Small Biz Florida
Small Biz FL was designed to highlight issues and promote business assistance resources available throughout the state of Florida.
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Episodes
Tuesday Nov 17, 2020
Tuesday Nov 17, 2020
Small Biz Florida host Tom Kindred speaks with Jose Torres of FranNet, a provider of education and support to individuals interested in exploring self-employment as a career option through franchised business ownership.
FranNet provides franchising education and research. Their consultants help: by educating you about franchising; by helping you research your business; identifying the right structure and strategic mix of the businesses you are interested in; and introducing you to the franchisors that fit your model.
Friday Jul 24, 2020
Friday Jul 24, 2020
Small Biz Florida host Tom Kindred talks access to capital with Danielle St Luce and Romessea Lewis of the Black Business Investment Fund Florida (BBIF).
BBIF Florida was established out of Florida statute through the Florida Small and Minority Business Act of 1985. BBIF Florida was created in 1987 and is headquartered in Orlando, Florida. The organization was started as a loan fund to support the creation and expansion of Black businesses by providing them loans, education and training. The organization was funded through a partnership of banks, the state of Florida and local governments. In 2009, BBIF expanded its loans and technical training services statewide providing loans and technical assistance training for African-American, other minority and underserved businesses.
BBIF is a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), private non-profit loan fund that specializes in providing loans and financial technical assistance services to Black, minority & underserved small businesses throughout Florida.
A Bridge Forward for Viable Underserved Businesses
Headquarters
301 East Pine Street, Suite 175
Orlando, Florida 32801
407.649.4780
Tuesday Jul 07, 2020
Tuesday Jul 07, 2020
Small Biz Florida host Tom Kindred speaks with Gerri Detweiler, Education Director for Nav.com. Nav was founded by two small business owners who faced the challenges of understanding business credit and accessing affordable financing themselves. They accessed business capital more than 30 times, were declined dozens of times, and yet were still able to grow several successful businesses. They've been where many small business owners are - and that's why they built Nav and made it their mission to help small business owners get easier access to better financing.
Gerri also discusses the re-opening of the SBA PPP Loan Program and how Nav can potentially assist a small business with this important capital access program.
Get matched to the right business financing
Get personalized financing recommendations — filtered and ranked — from over 110 business credit cards, lines of credit, SBA loans and more. Nav.com
Tuesday Jun 02, 2020
Tuesday Jun 02, 2020
As Florida's small business community gets "Back To Biz", it is time for owners to focus on a critical business component - Accounting. This should include a review of the income statement, balance sheet, cash flow, payables and receivables. Podcast host Tom Kindred speaks with Chris Fogal, a CPA with the firm of CRI - Carr, Riggs & Ingram, about reopening the business, reviewing and managing the financials.
Chris has been practicing public accounting for more than 35 years and specializes in corporate, partnership, and individual taxation; retirement planning; business planning and consulting; tax planning; buy-side and sell-side representation; and succession planning. His industry expertise includes construction, real estate, agribusiness, manufacturing and distribution, and professional practices (including medical & legal).
CRI is a family of CPAs and business advisors who value getting to know their clients professionally and personally. This knowledge helps their team of professionals deliver on the firm's passion: advising clients through their most critical financial opportunities, challenges, and transitions.
CRI has developed a landing page that provides information and posts on a number of COVID-19 business issues including:
Business Interruption Loss Recovery
Business Stabilization
Cash Protection
COVID-19: Paid Family Leave Tax Credits
Legislative Guidance & Government Initiatives
Main Street Lending
Small Business Administration (SBA) Disaster Loans
The link for this page is: www.cricpa.com/covid-19-resources/
Thursday May 14, 2020
Thursday May 14, 2020
Now that many Florida small businesses have re-engaged in the marketplace, it is time to review and update the business plan, allowing the owner to uncover and quantify potential opportunities, while identifying challenges and position the business to address both. Podcast host Tom Kindred speaks with Galen Pugh - Client Relations Manager at Bizminer, a leading provider of industry and market research analytics.
Bizminer provides analytical industry content to thousands of banking, accounting, valuation, CRE professionals and consultants; and over 200,000 business students in almost 100 universities. Bizminer is the exclusive provider of financial and industry market data services to the International Business Brokers Association. The company's granular, reliable content is licensed by US and Canadian taxing agencies.
The discussion also included information on the company's LOOK UP! Coronavirus Crisis Initiative, a no-cost resource launched to assist small business during COVID-19.
