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
Wednesday Apr 14, 2021
Wednesday Apr 14, 2021
Small Biz Florida host Tom Kindred speaks with Caleb Orr, Senior Policy Advisor for Senator Rubio’s office and Dr. Cheryl Kirby, Chief Operating Officer for the Florida SBDC Network, regarding the upcoming Sustain the Pivot Virtual Small Business Resiliency Conference. The event will be held May 18th from 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. and May 19th 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. EST. Seating is limited so register now.
The Virtual Small Business Resiliency Conference is a unique learning and networking opportunity for Florida’s small businesses and entrepreneurs.
A Small Business Owner/Operator will learn:
Innovative business development in the new normal
Implement a COVID-19 resiliency business action plan to safeguard your business
Understand the 5 C’s of credit and financial pitfalls to make your business bankable
Plus, enjoy two powerful keynotes, a marketing power hour, and a panel on client success featuring Florida SBDC Network consultants.
Monday Apr 05, 2021
Monday Apr 05, 2021
Small Biz Florida host Tom Kindred discusses small business banking issues with Doug Sherman - Treasure Coast Market President Bank of America.
Whether the business owner is seeking working capital, an equipment loan, or financing to purchase property to expand, having a relationship with an experienced professional banker is important. Doug explains how the business owner can leverage their bank to grow and succeed in business. He also discusses how being resilient will help your company survive during economic challenges.
Wednesday Mar 10, 2021
Wednesday Mar 10, 2021
Small Biz Florida host Tom Kindred speaks with Mr. John Diep, Director International Trade Development at Enterprise Florida. The discussion centered on a unique and powerful service provided through regional Florida SBDC Centers and their International Trade Consultants.
Enterprise Florida and the Florida SBDC Network, in partnership with the U.S. Commercial Service, assist qualified Florida “new-to-export” manufacturers and service providers to identify overseas growth strategies through the development of a customized Export Marketing Plan. The process includes meeting with a Florida SBDC International Trade Specialistto conduct a confidential, in-depth business assessment. The Specialist will prepare and provide the company with acustomized Export Marketing Plan.
Qualifications for the program include:•Florida manufacturers and professional services providers only•Products must be produced in the state of Florida or services must be provided from a Florida location •New-to-export or infrequent exporters preferred•Minimum of two years in business•Five or more full-time employees•$500,000 to $10 million in annual sales
Also, discussed was the upcoming Florida International Trade Expo - March 16 - 18, 2021. Deadline to Register: March 18, 2021.
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.