) in collaboration with the Florida Bankers Association will conduct and host the How to Become a Bankable Business seminar.  The event will take place on the IRSC Massey Campus Kight Center For Emerging Technologies in Fort Pierce on Friday, Oct. 21, 2022 from 8:00 to 11:00 a.m.

Capital is critical for entrepreneurs as they launch and grow their businesses. A regionally healthy small business community is essential for sustainable economic development and neighborhood revitalization. Entrepreneurs need access to capital, networks and guidance as they grow. Access to capital supports the region’s recruitment of new business ventures, while also providing existing operators the environment to expand operations, which creates new employment opportunities. Frequently, worthwhile projects with great economic potential never move beyond the planning stage due to the inability to access needed capital.

In this seminar business owners will learn from the top banks in the community, get questions answered from real local lenders, and network with other business owners, bankers, and more.

There is no cost to attend, all interested can register via: https://form.jotform.com/222795410943156

Sponsors and speakers for this event include Marine Bank & Trust, PNC Bank, and SouthState Bank. Refreshments and networking opportunities will be available.

Hosted by Indian River State College, the Florida SBDC at IRSC provides aspiring and existing small businesses in Indian River, St. Lucie, Martin, and Okeechobee counties with no-cost consulting, low-cost training, and access to business data and research resources.

To learn more about this event or the FSBDC at IRSC please call (772) 336-6285, or email [email protected]

 

About the Florida SBDC Network:

For over forty years, the Florida SBDC Network, the state’s principal provider of business assistance [Fl. Stat. 288.001], has nourished a statewide partnership between higher education and economic development to provide existing and emerging small and medium-sized business owners with management and knowledge resources that enable overall growth, increased profitability, and economic prosperity for Florida’s economy.

In 2019, Florida SBDCs provided 114,064 hours of professional business consulting to 12,535 client businesses, resulting in 37,966 jobs impacted; $4.4 billion in sales generated; $496.5 million in government contracts acquired; and $255.3 million in capital accessed; and 453 new businesses started.  With over 40 offices statewide, the Florida SBDC is funded in part by the U.S. Small Business Administration, Defense Logistics Agency, State of Florida and other private and public partners. The Florida SBDC Network, headquartered at the University of West Florida, is nationally accredited by the Association of SBDCs and is a recipient of the President’s E Award for Export Service. Florida SBDC services are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis. Language assistance services are available for individuals with limited English proficiency. For more information, please visit www.FloridaSBDC.org.

 

 

 

 

Treasure Coast Business is a news service and magazine published in print, via e-newsletter and online at tcbusiness.com by Indian River Media Group. For more information or to report news email [email protected]
Oct. 10, 2022|

Know Your Numbers: 5 Keys to Small Business Success

Know Your Numbers: 5 Keys to Small Business Success

 

 

The phrase “Know Your Numbers” typically refers to measuring your personal health by knowing your blood pressure, weight, cholesterol levels, etc. You and your doctor can use these numbers to make sure you’re healthy and identify early indicators of potential issues.

The same concept applies to your small business. Some small business owners consider their business to be a success if their bank account is growing – or at least not shrinking. But that’s the equivalent of saying you’re healthy because you feel good today. Just like for your health, there are key metrics that will help you better understand your business and uncover opportunities and potential issues.

#1: Start Simply

You do not need to become a data scientist to make sense of small business metrics. But it is easy to get overwhelmed. So start simply and build from there.

Find a performance dashboard you like, such as the one provided by your point-of-sale system. In this Best Practices for Small Business Success series, we’ll use examples from the Manage My Business app because it is specifically designed to help small business optimize their results. But use whatever you’re comfortable with.

You already know your sales numbers, so start by looking at this metric from different perspectives. For example, a "heatmap" graph is an excellent way to visualize your sales by the time of the day as well as the day of the week. In the following example, it’s easy to see the busiest day is Saturday and the slowest hour is 4-5pm on weekdays – perhaps indicating the need to close an hour earlier on weekdays.

Similarly, sales trend graphs often provide great insights, especially when viewed from different perspectives. This next example shows sales on Wednesdays are declining slightly over time, which could indicate a normal seasonal trend or a potential issue to investigate further.

