Do You — or Don’t You:  Have You Ever Sought to Take Advantage of a Government Program to Support Small Businesses?

BY INSTORE TEAM

Published in the September 2013 issue

YES, I HAVE (16%)

5 The Small Business Administration’s women’s mentoring program was very helpful with goals, business planning and advertising when I first started. — Brenda Reichel, Carats & Karats Fine Jewelry, Honolulu, HI

We have used government-sponsored training programs, but we decided it’s too much paperwork for us. — Ragnar Bertelsen, Ragnar Jewellers, Vancouver, BC, Canada

SBA loan to buy out partners. Couldn’t have done it without them. — Chuck Kuba, Iowa Diamond, Des Moines, IA

SCORE— they were retired executives so they would quote from a manual because they never did a start-up. — Howard Leong, Golden Image Jewelers, Thousand Oaks, CA

Downtown Development Authority pays half of any façade improvements — awnings, painting, etc. Great program. — Ronald D. Scott, Scott’s Jewelry, Americus, GA

SBA loan. It was absolutely not helpful, as Small Business Administration loans do not seem to be set up for actually small businesses. Apparently, below 500 employees is small business. 10 employees is Infinitesimal Business. That’s us. — Steph Farber, LeRoy Jewelers, Tacoma, WA

We financed both our original building purchase and our remodel expansion with SBA loans. — Mark & Monika Clodius, Clodius & Co., Rockford, IL

Massachussetts Small Business Develop-ment Center. It’s a huge help in understanding profit-and-loss statements, developing business plans and social media. I have meetings with them at least once a month … why not? My tax dollars are paying for this program! — Ann Foley-Collins, Glee Gifts, Mansfield, MA

Our area has a fantastic Small Business Development Center. They counseled me through creating my original business plan 16 years ago. — Kristy Goodrich, JK Jewelers, St. George, UT

NO, I HAVE NOT (84%)

I would if there was something that worked. Around here you just sink or swim on your own. — Mark Thomas Ruby, SunSpirit Designs, Loveland, CO

I’d sooner lock the doors than to have them involved in what I do! — Steve Stempinski, Steve’s Place, Madison, GA

I don’t believe the government should subsidize small business. I would prefer that they lower our taxes. — Brett Whittaker, Fernandina Beach, FL