Starting A Business - Resource List [section I]

Four Essential Partnership for Business Owners are an AccountantCommercial Attorney, Commercial Insurance Broker, and a Business Banker.

SCORE Business Plan Template
SCOREBusinessPlanTemplate.pdf

List out all of your expenses prior to establishing a budget
Details required before establishing a budget.pdf 

Startup Space
Small Business Development Center West Michigan [SBDC]

Business Directory of Resources [please note that there are numerous tabs to this spreadsheet]
BusinessDirectoryResources050621.xlsx

Bullet Proof Business Plan Template 
BulletProofPlan.00000.pdf

RPC Pricing Worksheet
Rende Progress Capital Pricing-6.pdf

Examples of Key Performance Indicators [KPI] for Employees
KPI.072220.pdf

Strategic Planning Canvas
Screenshot 2021-01-13 103349.png

Strategic Plan Template
StrategicPlan.Template.FIN.pdf

Ducks in a Row FAQ's and Application [for Spring GR students]
RPC.DucksInARowAward.october2020.FIN.docx

Small Business Guide to a B Corporation in Michigan
TheSmallBusinessGuidetoBCorporationsinMichigan-210506-110524.pdf

All In One Spreadsheet [business budget, personal budget, and cash flow analysis]
All-In-One RPC Spreadsheet (3).xlsx

State of Michigan Business Entity Search

Annual Credit Report.com



Starting A Business - Resource List [section II] 

Four Essential Partnership for Business Owners are an AccountantCommercial Attorney, Commercial Insurance Broker, and a Business Banker.


How to Calculate Cash Flow: 3 cash flow formulas to keep your money moving [click here to read the article]


Information Regarding Cash Flow and what it means
Cash Flow FAQs [Card up]
Cash flow definition [Accountingtools.com]
Cash Flow Statement: Explanation and Example [Bench]
Definition of 'Cash Flow' [The Economic Times]
CASH FLOW VS. PROFIT: WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE? [Harvard Business School online]
Operating Cash Flow [Corporate Financial Institute]
Free Cash Flow (FCF) Formula [Corporate Financial Institute]
How to Calculate Cash Flow [North One]
Cash Flow Forecasting Tool for QuickBooks and Xero [Cash Flow Frog]
How to Calculate FCFE from EBITDA?

Permanent Loans 
Bridge Loans 
Commercial Construction Loans  
Takeout Loans 
Conduit Loans 
SBA Loans 
Conventional Mortgage Loans
Bridge Loans
Hard Money Loans
SBA 7(a) Loans
SBA 504 Loans
Mezzanine Loans
Term loans
SBA loans
Business lines of credit
Equipment loans
Invoice factoring and invoice financing
Commercial real estate loans
Microloans
Merchant cash advances
Franchise loans
*Definitions were obtained and linked to the following sources:
Secure Financing with these 9 Types of Small Business Loans
Types of Commercial Loans
An Overview of Commercial Real Estate Loan Types, Terms, and Lenders

Starting A Business - Resource List [section III] 
Four Essential Partnership for Business Owners are an AccountantCommercial Attorney, Commercial Insurance Broker, and a Business Banker.

Register for a Limited Liability Company [LARA] or other business structure

EIN (Employment Identification Number) 

Business Plan 

List of Assets (all equipment owned by the business) 

Estimated Current Value

Serial, Product or VIN number

FREE Business checking account

RPC partner Financial Institutions:

United Bank of Michigan

Flagstar Bank

Michigan State University Federal Credit Union

Fifth Third Bank

Huntington Bank

Mercantile Bank of Michigan

PNC Bank

Budget (both personal and business) free templates on GOOGLE

Processes and procedures on

Recording financial transactions (debit, credit) keep all receipts

Use of Equipment

Others as deemed necessary

Commercial Insurance Quote for both (rental space, liability, and equipment)

***Go to a commercial broker to shop the market

Commercial Insurance Brokers

Lighthouse Insurance Group

Koop & Burr

Oliver Van Dyk

Meyering Insurance 

Ottawa Kent

BHS Insurance

Anchor Insurance Group

Michigan Insurance and Financial Services

West Michigan Insurance

Michigan Insurance Brokers, Inc.

Compass Insurance Agency

Ron Jackson Insurance

Platinum Insurance Group

Shoreline Insurance Agency

Lloyds of London

*****The above listing are not recommendations nor endorsements. The above serve as examples of Commercial Insurance Brokers in West Michigan and beyond.

Establish a basic contract or Memorandum of Understanding document to use with customers (make it a simple one-page agreement) ***Free templates are on GOOGLE

Meeting with the following to have on “standby” (gather information only) -always use specialists.

