Are you starting a business in Michigan?

First, congratulations! If you are starting a business in Michigan, you are on an exciting journey! It can also be a bit overwhelming or scary.  That’s where we come in. We have helped thousands of people as they are starting a business. While many have grown to over a million in sales, many have remained lifestyle businesses.  Your journey is all about what YOU want to build, and it begins now.

Programs and Services for Starting a Business or Relaunching an Existing Business in Michigan

You are in the right place if you…

• are thinking of starting your own business in Michigan but you’re not sure what your next steps are
• started your business a while ago but never really got it off the ground, and are ready to start again
• have already started your business in Michigan, or maybe even another state, but want a refresher course to remind yourself of the basics, now that you have a little experience under your belt

We tackle fear and procrastination together and come up with an action plan!  It is exciting to finally take concrete action to start or relaunch your small business, to truly realize your dream.  Whether you will locate your business in Grand Rapids, Muskegon, Kalamazoo-Battle Creek or the Benton Harbor-St. Joseph regions, the challenge with starting a business in Michigan remains the same – there is too much information out there, and it can be confusing and contradictory.  It can even be a little scary sometimes.

What you really want is a trusted, reliable, affordable, no-nonsense resource, with a checklist, that will educate you about starting or relaunching your business and help you make sense of it all.  With our personalized programs, you you will have an an opportunity to get your questions addressed!  Our startup programs range from:

• $25 for our How to Start a Business, Your Successful Launch online course
• $26 to $119 for membership in our Startup to Growth Library^TM
• $700+ to become part of our four-month mastermind groups

These and other programs are below.  We have the right package to fit your time and your budget.  At Startup to Growth, we specialize in starting and growing small businesses across the United States. (Pssst…after you have been in business for a while and have your feet under you, check out our Growth Mastermind Groups, too!).

We tackle fear and procrastination together and come up with an action plan!  It is exciting to finally take concrete action to start or re-launch your small business, to truly realize your dream.  Whether you will locate your business in Grand Rapids, Muskegon, Kalamazoo-Battle Creek, Ionia or the Benton Harbor-St. Joseph regions, the “Starting a Business in Michigan” challenge remains the same – there is too much information out there, and it can be confusing and contradictory.  It can even be a little scary sometimes.  What you really want is a trusted, reliable, affordable, no-nonsense resource, with a checklist, that will educate you about starting or relaunching your business and help you make sense of it all.  Our affordable personalized programs give you the opportunity to get YOUR questions addressed and to work on your specific challenges!

At Startup to Growth, we specialize in starting and growing small businesses across the United States.

My Michigan Roots. I am a Michigander through and through.  My name is Robin Suomi, and I am the founder of Startup to Growth, LLC.  Yes, I have personally helped thousands of small businesses launch and grow throughout my career and my team only adds to the number.  I grew up in Mid-West Michigan (we called it Ionia then – as in the Home of the Ionia Free Fair!). Life in Michigan was an adventure, from shopping in “GR” on 28th Street to school trips to John Ball Zoo and Kellogg’s and the local newspaper.  I remember the businesses in Michigan that impacted me growing up, from big companies like Meijers, Steelcase and Gordon Food Service, to the many furniture stores and small mom and pop businesses I frequented. I never dreamed I would grow up and help small businesses in many of those same industries (yes, I have even assisted a zoo with their expansion plans!!).  What a solid small business education Michigan afforded me. It is fun to reconnect with my Michigan friends and family and help Michiganders launch and grow their own small businesses today.  If you are from Michigan, please drop me a line at Robin@startuptogrowth.com and share your story with me.

Business Philosophy:  Back to business, which is why you are probably visiting my website!  I believe that success is rarely accidental. My passion is helping small business clients move from concept through growth (many clients surpassing $1M in sales), unleashing their vitality, innovation and creativity as they launch or grow their successful and sustainable companies according to their vision. For over 10 years I have helped thousands of small business owners launch and grow their dreams through 1-1 and group small business coaching, technical small business consulting, mastermind groups, business plan classes, seminars and workshops. As an adjunct professor, I have taught Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management and Business 101 courses.

When you work with me or a member of my team, you are working with an experienced professional who specializes in small business.  Together, we’ve got this!

We offer the following startup programs and services for new and relaunching businesses:

Online course, How to Start a Business:  Your Successful Launch

Pre-Sales Price $20
Product Launch Nov, 2017. 
Cost:  $25.00 for 30 days access to online materials; $99.00 for six months access. Contact info@startuptogrowth.com with questions and to order.

