I first came to the Brooklyn Business Center in Fall 2006 when I realized that successfully running a small consulting firm would require a great deal of clever marketing. Even though I could not afford to enroll in the full Entrepreneurial Assistance Program course, I was invited to attend the marketing session.

The marketing session was an eye opener for me. There were some marketing strategies I thought of on my own, but I picked up a couple more ideas and I learned that consistency is a key element in running a good campaign. In addition to the marketing help I received legal assistance through the Brooklyn Business Center’s referral program. The lawyer I was referred to help me legally establish my business as an LLC.

My business, InfoUpgrade LLC, has grown steadily over the first year. I’m currently negotiating my largest contract to date to provide services to an elite university in New York. My goal is to run the business full time by the close of this year.

“Technology is my passion but this concept is too broad to launch a business from. The Brooklyn Business Center has helped me define my business and the best way to position myself for growth. I now have a clear vision of what my company stands for. More importantly, my clients know what we stand for and they are an invaluable sales force.”

Josette Moore, InfoUpgrade, LLC, Queens, New York, 718-412-2800
Website: www.infoupgrade.com

Bettencourt Wood - In February 2005, Matt Berk met with St. Nick’s Entrepreneurship Center. He was informally operating a "green building supply" company, and worked with us to formalize a business plan. Armed with a vision and clear goals, we referred Mr. Berk to our pro-bono legal partner at Weil, Gotshal & Manges, and assisted him with forming a LLC.

Bettencourt Green Building Supplies LLC has seen incredible growth since its inception and more recently their business has doubled every month for the past several months. Currently, they sell retail and wholesale specialty wood products made of wheat and soy board, among other environmentally friendly building

and finishing materials. Mr. Berk said "Without your [St. Nicks EAP Center] help we'd still be a hobby woodshop operating in the underground economy, selling lumber to our friends." Click here for more http://www.bettencourtwood.com/

Knights Collision & Auto Care Center - Knights Collision and Towing is a third generation family owned and operated collision, mechanical and towing service located in south Williamsburg since the early 1940s, and is under the leadership of Joe Robles.

With the assistance of St. Nick’s Entrepreneurship Center in 2006, Mr. Robles secured a $500,000 loan from the National Development Council to purchase an additional lot and help consolidate its operations. It addition, he secured MWBE certification with the NYC Department of Small Business Services, the School Construction Authority and the Port Authority of NY/NJ.

In early 2007, Mr. Robles secured a $300,000 line of credit from the National Development Council to help prepare Knights’ new towing operations in Staten Island under a contract with NYC. Knights Towing and Knights Collision continue to grow its operation in NYC and employ locally. Click here for more http://www.knightscollision.com/index.htm

In 1998, after a career change led to four years of survival jobs, temporary contracts, and low-level commission work, I began to envision my own micro-business. I joined the Labor Department’s self-employment program and discovered St. Nicholas NPC among the providers. Fortunately, I had worked in sales, PR, marketing, fundraising, and business development and had conceived a service business that required little investment. Thus, with a few dozen hours of training in accounting and record keeping, access to computers, and a healthy dose of moral support, I was ready to file my DBA.

Today, I run a busy writing and verbal skills consultancy and training center at which two sub-contractors and I serve hundreds of clients each year. We provide editing and custom writing for documents of all kinds, including sales, marketing and PR materials, business plans, and reports. We have helped numerous ventures to succeed and have trained countless professionals in the English and verbal skills they need to meet their employment, educational, or client-service goals. As one client explained: “Sole practitioners can lack the staff, time, or even skill to write or polish every document. rewrite.com steps in where I fall short…, and the quality can’t be beat!”

Erich Schneiderman, Rewrite.com and The Best English School
Click here for more www.rewritebestenglish.com

I first called the center in September 2006 for assistance in finding a pro bono lawyer to help start my business. After they assisted me, Ernie Spears sent me an e-mail inviting me to see final presentations from a business training course. Although I couldn’t attend, I decided to take the course to help write my business plan.

At this time, I am building a Website where I will be selling my products. I am also finishing a business plan which I will be entering into competitions. I will debut my Carnival Essence Festival Dolls at the West Indian American Day Parade in Brooklyn on Labor Day.

After taking the course, I feel well equipped with the knowledge and important contacts to run a successful business.