Commercial/Corporate/Business Attorney's

Miller Johnson

Warner, Norcross, & Judd

Smith Haughey Rice & Roegge

Varnum Law

Barnes & Thornburg

Dickinson Wright

Cunningham Dalman

Skadden

Akerman LLP

Alston & Bird

DLA Piper

*****The above listing are not recommendations nor endorsements. The above serve as examples of Commercial Law Offices in West Michigan and beyond.
Commercial Accounting Firms

Rehmann

Strategic CPA

BDO

Plante Moran

Beene Garter

Vander Ploeg, Bergakker & Associates

Deloitte

Ernst & Young

KPMG

RSM

Grant Thorton

*****The above listing are not recommendations nor endorsements. The above serve as examples of Commercial Accounting Firms in West Michigan and beyond

Establish your Employee Code of Conduct Manual ****There are many FREE examples on GOOGLE just ensure that you are using up to date Michigan laws.

Employer information, Programs & Employment forms

New Employment Reporting Form State of Michigan (online)

Federal I-9 Form

Federal W-4

State W-4

State Labor Law Posters

Family Medical Leave Act 

Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act (MSPA)

MIOSHA Health & Safety

Michigan Wage & Hour

National Labor Relations Act

Unemployment Insurance

Worker’s Compensation

American Disability Act [ADA]

Department of Labor Posters

Employee Polygraph Protection Act

Equal Employment Opportunity

Michigan Employment Security Act Notice to Employees 

Michigan Safety and Health Protection on the Job - Michigan Right to Know

Michigan Whistleblowers Protection Act Poster Obtain a copy of Public Act 469 of 1980 

Minimum Wage (Federal) 

Minimum Wage Law (State) 

SDS Location Poster and SDS New and Revised Poster - Required for businesses that have hazardous chemicals. Contact the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity, Michigan Occupational Safety and  Health Administration, Consultation Education and Training Division, PO Box 30643, Lansing, MI 48909-8143, telephone: (517) 284-7720, website: www.michigan.gov/documents/dleg/wsh_cet2105_219990_7.pdf and www.michigan.gov/documents/dleg/wsh_cet2106_219991_7.pdf 

Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act 

Occupational Safety & Health Administration

Hazard Communication Quick Card Data Sheets

MSDS Online [free material data sheets]

Injury, Illness Record Keeping OSHA 300 Logs [Department of Labor]

IFTA [International Fuel Tax]

Trucking Safety & Hours [Interstate Motor Carrier Safety Administration]

Verizon Connect [Electronic Trucking Driving Logs]

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

Operators Qualification [Pipeline & Hazardous Materials Safety Administration]

Industrial Training Services

MEA Energy Association

Gold Shovel Standard

Energy Worldnet

ISO 9000 Family

HAZWOPER

OSHA 10 Hour Training

OSHA 30 hour Training

Six Sigma Training

Lien Management

RFID Software for Retailers

Global trade item number (GTIN)

Universal Product Code

European Article Number

Japan Article Number [International Article Number]

Amazon Standard Identification Number

Everything You Wanted to Know About SKUs

Color & Size Codes

Employer Drug Testing Programs

Substance Abuse Policy

SHRM Employment Handbook Builder

Distracted Driving Policy

SHRM Anti Harassment Policy , Complaint Procedure [also inner workplace relationship policy]

Background Check Authorization Form

Credit Check Authorization Form

Non Discrimination Policy

Anti Racism Actions

Driver’s Record Report for Michigan [MVR]

Driving Record Subscription Service

MVR Online [Motor Vehicle Report]

Faire Wholesale

Abound Wholesale

Tundra

Wholesale Central

Onoxa [white label products]

Vendasta [guide to white labeling]

Bulk Apothecary [wholesale white label]

White Label MFG

Intrepid Sourcing

UCHINA white label manufacturing

Custom Boxes & Packaging

Packlane

Pakfactory

Belmark

DUKE [private label foods]

Private Label Foods

LiDestri [private label foods]

SK Food Group [private label foods]

Hinkle Fine Foods [private label]

Food Science Corp

Power Brands [private label bottling company]

Newport Bottling & Packing [private label bottling]

Michigan Craft Beverage Council

Private Label Beverages

Crafted Spirits

Citrus Distillers 

Michigan Minority Supplier Development Council

Detroit MBDA Business Center

Accounting Software

Quickbooks Online

WAVE 

Xero

Fresh Books

Sage

Explorer [construction accounting software]

Gusto

Capterra [construction accounting software]

Free Agent

Stampli

Pabbly

Zoho

Godaddy Bookkeeping

Onpay

Zipbooks

Kashoo

Procurement Software

Procurify

Coupa

Software One

Vendorful

Bellwether

Fraxion

Approve

Planergy

Postage/ Shipping

United States Postal Service [online version]

