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Jennifer Raines
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Jim Kennedy
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Katy Henderson
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Britt Mangold
My strongest advice would be to develop a support group with other business owners and work hard to support one another.
- Jennifer Raines, Owner of Quirks & The Sideshow Gallery, co-owner of Spoke + Art Provisions Company
Research all regulations before committing to any type of business activity. Always know the rules upfront, investigate costs for insurance, labor, trash removal, and a very important one: have a cap put on Common Area Maintenance. Have an attorney review your lease before you sign, and do not commit yourself personally if the business fails, because often they do fail.
- Jim Kennedy, Owner of Food-A-Tude Food Truck
I would encourage any person considering starting a business to get hard core about their ‘why.’ You have to be very passionate about your why and just as passionate about business–it’s a puzzle that is always changing.
- Katy Henderson, Owner of Studio South and Free Range Juice
I think it’s critical to get your personal finances in order before taking the leap and opening a business. In many cases, starting a business means leaving a predictable income and benefits. Before you do it, come up with a realistic calculation of what your operating costs will be and how you plan to generate the revenue you need.
- Britt Mangold, Owner of Intrepid Communications