Sept 24: Let's Get Uncomfortable

Small businesses are driving Michigan’s economy

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We really need to increase the percentage of women-owned businesses.
We really need to increase the percentage of women-owned businesses.

According to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), small businesses represent 99.7 percent of all employer firms. Since 1995, small businesses have generated 64 percent of new jobs, and paid 44 percent of the total United States private payroll, according to the SBA.

Holy shit! Just take a second to reflect on that. Small businesses are a major driver in economic development. So why does it seem there is such little support for small businesses?

Each year the Small Business Administration puts together an economic profile report per state. Here are some of the interesting statistics from Michigan. Small businesses are defined by the SBA as 499 or less employees.

  1. There are 856,352 small businesses in Michigan, or 98.2% of all businesses.
  2. 50.2% of Michigan employees are employed by small businesses.
  3. In the second quarter of 2014, 4,867 establishments started up in Michigan and 4,773 exited. 6 Startups generated 24,339 new jobs while exits caused 19,208 job losses.
  4. There are 103,083 small businesses within the Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services Industry.

What these numbers tell us: 1) Small businesses are the largest driver of our economy in Michigan, 2) We employ a lot of the people, 3) Small business is hard and our state has to do a better job of supporting us, 4) We need to create programs and incentives that support the more technical small businesses as this is the future of our state.

In next week’s blog I will share resources and organizations that support small businesses. Because we all need a helping hand.

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Founding Cohort

$2,000
90 Days  |  4 Sessions  |  5 Modules  |  6 Mentor Meetings

Session Starts in September

Felt fitting to post this sneak peek of the Happy Hour Hustle episode with @meredith.and.the.media. You can’t allow other people to decide your path, if you’re afraid they’re gonna judge you; they will.

Get over it.
What’s it like having 6 dogs sleep with you? Exhibit A.

🐕no room for your legs.
🦮king size bed; single for the humans.
🐩bed on a bed.
🐾wake with a crick in your neck.
🦴it’s their world, we’re just living in it
The power of the @smallbusinessassocofmichigan  Women’s Entrepreneurial Fellowship is best described by the second-stage WOSBs in it. Ashley Connelly, 25-26 grad, sums it up:

“If you’re a second stage woman business owner seeking an fellowship program that allows for the participants to be FULLY authentic 💃 , network with peers for advice, celebrate each other’s successes and failures all while being exposed to amazing speakers who are also practitioners - SIGN UP! ✅ People involved in this program GET IT... they understand what is means to be and think like an entrepreneur.”

Apply for the next cohort, launching in October. Deadline is mid-September. 

Apply now: https://sbamwef.org/apply/

WEF is a program built by business owners for business owners, which is what makes it so incredible. The women chosen for the program have access to resources, mentorship, peer support, and 9 months of learning focused on the emotional and practical.