The key is to start by looking at a few key metrics (like Sales and Order Size) to avoid getting overwhelmed and frustrated, and then expand from there as you become more comfortable with your data.

#2: Only Use Apples-to-Apples Comparisons

Comparing today’s results to those a month ago can be useful as long as “month” is defined as “four weeks ago”. This is because the day of the week influences sales for almost every business. So comparing April 30 (a Saturday) to March 30 (a Wednesday) is typically not useful, but comparing April 30 to April 2 (both Saturdays) can be very useful in measuring growth.

The same concept applies to holidays, where Mother’s Day is May 8 in 2022 but May 14 in 2023. Holidays that are on the same date every year (Christmas, Juneteenth, etc.) are exceptions, where it may be useful to compare the same date year-over-year.

A similar issue comes up for intraday comparisons. It doesn’t make sense to compare results as of noon today to the entire day of sales yesterday.  However, a comparison of sales as of noon today to sales as of noon yesterday can be very insightful.

Oddly enough, most dashboards do not make it easy to make apples-to-apples comparisons. The Manage My Business app is perhaps the only app available to small businesses that is built to ensure apples-to-apples comparisons – including understanding holidays, as shown in this example:

#3: Keep Everything in Context

It’s easy to misinterpret or misuse data, especially when it’s taken out of context. You know your business well, so make sure all metrics are interpreted within the context of your business.

Let's consider the first example above where 4-5pm on weekdays is the slowest hour. Perhaps this is good because it allows your employees to start pre-closing work and leave a little earlier – reducing payroll costs while still offering convenient store hours for your customers. Or perhaps it would be better to close earlier. Putting the data in context will ensure you make good data-driven decisions.

Keep external influences in mind as well. For example, COVID-19 caused Order Size to increase for many small businesses as consumers bought larger quantities to reduce the number of trips outside the home. The Order Size then declined as life slowly returned to normal. A decline in this key metric is usually a negative indicator, but this external factor explains why it might not be a cause for concern in this situation.

Similarly, a major retailer of cribs saw a sudden drop in their crib sales some years ago and didn’t know what to do. Based on data from a market research firm, they discovered crib sales were down for all retailers, not just them. This market context prevented them from making a bad business decision (heavy discounting or discontinuing crib sales). Crib sales returned to normal within the next six months.

#4: Keep Asking “Why?”

Analytics are only useful if you can identify why something happened and apply that insight to improve future performance. Understanding why crib sales dropped (an unusual, short-term drop in demand) allowed that retailer to make informed decisions about its future. Not understanding why could have led to disastrous results.

As you’re looking at your performance data, keep asking yourself why something happened – regardless of whether it was a positive or negative change. Negative results tend to draw our attention, but there’s a lot to be learned about why performance improved as well.

For example, price changes can obviously affect sales. In the graphs below, it’s not clear why cappuccino sales (as a percentage of total sales) were flat or trending slightly up after the price increase while latte sales were trending down. Perhaps one was still favorably priced compared to competitors while the other became overpriced. Digging deeper into the “why” will help determine if additional price adjustments are needed.

It's a never-ending process, but that’s part of the fun of owning a small business. It’s a series of challenges that push you to find new and innovative ways to create great products and customer experiences. Continually asking “Why?” will often identify new ways to make your small business special.

#5: Trust Your (Informed) Gut

Most small business owners don’t have a business degree, but they do have an intense passion for what they’re selling – whether it’s coffee or antiques or fashion or whatever motivated them to start their business. As a result, you are a subject matter expert for your business and will have good instincts for how to run it.

Analytics complement your expertise by providing insights that may not be obvious from just observing the day-to-day business. Going overboard with analytics is just as bad as ignoring analytics. It’s the balance between expertise, instinct and data-driven decisions that will be the key to your business’s success.

Steven Roth is the creator of the Manage My Business app and best practices guides. He is passionate about helping "mom-and-pop" stores make better data-driven decisions by making analytics accessible and actionable.
Steven has been a retail consultant for 20+ years, including several years at Google. He is an expert in retail analytics and has helped build tools and services used by millions of retailers worldwide. He currently owns two small businesses, giving him firsthand knowledge of the challenges small businesses face daily.

