The most common barrier between an entrepreneur and their success story isn’t the business idea, it’s the detail around running a business operation. Things like keeping the books, creating sound marketing plans, and managing human resources aren’t often the expertise of a business owner. Unfortunately, neglecting business administration and oversight can turn selling the perfect widget into a perfect nightmare. Fortunately, there’s a group ready to help entrepreneurs — the South Haven Regional Business Hub.
The Hub is dedicated to helping area entrepreneurs start and grow their business ideas into successful economic growth activity. Their volunteer members provide business mentorship, ideas, and pathways to resources that will help their businesses take root and eventually thrive. Founded in the wake of the pandemic, the South Haven Regional Business Hub is a group of successful business professionals, led by executive director Debi Howe, a successful technology entrepreneur.
John “G.B.” Richmond is a board member with the Hub and a subject matter expert when it comes to one-on-one or group presentations. He said one of the hardest things when you’re an entrepreneur is finding resources to back your original idea.
“You decide you want to start a business, but then the difficulty is where to find resources to allow the business to take root and grow. That’s really what we do as the Hub. We are the center (entrepreneurs) can come to and we can connect them.”
Richmond said what typically happens is that someone has an idea and they’re good at that one thing. But then that person sees all the other aspects required for smooth business operations.
“You find out you have to run the operations, hire people, manage inventory, plan marketing, pay taxes, and get the funding required to succeed and grow. At the Hub, we have a network of individuals that volunteer their time to help. If you come to us for funding, we set you up with a funding expert who can help you find a solution.”
Richmond said they frequently help people who banks might otherwise reject.
“Sometimes people can’t get their business started through conventional means because they don’t have the financials, or their operations aren’t tied to physical assets. So, they’ll come to us and we have a couple of sources that we can send them to.”
The Hub also has volunteer members with expertise in marketing, hiring, setting up a website, leadership practices, accounting, and most other areas of business operations.
“We have a variety of in-person workshops, that you can learn about on our website. For example, our Start-up Series begins in January. These are free sessions at Lake Michigan College South Haven Campus. Anyone can register to attend; and then can learn and ask questions.”
The Hub also offers help for experienced professionals who might be struggling to grow beyond where they’re already successful. In addition, they hold an annual Pitch event where participating businesses have a chance to network with area professionals before giving a six-minute presentation asking for leads on business, business operations, investment opportunities, and the like.
“It’s a wonderful evening. Last year’s was very well received and it’s open to anybody. You can just come in and meet other people in the community who have great ideas they’re willing to share.”
Asked why the Hub does this, Richmond said it’s essentially a philosophy of a rising tide lifting all boats.
“It’s about giving back. My brother and I started a wealth management company 30 years ago and it was hard because we didn’t have any hard assets. We weren’t a shop with a CNC machine or something like that. So, we faced a lot of rejection. Then once we got started, we knew the investment end, but having to learn general accounting and taxes and marketing — those different things that we just slogged our way through. To be able to have a resource that you can go to that’s already done all that legwork for you and can be a great help, and business success helps all of us in the region.”
The next South Haven Regional Business Hub’s Pitch Night is set for Thursday, December 5 at the Lake Michigan College, South Haven campus. The event runs from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm. You can register to meet and hear from the four entrepreneurs/program graduates from 2024 by clicking here.
The Pitch night is sponsored by the Michigan Economic Development Commission, the City of South Haven, and Lake Michigan College.
