| Hawaii store on North Shore about to turn 100
Starting in the days of horse-and-buggy delivery, four generations of the Sakai family have grown a small plantation grocery store into a popular supermarket on the North Shore that next month will celebrate its centennial. Haleiwa Super Market is the legacy of a Japanese plantation contract worker who started out in the sugar-cane fields and stayed on to serve plantation communities from Waimea to Waialua. While many Hawai'i companies have been in business for 100 years or more, any company that lasts that long deserves some recognition, said Jim Tollefson, president and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce of Hawai'i. "It's challenging out there because of the cost of doing business or, more recently, finding workers," Tollefson said. "For a company to be around 100 years, going through many cycles, is a real testament of their fortitude." Customers said they are happy the market is in their community and close to home.
Smart Growth Resource Library: Small Farm Funding Resources
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) Rural Information Center offers a Small Farm Funding Resources guide that contains information about issues to consider before starting a farming operation, with links to full-text guides on how to start a farm business and develop business and marketing plans.
This resource also contains information about funding sources for beginning farmers, training, technical assistance contacts, organizations with resources and programs for beginning farmers, and more.
Read more at the resource link below. Resource: http://www.nal.usda.gov/ric/ricpubs/small_farm_funding.htm View Printer-friendly page .
Buying a business can pay off for entrepreneurs
A serial entrepreneur who owned half a dozen companies, Steve Rabenberg knew the demands of starting a business. But when he scouted his next venture, Rabenberg wanted a quicker path to profit.
Instead of opening another company, he bought one: formerly Sunkiss Tan in St. Charles.
Although many small-business owners set up their own companies, some entrepreneurs take over existing ventures, forgoing control of startup decisions, like picking store locations and suppliers, for the comfort of a steady cash flow. Business experts caution potential owners to examine a company's profitability before taking the reins, but they said it could be a safer bet because the business already has customers.
"The day you buy an existing business, you have cash flow," said David Marlo, owner of the Saint Louis Group Business Brokers, a firm in south St.
ASK SCORE: Financing your business
QUESTION: I am interested in starting a business in Collier County, but have limited financial resources. What are my options for obtaining a business loan? Benjamin W., Naples ANSWER: Benjamin, yours is one of the most common requests we receive. If your resources are limited, it is doubtful that you will be successful in securing a conventional business loan from a bank. However, there are a number of other available options you may consider: The Small Business Administration (SBA) makes guarantees for various types of business loans. Visit the financing section of the SBA's Web site to learn about their various products. See their finance planning section at www.sba.gov/smallbusinessplanner/start/financestartup/index.html The SBA has a special section for women entrepreneurs at: www.sba.gov/services/specialaudiences/women/index.html.
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