Shakellia Augustine, Carnival Essence, LLC
Click here for more www.CarnivalEssence.com

“This letter serves as a testimony regarding my recent experience as a student within the Entrepreneurial Assistance Program (EAP) offered by the Brooklyn Business Center (BBC). This course exceeded my expectations in every sense of those words. Not only did BBC provide an instructor that is extremely knowledgeable of the subject matter, but was able to impart his knowledge upon the entire class. Concepts and terminology that seemed so foreign at the beginning became so familiar as time progressed. Each student was able to grasp subject matter and "own it" in regards to its practical application within each of our "visions", which resulted in tangible Executive Summaries/Business Plans, financials and powerpoint presentations. This classroom experience confirms the affirmation that "Application is the evidence of learning".

Additionally, BBC made available the insight of experts in the fields of business law, banking, insurance and tax law to supplement the acumen of our instructor.

I highly recommend this course to anyone that has a dream to start their own business. I thank GOD for this experience, those that are responsible for creating it and those that took the ride with me.”

Leonard Bennett, Business Plan Writing Class Graduate 2007, entrepreneur, Exodus Driving School, Dean of Students - Brooklyn High School of the Arts

“I recommend the St. Nicholas' Brooklyn Business 60 hour business plan writing workshop to anyone starting a small business or operating an existing business that have not written a business plan or given thought to one. I've also been recommending this class to my friends who are self employed artist/craft people.

My store opened without a business plan, which I feel has been a liability. Having some knowledge of my industry and with extreme bootstrapping I've managed to stay in business for a little more than two and a half years.

Being the sole owner, operator and sole employee of my business means I'm also strapped for time but the 60 hour class was well worth the time investment. Our class instructor showed us how to research our industry at the Science and Business library and spoke of marketing using new technologies (internet). The professionals brought in to speak on the fundamentals of funding, legal structure; accounting and insurance were interesting and informative.

With careful business practices and the knowledge and resources that I've been given from the St. Nick's class I feel achieving a successful business are within my means.”

Futaba Sunderland, Business Plan Writing Class Graduate 2007, and owner of the specialty retail store Futopia, located at 130 Kent Street, Brooklyn, N.Y.

“This is one of the best, most informative classes I have ever taken. It literally opened my eyes, and more importantly, the mind to think like a business person. I have learned so much during this class I would run out of space on this sheet to write it all…” Lukasz Pludowski, Business Plan Writing Class Graduate 2007, entrepreneur, Tease Ministry

"Taking the seminar with BBC was extremely important step towards achieving my entrepreneurial dream. Additionally, I have a completed professional business plan, and I feel very confident and knowledgeable in various areas. This course allowed me to establish very valuable business connections as well as meet other rising entrepreneurs.  Thank you for making this happen!" Agata Glinska, Business Plan Writing Class Graduate 2007, entrepreneur, Tease Ministry.

“If you are looking into starting or expanding your current business the Brooklyn Business Center can lead you in the right direction. At the Brooklyn Business Center you will receive insight into what it takes to get your startup off the ground while avoiding the pitfalls and overcoming the hurdles of owning, maintaining and expanding a viable business. You will learn about and be introduced to resources in areas such as accounting, legal, payroll, insurance, marketing, advertising, credit, and banking. At the Brooklyn Business Center you will learn how all these critical business functions come together and how to take advantage of these valuable resources. I encourage all future and current entrepreneurs to make the commitment to visit or attend the seminars available at the Brooklyn Business Center. Without a doubt, the Brooklyn Business Center will give you the business smarts you will need to succeed in today’s competitive markets.”

Ervin Mendez, Business Plan Writing Class Graduate 2007, entrepreneur, My Dog’s Best Friend, LLC

“My name is Jacqueline Lewis. The Brooklyn Business Center has opened a new world for me. After the 10 week course at the BBC my ideas of opening my business expanded. My hopes and dreams to start my business is now my mission. Most people, after working for many years, look forward to retirement. However, I’m looking forward to a successful business with profits growing to the point where I can be financially independent and can afford a lifestyle that is comfortable. To BBC, I’m very grateful for such an eye opening experience and heartfelt thanks and appreciation to our instructor for his insight and experience as an entrepreneur.”

Jacqueline Lewis, Business Plan Writing Class Graduate 2007, owner of the convenience store called The J Spot.

“The BBC has been the one place that I've been able to get firm solutions and answers to my problems and questions regarding my start-up restaurant...and I've reached out to many other organizations with no results. The BBC has given me so much direction, from writing my business plan, pitching to potential investors, and getting business loans. Although I'm just in the financing phase of my venture, I know that I can rely on the BBC once I'm up and running, when I'm ready to expand or when I retire. This organization is great at listening to my needs as an entrepreneur and connecting me to people who can assist me...I scheduled a meeting and next thing you know we were making phone calls together and finding out which loans I could qualify for...."

Hiep Nguyen, Business Plan Writing Class Graduate 2007, entrepreneur, Mat & Am Vietnamese Restaurant