What is Bizminer's LOOK UP! Initiative?
LOOK UP! provides any business owner with free updates of Bizminer's customizable Monthly Small Business Monitor bundle, which was developed in response to the current medical, social and economic crisis. There is no cost, no obligation and no up-sell.
Friday May 08, 2020
Friday May 08, 2020
Has your business been impacted by the Coronavirus (COVID-19)? The Florida Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network and its state partners remain committed to helping you access the disaster recovery resources and consulting your business needs to recover, rebuild, and grow.
Small Biz Florida host Tom Kindred speaks with Dianne Gross, Florida SBDC Network Communications Specialist, about the organization's consulting and disaster relief support for the state's small business community. Joining the conversation regarding the Florida SBDC Network's disaster recovery efforts were Brian Van Hook, Regional Director Florida SBDC at FIU and Dorian Zwierewicz, Associate Director Florida SBDC at UWF.
Help is Here
The Florida SBDC Network is here to help your business recover. The network's team of disaster specialists and credentialed business consultants are available to provide confidential, no-cost consulting to assist business owners with post-disaster challenges.
To learn more, contact one of the 40 Florida SBDC Network offices nearest you by visiting - FloridaSBDC.org.
Thursday Apr 30, 2020
Thursday Apr 30, 2020
As Florida's small business owners prepare to re-engage in the marketplace, constructing a business plan will be critical. This plan should address cash flow, operating costs, employees, marketing and any new COVID-19 state guidelines. Podcast host Tom Kindred speaks with Sabrina Parsons - CEO Palo Alto Software, regarding the company's business planning tool LivePlan. A modern, innovative business planning tool, LivePlan simplifies business planning, budgeting, forecasting, and performance tracking for small businesses and startups.
LivePlan is a valuable tool to help business owners and entrepreneurs create both business plans and forecast. With the economic and marketplace unknowns during the COVID-19 crisis, having the ability to create multiple forecast scenarios relatively quickly is important for an owner to have some idea of the direction their company is potentially heading. Integration with QuickBooks behind the scenes is a powerful feature as it allows LivePlan to be Live.
Thursday Apr 23, 2020
Thursday Apr 23, 2020
Small Biz Florida host Tom Kindred speaks with Career Source Research Coast (CSRC) CEO, Brian Bauer. The discussion focused on this regional and statewide workforce development organization and their work in assisting Florida’s small business marketplace and employees as the state prepares to re-open.
CareerSource Florida is the statewide workforce policy and investment board of business and government leaders charged with guiding workforce development for the state of Florida. CareerSource Florida provides oversight and policy direction for talent development programs administered by the Department of Economic Opportunity, Florida’s 24 local workforce development boards, and their 100 career centers. Together, the CareerSource Florida network connects employers with qualified, skilled talent and Floridians with employment and career development opportunities to achieve economic prosperity.
Sunday Apr 12, 2020
Sunday Apr 12, 2020
The COVID-19 issue has forced many folks to set-up business operations at home. Small Biz Florida host Tom Kindred speaks with Zack Ibanez from EZETech regarding cyber-security issues related to operating technology from the house.
Zack and his technology team from EZETech provide assistance and support for those seeking a transition to secure work from home operations due to the increase in cybersecurity threats during this global pandemic.
Sunday Apr 05, 2020
Sunday Apr 05, 2020
Small Biz Florida host Tom Kindred conducted another special episode in a series dedicated to the COVID-19 disaster. This episode featured guest Victoria Guerrero - District Director for the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) South Florida District. The discussion focused on the benefits, eligibility and application process for the SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) and the new Payroll Protection Program (PPP). These loan programs represent two important resources for Florida's small business owners and operators.
Leadership and business expert Victoria Guerrero has over 20 years of experience leading, managing and transforming both private-sector corporations and public sector entities. Her transformational leadership, business management skills and ability to change business cultures has allotted her the opportunity to positively impact businesses and communities.
As District Director for the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) South Florida District, Victoria is responsible for leading one of the highest job creation districts in the Nation. She oversees the delivery of agency programs such as financial assistance, management counseling and business development throughout the South Florida area which encompasses the 24 counties Southeast and Southwest of Orlando.
Serving 1.5 million small businesses the South Florida District has ranked, for the last four years, in the Top 5 of 68 SBA District Offices nationwide after continually exceeding $1B in small business loan guarantees spurring job creation and strengthening our economy.