Many members of the Flagstaff Independent Business Alliance (FiBA) focus on providing services, particularly for small business clients. Three of these demonstrate expertise by offering an array of tools, cutting-edge knowledge and cost-saving tips: Coconino County Community Service Department, LuAnn Roberts, CPA, and Benefit & Financial Strategies.
Kim Krugnale, Coconino County’s Basic Business Empowerment (BBE) program coordinator, points to many success stories in helping people start their own small businesses. Since 2012, these budding businesses include a Hopi artist and musician, a ukulele maker, a videographer and some 30 other micro business startups.
“What distinguishes BBE is that we target low- to moderate-income individuals,” said Janet Regner, director of the County’s Community Service Department. “We give them the tools to be economically self-sufficient.”
Among tools delivered via this comprehensive program: creating a business feasibility plan, defining your product or service and giving participants a solid array of expertise through guidance by experts in legal services, guerrilla marketing and insurance. BBE also features an AmeriCorps intern, Stephanie Moore, who teaches social media basics of Twitter, Google+ and Facebook.
The Coconino County BBE Program is now enrolling for their fall 2013 class.
LuAnn Roberts, CPA, provides good financial statements as a road map for small business owners. In our increasingly fast-paced, evolving business climate, Roberts emphasizes that now “the speed of knowledge is power. Good bookkeeping can be low or high-tech, but to truly capture the speed of knowledge, accounting software such as Quickbooks or [the cloud-based] Xero is invaluable. Initial set up of the software is key.”
Roberts encounters business owners who often fail to look for advice, thinking they can do it all on their own. “People don’t ask for help – they’re so afraid I’m going to charge so much and they won’t see the value for that,” said Roberts. “There are also free resources in our community.” But Roberts has many clients who are planning ahead, realizing cost savings with a feeling of accomplishment by having their up-to-date financial statements at their fingertips.
By helping to find cost savings, taxes are another main area in which LuAnn Roberts assists her clients. “For example, failing to take all the deductions you are entitled to will cost you in higher taxes,” Roberts said. “People forget to write off their cell phone. We help you brainstorm as to some things that are legitimate expenses.”
As Oct. 1 draws ever closer, Carla Conway of Benefit & Financial Strategies is keeping very busy exploring a multitude of health insurance options with clients. Conway, a registered health underwriter and chartered health care consultant, has been serving people with their health insurance here since 1981.
The first open enrollment period under the Affordable Health Care Act (ACA) opens Oct. 1, 2013. Conway outlined how she’s working with small business owners and their employees, exploring customized health insurance options leading up to implementation of the ACA’s facilitated health insurance exchange or marketplace.
“Depending upon the employer, their culture, their goals – I can work on what’s best for them – what’s best for them as a group and what’s best for the employees,” said Conway.
She said that currently, from one health insurance provider, there are more than 50 plans to choose from outside of the exchange. “I can show you about 40 different Blue Cross Blue Shield co-pay plans and 15 different HSA plans. People should know that brokers can give them choices. I can help them choose and differentiate between plans.”
Conway noted that in Arizona, 10 state and federal agencies are involved in the state’s facilitated health exchange marketplace. “My advice to small groups is to see if I can help them out, do them a favor, and don’t send them to the exchange.” She also helps small groups save money, noting, “there’s the premium tax credit that’s available for small groups that are offering coverage.” FBN
FiBA is a coalition of locally owned independent businesses and community members working together to develop the economic vitality of Flagstaff while enhancing and preserving its character. Visit www.flagstaffiba.com for more information.
Steele Wotkyns, a FiBA member, is the owner of the public relations firm WotkynsPRplus.