Stamps.com

Shippo

Easyship

Easypost

Pirate Ship

FedEx Ship Manager

Ship Hero

Sendle

UPS

Inxeption

ShipBob

Freight Center

Ship monk [fulfillment]

Ship Station

DHL

Uber Freight

ShipAFreight

Eagle Bulk

Coyote Logistics

Parcel Monkey

Ensuring that you are registered and paying sales and use tax if required)

Ensure federal and state employment tax holdings

Supply Chain Software

EPICOR

Orcale

Blue Yonder

Coupa

Basware

E2 Open

Korber

IFS

GEP

Important
On the assets owned by the business that were paid for personally ensure that you are either marking that as a loan to payback or personal investment in the business.
Education Right Away

SCORE mentors (go to score and acquire a mentor). These are retired business professionals that volunteer.

Small Business Development Center at GVSU (SBDC) – downtown GR campus. Have the SBDC run a market analysis on their industry within GR region

Attend Rende Progress Capital’s seminar series 

Reach out to SpringGR and request to interview for their next class –  (they are in the Goei Center).

Grand Rapids Area Black Businesses (GRABB) 

West Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce 

Develop a PITCH DECK – Google examples

Start Garden

Go and present at “Pitch Competitions”

Start Garden 5 x 5

Many others in the state of Michigan where you can win a lot of money

Other Resources

Rende Progress Capital

Emprende

Start Garden

Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce

Grand Rapids Black Wall Street

Kalamazoo Black Wall Street

Muskegon Black Wall Street

Lansing Black Wall Street

Minority Owned Business & Professional Services Directory

Mosaic Money

SCORE Mentors

Grand Rapids Opportunity for Michigan (GROW)

Michigan Women Forward 

Devos Entrepreneur Lab at GVSU

West Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber of Commerce

Kentwood/ Wyoming Chamber of Commerce [South Kent]

West Coast Chamber of Commerce

Greater Muskegon Economic Development

Muskegon Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce

Lakeshore Advantage

Surge

The Right Place

Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce

National Black Chamber of Commerce

National Black MBA

Asian Pacific American Chamber of Commerce

U.S. Minority Chamber of Commerce

West Michigan Asian American Association

U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

Native American Enterprise Initiative 

Native American Business Association

Native American-owned Businesses [SBA]

Native American Business Development

American Indian Enterprise & Business Council

Native Business Magazine

MPWRD Magazine

Grand Rapids Business Journal

Michigan Economic Development Corporation [business partnership]

Doing Business in Michigan by USA.GOV

Small Business Administration [Detroit District office]

miplace

Small Business Administration of Michigan

Northern Lakes Economic Alliance

Detroit Chamber of Commerce

GS1 U.S. Barcodes

Detroit Economic Growth Corporation

Downtown Detroit Partnership

Procurement Technical Assistance

MITN Purchasing Group

Bid 4 Michigan

Pure Michigan Business Connect

Michigan Public Purchasing Officers Association

Vet Biz Central

Great Lakes Women’s Business Council

Michigan Minority Supplier Diversity Council

National Minority Supplier Diversity Council

MSU Business Connect

MSU Innovation Center

Michigan Works Association

Lansing Schools Procurement

SPARK Innovation

MicroEnterprise Network Michigan

Contract Opportunities

Motor City Connect

Automation Alley

Prima Civitas

Detroit Economic Club

The Grand Rapids Economic Club

Kalamazoo Junior Chamber [Jaycees]

JCI Michigan [Junior Chamber/ Jaycees]

Van Andel Global Trade Center

Grand Angels

New Community Transformation Fund LP

Mi Biz

Michigan Association for Female Entrepreneurs

Michigan Angel Fund

Michigan Angel Community

Alumni Ventures Group

Endeavor Detroit

Ann Arbor Angels

Kick Starter

Indiegogo

Causes

Web Domain/ Hosting

Godaddy

Blue Host

Dream Host

Hostinger

Hostgator

GreenGeeks

WP Engine

Domain Name Web Search/ Generator

Square Space

Shopify

Business Name Generator

Name Mesh

Certifications

US Patent & Trademark Office

Register your business [SBA]

Project Management Certification

Business Analysis Certification

Certified Supply Chain Professional

WOSB Certification [woman owned business]

WBE Certification [woman owned business enterprise]

WBENC [woman owned business enterprise national council]

DBE [disadvantaged business enterprise]

MBE [minority business enterprise]

VOSB [veteran owned small business]

B Corporation

8 (a) Business Development

HUBZone

LEED Certification

certify SBA.gov

Diverse Business Certification

Human Resources Software

ClearCompany

Zenefits

Rippling

iSolved

Uzio

Employee Expense Reporting/ Tracking Software

emburse certify

Fyle

Paramount

Travel Bank

Employee Time Tracking Software

connecteam

Timecamp

Toggl

Timely

ProofHub

Freelancer/ Sub Contractors/ Creative Services

Fiverr

Upwork

Freelancer

Insolvo

99designs

Solid Gigs

PeoplePerHour

Guru

FreeUp

Truelancer

Toptal

GigBucks

Build out an operations plan

Develop a non-compete/non-disclosure employee form

Establish vacation policy

Establish procedures to OPEN and CLOSE the business every day.

