Black Entrepreneurs

Success Story

Making Coffee Smooth and Simple - Gus Dean Coffee

Gus Dean Coffee is a black-owned, artisanal coffee roastery just south of the Twin Cities in Eagan, MN. We started off Gus Dean Coffee in my kitchen with a very tiny roaster roasting beans with the goal to repeatedly make something that's drinkable that friends and family would enjoy. We started tasting and selling in the farmer’s markets which lead to creating our line of signature coffee blends as well as seasonal offerings. The business has gotten bigger and grown a lot faster than I thought. We still love pop-up tastings at markets and events around the Twin Cities to find our “coffee

Success Story

Plant-Based Baker's SCORE Pitch Event Led to Delight-ful Outcome

One of the biggest successes was that I was a runner-up in the 2021 Black Entrepreneur Pitch Event. That win led to a consultation with Magic Makers®. I used my runner-up win in my pitch to a grocery store. While the manager and staff loved my company's plant-based cookies, the regional office did not like our packaging. We took that feedback and upgraded our packaging which is the reason we were able to sell in select 7/11 stores, four locations at the University of Maryland and in multiple Hudson’s throughout BWI Airport with more airport locations to come. The preparation for and

Success Story

SCORE Counsels Therapy Practice to New Heights

There have been numerous successes achieved with SCORE. We have increased our audience and awareness of the business and services. Website traffic and phone calls for appointments increased by 100%. In one month, our Google profile went from 486 to 1,300 views. Our client count increased by 35%, our no-show rate decreased and we have seen an increase in revenue. Instagram followers grew to more than 2000. We are sufficiently busy that we hired a virtual administrative assistant. We expanded our practice to the Dominican Republic as part of our DEI initiative and have been working to aid and

Success Story

Whole Family Healing Group, LLC

I was born and raised in West Baltimore City, not far from where the Freddie Gray riots took place; I grew up in a single-parent home. My mother, grandmother, and maternal aunt raised me, and once I entered elementary school, my mom purchased a home for us to live in. I attended Mount Royal Elementary Middle School after transferring from Rosa Parks Catholic School, also known as St. Ambrose on Park Heights. From there, I attended Baltimore City College High School in East Baltimore. Once I graduated, my mom gave me two options, I could either go to college or find a job, and she made it very

Success Story

Knowledge Works Environmental LLC

Established in May 2021, I have been in my industry for 10 Years. I turned my dreams and goals into an uprising legacy in the making. We are an asbestos and remodeling company located in Oklahoma City. We love traveling, working and turning dreams into great expectations. Knowledge Works Environmental LLC: "Creating a safe and loving environment for you!"

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How to Hire Employees in Michigan

Are you looking to hire your first employee in SE Michigan?

The Michigan SBDC has provided a wonderful article for guidance and understanding on how to hire and manage employees. If you are looking for further information contact SCORE SE Michigan for a Mentor!

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Business Model Canvas

If you are still at the idea stage for your future business, you might consider using the Business Model Canvas as an easier way to get started before you write a Business Plan.

The Business Model Canvas is a one-page graphical way to get necessary elements of a successful business down on paper that you might find very useful.

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Business Builders Workshop: A Quick-Start Guide to Marketing your Business

Running a business can be overwhelming, but knowing where to focus your marketing efforts is the key! This session will answer your pressing questions like: What's the right way to kickstart my marketing? How much should I invest in getting it off the ground? And most importantly - how do I keep the momentum going long-term in a sustainable way?

Presenter: Jade Scherr, owner of HexaHive

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Guide to SBA Resources

This SBA Guide is a tool that will help you learn about the SE Michigan Small Business Association (SBA) and how it can help provide financing capital for your business

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Ask The Expert: Retail Business Q&A

Join us for a live Q&A session on Zoom where we will be discussing the strategies and tactics for creating a winning retail business model.

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