Secure your Secretary of State Registration

1) Go to  http://www.sos.state.co.us/ 

2) Log into your record

at your summary page

Locate the 5th choice down

It is called "set up a secure business filing for this record"

New Photography Business in Alamosa Colorado

Stephanie Tucker began taking photos 5 years ago, as a student at Adams State College.  With the ambition to become a professional photographer and business owner, Stephanie received her degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Advertising in 2010.  “I fell in love with love!  When you experience the joy and fulfillment in documenting the most special moments on a wedding day, or a milestone like a new baby, nothing else compares!  I am passionate about my art, and I hope to share it with others.” 

Stephanie used the free and confidential business services from the SLV Small Business Development Center to write her business plan.  The SBDC’s phone number is 589-3682.

Stephanie is a San Luis Valley Native, daughter of Michael and Kim Schaefer of Monte Vista.  She lives in Alamosa with her husband, Justin Tucker and 10 year-old daughter, Devyn.

The studio is located at 431 3^rd Street, inside Chris Caton’s Insurance building.  An Open House will be held Saturday, February 18, 2012 @ 11: am-2: pm at the studio.  Stephanie will be offering discounts for those interested in scheduling a photo session.  You may also contact Stephanie at 719-588-9401 to make an appointment. 

Tax Seminar for the Self Employed

Where else can you have access to a CPA for two hours for $20??

Tax Seminar for the Self Employed

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

5:30-7:30 p.m.

The County Annex Building

 965 6th Street, Del Norte, Colorado

CPA Bob Gjellum, Wall, Smith,Bateman & Associates

$20 per business      RSVP to donna@slv-sbdc.com 

719-589-3682

Free Schedule C Resource Guide to the First 10 participants

Free workshop for Veteran Business Owners

Business Workshop for Military Veterans

·    Legal Entry Options

·    Tax Liabilities for Self Employed

·    Marketing Strategies

·    Financial Resources

FREE to Military Veteran Business Owners

In the San Luis Valley

Friday, January 20, 4:00-6:00 p.m. at the Depot, Alamosa

Please register with Donna Wehe, (719) 589-3682 or donna@slv-sbdc.com

Over a 30% discount for any Veteran Owned Business to attend the Leading Edge Seminar.  Pre-registration is a must.  Class begins February 1st.

The San Luis Valley SBDC is partially funded by the U.S. Small Business Administration.  The support given by the U.S. Small Business Administration through such funding does not constitute and express or implied endorsement of any of the cosponsor(s)’ or participants’ opinions, products or services.

New Owner of Alamosa Fabric Shop

Jamie and Shane Mortensen are the new owners of the Heartstrings and Heirlooms, A Fabric Shoppe and Much More, on 616 Main Street, Alamosa, Colorado.  

This business was known as the Gray Goose for the past 27 years.  Jamie is a retired teacher who is a passionate quilter and sewer.  

She is now an authorized BERNINA dealer.  

Her son, J.R. Mortensen, is a certified technician for BERNINA who can clean, repair, upkeep, and adjust BERNINA and other sewing machines.

 The store is open from 9:30-5:30, Monday-Friday and 9:30-4:00 on Saturdays.  
“Big Louie,” her long arm quilting machine, has arrived to the shop.  Once patrons learn how to use it, they are welcome to rent it for their finishing projects.

When preparing for the new business adventure, she enrolled in the Leading Edge Seminar, offered by the SLV Small Business Development Center.

During this time of writing her business plan and preparing financial documents, she made several big decisions.  One was to keep most of the same employees.  The staff is extremely helpful and knowledgeable to the industry.

Another decision was to try to incorporate technology, knowing that many shoppers today buy their fabric, patterns and supplies on the Internet.  She is currently developing her website.  She also decided to expand various sewing/quilting classes and to continue a quarterly newsletter through both email and regular mail.

  

Jamie has set up a blog to keep in touch with her customers.  

You can check it out at 

http://heartstringsandheirloomsfabricshop.blogspot.com/

Leading Edge Business Seminar to begin February 1, Alamosa, Colorado

"Taking the Leading Edge Class enabled me to "see" if we could be successful. How to plan our start up, build the financial cash flow, understand all the pieces that we needed to know to build the business. There is no doubt in my mind that we would not have been successful if we had not taken this course. 
Many thanks to Donna for showing us the road to success and to all the local guest speakers who gave us the benefits of their experience and wisdom"   Cindy Morin, Professional Bookkeepers

Call the SLV-SBDC office at

(719) 589-3682, or email

donna@slv-sbdc.com to

request a registration form.

After graduating from the Leading Edge Seminar, Jamie and Shane Mortensen bought the Gray Goose retail store and opened Heartstrings  & Heirlooms, a Fabric Shoppe and so much more.

Cost: $250, with a $25 discount for any SLV Chamber of Commerce Member or Non-Profit. A scholarship of $100 may be awarded.

As a trained and experienced electrician, Jessie Lopez decided to move back to the Valley and open his own business.  “The business training from Leading Edge filled in the gaps for me.  I would recommend LE to anyone who is running their own business"  Lopez Electric, LLC

When: 6:00 p.m. Wednesdays, 
February 2 - April 25, 2012

Where: 610 State Ave, at the Depot, Alamosa

“The information I gained from Donna’s help and the speakers at Leading Edge have been invaluable.  Every time I had a question or needed help, Donna was there to find the answer or the resource.”                                    Mary Clare Robertson, Dog Days Inn

  

New Business in Monte Vista Colorado help small and rural businesses with bookkeeping

SLV Small Businesses to Benefit from Combined Talents

A new company has opened whose mission it is to help small businesses succeed. Kay Harmon and Cindy Morin have recently opened their business, “Professional Bookkeeping Services, Inc.” 

The company’s goal is to provide quality bookkeeping and payroll services to farms, ranches, non-profits and small businesses in the Valley.  They assist companies who do not need a full time employee but do need bookkeeping help.  They are dedicated to relieving the accounting headache from the owners and let them on concentrate on what they do best – running their own company!

Kay Harmon has been a valley resident for 24 years and has always been active in the community. She owned and operated Monte Vista Secretarial Service from 1990-1999, which concentrated mostly on small local non-profits.  Kay originally took the Leading Edge course when her husband opened his own welding business. This time, she entered the Leading Edge to renew and explore different growth options for a re-engineered company offering support to other San Luis Valley entrepreneurs

Cindy Morin, after successful management careers in both the Racehorse and Relocation industries, moved to Alamosa 3 years ago to return to a rural setting and to be near her sister. She entered the Leading Edge class to round out her management skills as she felt that she had great experience in understanding how companies ran but never had the view from the top down, as the owner sees and understands their company.

Taking the Leading Edge class at the same time, Kay and Cindy were inspired to pool their talents and create their own company to provide a service much needed here in the Valley. They are available to work at your place of business or they can provide the bookkeeping and payroll services at their own office.   In addition, agricultural compliance services are offered.  They can be reached at (719) 852- 5638.  These “Pros on the Go” are located behind Sunflower Bank of Monte Vista, at 101 Adams Street, Suite C.

The next Leading Edge Seminar is open for registration for a February 1, 2012 beginning date.  For more information on LE, contact Donna Wehe at the SLV SBDC at (719) 589-3682 or read about it on the blog, http://slv-small-biz-success.blogspot.com/.

Don't forget: January 1, 2012, adjust minimum wage in Colorado.  Click here for details.