Create an Excel Spreadsheet that will be your CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP MANAGER (CRM). In the CRM list: 

Customer Name

Business

Contact Information

Meeting Dates

Notes from Meetings

******LIST PROSPECTIVE CUSTOMERS TOO.

Customer Relationship Management software [CRM]

Hubspot

Salesforce

Keap

Zendesk

Netsuite

Moxtra

Pipedrive

Fresh Works

Develop a Marketing and Sales Plan – there are many FREE templates on GOOGLE

Project Management Resources

Asana

Click Up

Kiss Flow Project Management

Monday.com

Team Work

Freedcamp

*****The above listings are not recommendations nor endorsements. The above serve as examples of resources for business owners.

Starting A Business - Resource List [section IV] 
Four Essential Partnership for Business Owners are an AccountantCommercial Attorney, Commercial Insurance Broker, and a Business Banker.

Budget, Assets, Retirement. and Expenses spreadsheet

BudgetAssetsDebtsRetirement050721-210507-140356 (1).xlsx

Money Management Tips

Open a FREE checking account [no fees, no minimum balance requirements].

Always open a savings account too [both business and personal].

Assess where your finances are [collect all statement and relative information like payoff amount, minimum payment amounts, interest rates, annual fees, early payoff/ termination fees, term of the loan, and the origination date of the loan or when the credit card was opened].

List out all of your debts on a spreadsheet [#4-8 should be on the same spreadsheet - add a tab]

List out all income sources on a spreadsheet [#4-8 should be on the same spreadsheet - add a tab]

List out all retirement accounts on a spreadsheet [#4-8 should be on the same spreadsheet - add a tab]

List as asset on a spreadsheet [#4-8 should be on the same spreadsheet - add a tab]

List all other investments on a spreadsheet [#4-8 should be on the same spreadsheet - add a tab]

Set a budget [*note: personal and business accounts, and budgets should be separate]

Ensure that all decisionmakers are apart of this process - and set a predetermined time/day to review your finances weekly [example: Every Saturday at 9 AM at the kitchen table].

Allow open and honest communication as well as healthy evaluation of your financial picture.

Seek out the guidance of a budget counselor or enroll in a budgeting class [Examples: Financial Peace University or Crown.org please read Choosing a Credit Counselor by the Federal Trade Commission].

After you know and have documented your current financial situation, both Personal as well as your Businesses, set goals and plan out a budget and set some financial goals.

Within this course there is an Excel spreadsheet already set up for you to enter all of your information into [NOTE: The passcode is RPC to unlock the spreadsheet also note there are several tabs at the bottom - please be sure to scroll through all of the tabs].

Also Try these tips,

A. Tear up you credit cards and debit cards.

B. Put away your checkbook - and pay your bills directly on your banks online bill pay site.

C. Cut back on Eating Out/ Dining In and Takeout orders.

D. Close or cancel your merchant accounts online [websites that you struggle with controlling your spending on].

E. Cancel cable or satellite or other television paid programming.

F. Use a prepaid mobile phone - stay away from telephone contracts.

G. Paying using cash for everything! [split up your money in separate envelopes with what the funds are intended for are labeled on the envelope].

H. Cut out Alcohol and Tobacco purchases.

I. Put a pre determined percentage of your income into a savings account immediately upon getting paid.

J. Buy used vehicles [vehicles depreciate really fast].

K. Buy store brand products instead of major labels.

L. Save your change [since you are using cash for every transaction you are going to have change - at the end of the put all loose change into a jar - you can even add $1 bills. Don't touch the jar to remove funds until a period of one year has passed. At this time - invest those funds].

Cash Flow Spreadsheet

Cash.Flow.excel.spreadsheet.050721.xlsx

Business Loan Calculator [four separate calculators]

Bankrate.com Business Loan Calculator

Business Loan Calculator by Shopify

Business Loan Calculator by Calculator.net

Business Loan Calculator by Nerd Wallet


GOOGLE My Business

The Complete Guide to Google My Business [by Ardent Growth]

How to Use Google My Business to Get More Customers [Hootsuite]


Starting A Business - Resource List [section VI] 
Four Essential Partnership for Business Owners are an AccountantCommercial Attorney, Commercial Insurance Broker, and a Business Banker.

BulletProofPlan.00000.pdf

MBE-Infographic by Entre-Hustler