Testimonials

The resources provided have empowered me to continue my path to keep growing my business! Every entrepreneur would greatly benefit from the many programs and guidance offered!

While knowing everything there is to know about my trade, I had no idea of what it took to start a business of my own. But being expert at something doesn't mean you can run out ant paint houses on your own and say you own a business. It has really opened my eyes on all it will take to do it right. This class has shifted my whole thought process. It's a daunting thing to consider doing but with this kind of help, I think there will be many more small businesses starting soon. Thank you for this opportunity.

We opened our restaurant in the summer of 2020, and in addition to the typical obstacles of operating a new restaurant, the pandemic presented us with tremendous challenges.  The WCWB has been instrumental in providing us with coaching and resources throughout our journey as new business owners. 

Before we even approached lenders to find financing to open our business, we were able to sit down and speak with industry professionals both in the restaurant and banking world. They pointed us in the right direction to find banks that were willing/able to work with us, which is a significant challenge for startup restaurants.  They also helped us tailor our business plan to include all the necessary and relevant information that those financial institutions needed to give them enough confidence in our vision to approve a loan.  

Later in the year, restaurants were forced to close dining rooms across the country, and the impact on our revenue was immense. At that point, the WCWB provided assistance that we badly needed to find grants through the city and state governments, ultimately enabling our restaurant to survive the most difficult set of circumstances we could imagine. They even offered a hotline, where we could call and speak to people that were staying up to date with the ever changing rules, regulations, and resources.

When our first tax season came, it was a daunting prospect to try and navigate it without any prior experience dealing with taxes as business owners.  We then took advantage of a free coaching program, and through a series of meetings, were able to prepare our financial documents in a way that made it simple to submit them to an accountant. Going through that process also gave us insight into the cash flow of our restaurant, which is a skill that will continue to benefit us indefinitely.

Looking back on our first year in business, I don't know if we would have been able to make it through if it wasn't for all of the amazing support we received from the WCWB.  Everyone that we have corresponded with has been wonderful. Their encouragement, guidance, and services have set us on a path to success and sustainability as a business.  And almost unbelievably, we've never paid a single cent for all of the help they've given us. For anyone that is a prospective entrepreneur, or even if you've been in operation for a while, I can't think of a better way to become a more confident and capable business person.

The City of Lacey business startup trainings taught by Sean Moore and support from business coaches gave me much needed guidance to help me figure out what things to focus on for my new business, especially the importance of having a business plan. I was able to have my questions answered and receive referrals to other resources to help grow my business. I've just started, but I am much more confident now than I was before about the future success of my business thanks to these trainings. I plan to continue using the resources provided through this course to build my business.