This online video course takes you through the steps to start a business.  We cover entrepreneurial traits, feasibility, tips about naming your business, online and traditional marketing, financial projections, various business entitle selections (sole proprietor, limited liability company, etc.), how to tackle local and state compliance issues, and much more. We present some of the material in a business plan framework.  And we give you a launch checklist.  As you launch your company, you will typically go back and revise a prior decision.  No problem!  With 24X7 access to our materials, which you can purchase monthly or for a six-month period, you will be able to go back and review the material as you continue to revise your business plan details.

Seminars, in-person and online, How to Start a Business:  Your Successful Launch

Cost:  $25. 

We will go through the steps to start your business, covering many of the same topics as our online course but in less details.  The difference is that the seminar is interactive and some, though not all, client questions can be addressed during the seminar.  However, if anything is proprietary in nature, do NOT share it in this seminar.  You can always schedule a 1-1 private consultation following the seminar to specifically discuss your situation.  From time to time we invite various professionals, including online marketing, legal, financial and insurance professionals, to join us for some sessions. Check details at the specific session you are registering for.

1-1 Initial Consult, by phone or video chat

Cost:  $150
Special Offer:  $66 (56% one-time savings) while subscribing to our online How to Start a Business: Your Successful Launch course or a Library Member.

Once you have your basic idea in mind, you often want to discuss YOUR idea in much more detail with an experienced professional who has helped thousands of other small businesses.   We understand that.  When you have paid for and scheduled your initial consultation, we will send you an intake assessment form to gather some general background information about you and your business idea, and what stage your business is in.  You will select up to three areas you want to concentrate on in our session.

QuickStart Mastermind Groups

Cost:  $700/one time payment.  Ask about monthly payment plans.

For small business owners who are serious about getting their businesses launched, our QuickStart Mastermind Groups are an excellent option for you.  You will meet two times a month over a four-month period with like-minded business owners in a virtual format.  Each meeting is 2.5 hours, and follows a structured format while also allowing time for your specific questions.  Pleases contact us at info@startuptogrowth.com for our current schedule and openings.

During our meetings, the group works together, brainstorming, supporting each other, sharing ideas and resources, and giving each other honest feedback (we are NOT “yes people” at all!). Working together, each member works to start or relaunch their business and remain sane in the process.  Our clients LOVE our mastermind groups! They often tell us their friends and family are tired of hearing their ideas, or they don’t understand them.  Here, we get you!!  And we LOVE supporting and helping you decide how get your business off the ground. Our background of coaching and small business technical assistance sets us apart from other types of business coaches.  Together, we’ve got this!

1-1 Small Business Coaching

Cost: $300/month, minimum of 3 months, paid monthly

Some people prefer 1-1 private coaching instead of meeting in a groups.  We have you covered! You have more freedom in scheduling session to meet your schedule, and you can customize our coaching sessions to specifically meet your needs.  Having helped thousands of businesses launch and grow, we stand ready to help you achieve your dream.  Here again, our background of coaching and small business technical assistance sets us apart from other types of business coaches.  Together, we’ve got this!

Startup to Growth Library^TM Membership: 

Our Library is filled with hours of videos educating small business owners on sales, social media (including how-to’s on LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, SnapChat), basic contract law, small business insurance and so much more.  And we are growing!  Our videos are from attorneys, accountants, marketing experts, financing companies, insurance brokers and others, each covering an area that will educate you about small business and help you build a strong foundation for your dream.  In November of 2017 we will launch an exclusive, Library Members Only newsletter that will have tips, small business news and motivational articles to help our Members Get Going and Get Growing!  Do you have a suggestion for our Library Membership program?  Great.  Let us know at info@startuptogrowth.com.

Online Business Plan Course

Cost:  $250/5 weeks, 3 hours each class

We offer an online, five-week How to Write a Business Plan course.  We often combine companies just starting out with experienced companies who have not yet written their business plan.  Our clients love this mix of excitement and passion by the new business owner and the experience and knowledge of the existing business owner.  It is a win/win for both groups.  Please contact us at info@startuptogrowth.com for our current schedule and openings.  If you are new to small business, a pre-requisite to this course is our How to Start a Business: Your Successful Launch online course.

In this business course, we will go over the parts of the business plan, and then concentrate our discussions on YOUR specific questions, ideas and challenges.  If you have proprietary information, this is NOT the forum for you.  Please contact info@startuptogrowth.com with any questions.