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Starting a small business can be tough, but starting in a pandemic can be almost impossible...until you adapt and thrive! Patrick Patino was forced out of his corporate gig and into entrepreneurship in 30 days. Listen to discover how he found what he loves to do and is now thriving in his own business!

Life gets busy...and it gets especially busy when running a small business! In today's start-up series episode, Kelly Spurgeon CEO/Founder of Zeal tells us her story of how she went from corporate to start-up during a pandemic! If you enjoy small business

You probably have heard before that the golden rule in business is to “begin with the end in mind.” And if you’re like most entrepreneurs, you already know that before you can achieve huge results, you must understand the steps needed to get there. That’s exactly why we speak with Jill and Brad from Exit Playbook as part of our “IDEAL Start-Up Series!” after you hear this episode you will fully understand why it’s so important to have a plan in place from Day 1!

When building a successful business, finding great employees can make or break your company. Today Mike Zeigle from Careerlink brings us proven ways to help your business find and hire the best staff possible! Mike’s many years of experience will benefit you whether you’re hiring your 1st or your 100th employee! Click and take a listen!

There’s a lot of chaos in the world today. There’s more division than ever before. If you’re tired of all the negativity and suffering you see on the news and online, take a few minutes to watch this video.   Tara Bowne shares a deeply personal and amazing story of how her family brings light into the world through their son Ryker. Do yourself a favor and shut off the news, close your social media apps, and embrace this story of love and good-will that makes our world a better place.

Do you ever feel overwhelmed with your business?  Trying to juggle home, work, and personal life all at once? Well, today we speak with Jenny Alford of Davis & Co Designs, who had a new born baby, started a business, AND navigated the impact of COVID right as she opened her doors!    Jenny has an amazing start-up story to share as part of our “IDEAL Start-Up Series!”  Her business is thriving through all the turmoil of 2020 and has a bright future ahead.    Watch the video now and click the link in the comments for future updates!

This one is for the dreamers, the doers, the entrepreneurs...who have not started yet.Or maybe you’ve started your business but you’re questioning if you made the right move. Or maybe you’ve been at this start-up game for a while and you’re just having one of those days where you think having a “real job” would be much easier! So if you dream of having a small business, if your goal is to work for YOU, but you continue believing that the risk is too great, then you are leaving your fate up to something outside of your control. And where will that get you in life?

Have you ever dreamed of starting a business? Today we hear an amazing story of risk, reward and, most importantly, donuts as part of our “IDEAL Start-Up Series!” Elizabeth Pooley, founder of Square Donut in Omaha, is our guest and she tells us about the obstacles she faced, the divine intervention she experienced, and what it’s like starting a new food business during COVID! If you’re someone who appreciates determination, entrepreneurship, and sweet tasty treats then click and listen to her story now!

One of the biggest mistakes people make in business is not fully understanding their numbers before hiring an employee. Hiring without knowing the true costs is like buying a new car without checking the sticker price!  If you’re someone who is serious about running a successful business then you already know the value of planning ahead.  Listen now to learn exactly how to budget for your next employee!

If you are starting a new business, one of the hardest things to navigate is the paperwork needed with your state. Where do you start? Do you need a registered agent? Can I file all the paperwork myself? We discuss these questions and more with Amy Purdy of URS Agents today as part of the “IDEAL Start-Up Series!” If you’re someone who wants to start your business off right, you’ll want to listen to Amy in this interview!

Small business makes a big impact in our communities.   In fact, small businesses are responsible for creating millions of jobs and provide income for families all over the world.    By supporting local businesses, we help improve our economy and increase our sense of togetherness.   Our mission at Ideal is “Local Business Success!”  Let’s make a conscious effort to stand behind local and build a better future together!

We are featuring new businesses to support in our "IDEAL Start-Up Series!" Today we speak with Christen Scofield from the Bright Side of Happy! Christen tells her start-up story of juggling health, family, and a new business through the challenges of COVID-19!

Additional guidance was provided on a common PPP question about early forgiveness last week. We discuss how this impacts your loan along with additional grant opportunities that are available. We also cover some free marketing tools provided by Google and Facebook that can give your business a boost along with an open Q&A.

Another week brings more changes to the PPP program. This week the SBA released a new simplified forgiveness application so we cover the details during this call. In addition, a common question has been "what do I do when PPP funds run out?" We cover two possible solutions to look for along with updating the Nebraska Stabilization Grant process

The PPP forgiveness process has changed once again. Luckily the changes are not as dramatic as last week, however there are things to note as you use the funds. Also, the state of Nebraska announced a new grant program offering up to $12K for businesses impacted by COVID-19. We discuss these topics and more with a live Q&A.

The PPP Flexibility Act significantly changed the PPP loan forgiveness process. Most of the changes are postiive and will help business owners achieve full forgiveness. However, there are a few landmines to watch out for with the new law. We discussed these changes with an open Q&A on our Monday discussion call.

New guidance was issued regarding the PPP Loan forgiveness process. Today we cover the important aspects of the application along with potential changes that can impact how the funds are used. Listen now for the latest update!

Small businesses are taking small steps towards normalcy and re-opening as of May 4th. The Governor established a business task force to provide information on best practices for re-opening and to get real-time feedback from local businesses. Dept of Economic Development Director Tony Goins is the chair of that task force and joined us to discuss. 

There are still questions remaining about PPP forgiveness, the EIDL program, and more for businesses to answer. We went straight to the source and invited the District Director of the Small Business Administration Leon Milobar to join our weekly round-table. Leon was generous with his time and very helpful answering questions many of us face during COVID-19

I hosted a round-table discussion on Monday April 20th with 60+ small businesses. We discussed the steps needed to ensure you get PPP loan forgiveness and what to do if you were not able to get the first round of funding. We also covered what to do as the world starts to "normalize" again