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Mompreneurs Up and Running in 3 Weeks
I received this in an e-mail from Olivia Omega Logan last week: I am a mom of two small children who left my job in March 2007 to stay home with my son (now 2) due to his health issues at the time. I had an idea of a personalized baby t-shirt company and had...
By Tim Berry
Real Entrepreneurs, Real Inspiration
I get excited talking to entrepreneurs. Small business owners have a certain level of passion about what they’re doing that is infectious to everyone around them. There’s a glint in their eyes that shows the hunger they have to share their idea to as many people as possible. It’s so great to watch other people...
By Bplans
Unlikely businesses
If the world at large is full of oddities (and trust me, it is), the small business world is certainly no exception. Sprinkled among the dime-a-dozen coffee shops and clothing retailers are all sorts of strange and unlikely niche businesses. Here’s my favorite: Ardon’s Shaver Service, located in midtown Eugene, Oregon, between the Suds ‘Em...
They’re on to something here
The office space problem. If you’re not in a home office, starting a company within a company, in your car or in a cart on the street (no, I’m not making light of homelessness, I’m talking about coffee carts and dessert carts and hot dog carts), then one of the steps in starting a business...
By Tim Berry
Success in Progress
I first learned about Katie through a Google alert set up to find people talking about our Business Plan Pro software. I read through her blog and got interested in her story. Katie’s journey is still in the beginning stages; she’s currently searching for funding for her fashion consignment shop. I am certain there are...
By Bplans
Sticking to The Roast
Over the past four years I’ve had three encounters with David Beach, who is now the co-owner of Backporch Coffee Roasters in Bend, Oregon. He was in my “how to start a business” class at the University of Oregon. He wanted to start a coffee roasting business in Bend. He was a couple of years...
By Tim Berry
A Simple, Believable Success Story
This is the right kind of success story; a combination of focus, consistent value and making things work. Mary Ann Beauchamp was born in Japan and had a lifelong interest in healthy eating. Mark Beauchamp bought into the idea. Together they started a food business, found something people liked and focused on giving customers what...
By Tim Berry
Success Story: Cafe Yumm!
Meet Mark and Mary Ann Beauchamp. Cafe’ Yumm! is one of Palo Alto Software’s favorite lunch places in town. Good, healthy food and just around the corner. Last year, I had the chance to sit down with Mark and Mary Ann and ask them to tell us their story. My story begins where all of...
By Bplans