Guidance for entrepreneurs

Tony Legeza, foreground, who co-founded Beyond Gaming in Toledo with Justin Yamek, background, says he would like to see a centralized hub with resources for business start-ups. THE BLADE/DAVE ZAPOTOSKY Enlarge | Photo Reprints

When Beyond Gaming LLC got its start two years ago, co-founder Tony Legeza hoped to find support systems that could help the tech company begin on solid ground.

The Toledo firm, which operates a social media Web site for competitive video gamers, was able to find state grants and local assistance that helped it grow to nine employees today. But Mr. Legeza says those resources were sometimes difficult to find.

Mr. Legeza, who worked with such groups as the Toledo Regional Growth Partnership, would like to see a "centralized hub" where entrepreneurs like himself could locate the help they need.

Metro Toledo has numerous organizations and groups that can aid small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs. The challenge, experts say, is getting the word out to people who need assistance but may not know that such resources exist.

SCORE, or the Service Corps of Retired Executives, provides free advice to start-ups, such as how to write a business plan or create an effective company budget. The organization, which is part of the U.S. Small Business Administration and operates chapters nationwide, recruits retired business veterans to work with entrepreneurs.

Although over 40 volunteers are available to help through the local office, which is in Toledo's Mercy Healthcare Center, local SCORE director Jack Chezek said many people don't know the organization exists.

"Unfortunately we don't have the resources to let everybody know where we are and what we do," he said.

The group often relies on word-of-mouth referrals and a deal with Lamar Advertising Co., which provides free billboard space for SCORE when a sign is unoccupied.

SCORE's signs remain up until a paying client comes along, and Mr. Chezek said the group typically occupies three to four signs around Toledo.

It's a similar situation for the Toledo-area Small Business Development Center and the Minority Business Assistance Center, housed at the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce in downtown Toledo.

Both agencies aid existing small businesses and potential start-ups at no cost and do not require chamber membership for assistance. But they also have limited funds to promote their services and programs, said Bill Wersell, director of the business development center.

The groups rely on referrals from SCORE and other organizations, attendance at local business events, and promotion through the Toledo chamber to bring in clients.

David Wood, who directs the minority business center, said his operation usually sees 15 to 20 business owners a week, and small business groups within the chamber offices typically refer clients to each other. However, he senses that the centers could help more companies if more people knew of the centers' existence.

"We've utilized every medium that we can, but we're still finding that it's not enough," Mr. Wood said.

Mr. Wersell also contends that it's sometimes difficult to reach out to entrepreneurs because many are reluctant to receive and follow advice that could allow them to be more efficient or make higher profits.

"Allowing someone to come in and review your work is humbling," Mr. Wersell said.

SCORE and the small business groups at the Toledo Chamber sometimes promote each other's services to entrepreneurs. Mr. Chezek suggests that metro Toledo's small business community could be strengthened through cooperation among entrepreneurial agencies throughout northwest Ohio.

"These organizations should get together," Mr. Chezek said.

The Women's Entrepreneurial Network is one local group working to collaborate with others that have similar missions. The network has more than 250 members throughout northwest Ohio.

Memberships cost $95 a year for individuals and $250 a year for companies with multiple employees who would attend monthly meetings.

Pat DeCesare of Directions Credit Union participates in a meeting of the Women's Entrepreneurial Network in Sylvania Township. THE BLADE/LISA DUTTON Enlarge | Photo Reprints

Much of the business assistance through the network comes from members advising each other. During a meeting Wednesday morning at Clair David Office Furniture & Design in Sylvania Township, about a dozen members --including a few men -- pitched their services to other members, discussed topics such as using social media for business, and announced upcoming business seminars.

The group's president, Linda Everhardt-Kardux, who also co-owns the Toledo business consulting firm Business Navigators Inc., said her group's strength comes from support among network members as well as referrals from local chambers and other small-business groups.

"There is a collaboration that happens between all of the organizations, whether it's for profit or nonprofit," Ms. Everhardt-Kardux said. "We want to help each other."

Cindy Ursell, owner of social-media marketing firm Sociably Cindy, who attended last week's meeting of the women's group, joined a year ago.

A manager from a previous job referred her to the group, and she tries to make similar referrals to other entrepreneurs who don't know about local small business resources.

Although she said the women's group and others she is in contact with have been open to new members, she said small business-oriented organizations throughout northwest Ohio could do more to reach out to entrepreneurs not in the loop.

Those that help entrepreneurs agree that greater outreach could create benefits for metro Toledo's entrepreneurship community.

The Small Business Administration estimates about 30 percent of small firms nationwide close within two years of starting and 50 percent close in five years.

SCORE's Mr. Chezak said that if local small business organizations can connect with more firms, they could help more Toledo-area entrepreneurs avoid falling into those statistics.

"I think that we can keep people from making bad decisions if they'll come and talk to us," Mr. Chezak said.

Contact Sheena Harrison at: sharrison@theblade.com or 419-724-6103.