Next Steps

Get to know your numbers by finding a dashboard that supports your business needs. Big retailers have teams of data scientists that do this analysis, but a data-focused mindset along with your existing expertise and instincts can give your small business a big edge.

 

Florida's Small Business Development Center

 

Treasure Coast Business is a news service and magazine published in print, via e-newsletter and online at tcbusiness.com by Indian River Media Group. For more information or to report news email [email protected]

 

Jul. 7, 2022|

Bank of America offers digital resources to help Entrepreneurs start and grow their Businesses

Bank of America offers digital resources to help Entrepreneurs start and grow their Businesses

New secured credit options, including a credit card and credit line, and the Start a Business Center digital experience demonstrate ongoing commitment to helping small businesses succeed

BOA Logo

 

 

Bank of America announced the launch of the Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Secured credit card, Business Advantage Secured Credit Line and the Start a Business Center – its latest products and resources for entrepreneurs looking to start a small business or build their business’ credit history.

“Bank of America is committed to providing small business owners with innovative solutions and advice that can help them grow their business and establish long term financial wellness,” said Sharon Miller, president of Small Business and head of Specialty Banking and Lending at Bank of America. “These latest offerings are designed to empower entrepreneurs by providing them with access to resources that will help them to start or strengthen their businesses.”

Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Secured credit card

As small business owners continue to navigate a challenging business environment, the Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Secured credit card provides a new tool to help them establish, strengthen or rebuild their business credit – all while providing cardholders with the benefits that matter most to their business.

The new credit card is available now and has no annual fee. Benefits include:

  • Client-determined credit line from $1,000 to $10,000
  • 1.5% cash back on all purchases, with no annual rewards earn cap
  • Preferred Rewards for Business eligibility, providing access to a wide range of valuable rewards, benefits and savings – all with no fee to join or participate

Secured Business Advantage Credit Line

Additionally, Bank of America will offer a Secured Business Advantage Credit Line for small business owners, scheduled to launch later in 2022.

The credit line includes:

  • Client-determined credit line from $1,000 to $50,000
  • Convenient access to funds via online banking, convenience checks and linked Visa card
  • Annual renewal fee of $150

“Straightforward and convenient access to capital is crucial to ensuring small business owners have the resources they need to succeed,” said Chris Wong, Small Business Products executive at Bank of America. “With the launch of the new Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Secured Credit Card and Secured Business Advantage Credit Line, Bank of America remains committed to helping our 11 million business owner clients build and strengthen their business credit.”

Start a Business Center Digital Experience

Bank of America has also introduced a new resource to assist clients with starting a new small business. The Start a Business Center digital experience guides existing small business clients and aspiring business owners on exactly how to start and run their new business. It also offers an exclusive discount on business formation for Bank of America clients through Incfile.1

The digital experience offers resources such as business plan templates, partners for critical services and access to Bank of America Small Business specialists. Clients can utilize tips and considerations on topics such as writing a business plan, business legal structures, marketing strategy and business financing options.

To view our small business resources, download the Bank of America app or visit bankofamerica.com.

Bank of America

Bank of America is one of the world’s leading financial institutions, serving individual consumers, small and middle-market businesses and large corporations with a full range of banking, investing, asset management and other financial and risk management products and services. The company provides unmatched convenience in the United States, serving approximately 67 million consumer and small business clients with approximately 4,200 retail financial centers, approximately 16,000 ATMs, and award-winning digital banking with more than 54 million verified digital users. Bank of America is a global leader in wealth management, corporate and investment banking and trading across a broad range of asset classes, serving corporations, governments, institutions and individuals around the world. Bank of America offers industry-leading support to approximately 3 million small business households through a suite of innovative, easy-to-use online products and services. The company serves clients through operations across the United States, its territories and approximately 35 countries. Bank of America Corporation stock (NYSE: BAC) is listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

 

 

Treasure Coast Business is a news service and magazine published in print, via e-newsletter and online at tcbusiness.com by Indian River Media Group. For more information or to report news email [email protected]

 

Mar. 28, 2022|

Florida small businesses are resilient, even in face of hurdles presented by pandemic

Small business owners are nothing if not intrepid. They demonstrate their flexibility no matter what situation arises. Their resiliency has never been more apparent than in recent months as they encountered setbacks related to COVID-19.
Feb. 24, 2021|