Oklahoma Small Business Resource Guide - SBA

Doing Business in Oklahoma
THE OKLAHOMA DISTRICT OFFICE
The Oklahoma District Office is
responsible for the delivery of SBA’s
many programs and services throughout
the state’s 77 counties. The District
Director is Dottie Overal. The District
Office is located at 301 N.W. 6th Street,
Suite 116, Oklahoma City, OK 73102.
Office hours are from 8:00 AM until 4:30
PM, Monday through Friday.
SBA in Oklahoma guaranteed just under
12 loans per week (or around 1,200
loans) to start or expand Oklahoma small
businesses during 2010 and 2011, valued
at about $750 million. Our resource
partners counseled and/or trained over
19,000 entrepreneurs in the same time
period. These accomplishments have had
a big impact on the local economy and in
creating jobs.
CONTACTING THE OKLAHOMA
DISTRICT OFFICE
For program and service information,
please call 405-609-8000.
SUCCESS STORY
Stone Mill, Inc.
Susan Spring
Owner
Susan Spring, owner of Stone Mill, Inc. in
Bixby, Okla., is creating jobs and expanding
her business after graduating from the
SBA e200 class, held annually in Tulsa. The
company manufactures concrete products
such as manufactured stone, pavers, and
masonry accessories that look and feel
like natural stone. “It’s been over a year
since graduating from the 2010 E200 class.
Since last year, we have doubled our sales,
hired 1 full-time employee and 3 part-time
employees,” said Susan. “And, we started an
installation crew that we have been able to
keep employed throughout the year.” “The
3-year Strategic Growth Plan we created for
our business was a huge help to me,” Susan
said. “It forced me to sit down and break
down my financials so I was able to see
where I was headed. It was also great to have
access to my peers and bounce ideas off of
them.”
SERVICES AVAILABLE
• Financial assistance for new
or existing businesses through
guaranteed loans made by area bank
and non-bank lenders, including
special loan programs available for
businesses involved in international
trade.
• Free counseling, advice and
information on starting, better
operating or expanding a small
business through SCORE, Small
Business Development Centers
(SBDC) and Women’s Business
Centers (WBC).
• Training events throughout the
district. Those conducted by our
Resource Partners may require a
nominal registration fee.
• Assistance to socially and
economically disadvantaged
individuals that own and control
a business via our 8(a) Business
Development Program.
How did you get started? My husband and
I dreamed of owning our own business and
had used manufactured stone in the past and
were very interested in making the product.
We sold our house and used the proceeds
from that and a small bank loan to get started
in 2008. We apprenticed under another
manufacturer, who trained us and sold us his
formulas and some equipment, and molds.
What type of business assistance or
education/training did you receive before
launching your business? The SBA was
instrumental in helping us get started.
Bill Mount from the Northeastern State
University Small Business Development
Center helped me write a business plan,
which helped us get our first bank loan.
John Blue, director of the Northeastern State
University Small Business Development
Center was a sea of information, from giving
us contacts to directing me to various classes
to helping us find funding. I have also taken
several of the other SBA classes and seminars
for small businesses. Herman Meyer from
SCORE visited our facility on many occasions
to help me with the accounting and give
us business guidance. I am very surprised
and pleased with the amount of help that
is out there for the taking. James Ray from
REI’s Oklahoma Native American Business
The SBA helps business
owners grow and expand
their businesses every day.
• A Veterans Affairs Officer is
available to assist veterans. Please
contact John D. Veal Jr. at 405-609-
8023 or e-mail: john.veal@sba.gov.
• A Women’s Business Ownership
Representative is available to assist
women business owners. Please
contact Pam Walker at 405-609-8013
or e-mail: pam.walker@sba.gov.
We Welcome Your
Questions
For extra copies of this publication or
questions please contact:
Oklahoma District Office
301 N.W. 6th Street, Suite 116
Oklahoma City, OK 73102
Tel: 405-609-8000 Fax: 405-609-8990
SBA Answer Desk: 800-827-5722
Website: www.sba.gov/ok
Enterprise Center visited our business and
helped us with marketing and finding
contracts.
What are your current gross revenues? Last
year’s sales were almost $500,000, which
is twice as much as the year before. This
January was our best month yet, with sales at
$100,000.
How many employees? We have 5 full time
employees and 3 part time employees.
What types of obstacles did you overcome
to staying business and become successful?
The decline in construction and our economy
have been obstacles, and since banks are very
tight right now, we’ve had to rely on profits
to grow our business, one small step at a
time.
What do you find is the greatest benefit of
being an entrepreneur? Learning to overcome
challenges
What advice do you have for other who are
considering going into business? Owning
your own business takes sacrifice, time, and
money. Be prepared. Get connected with
other business people and the help that is out
there for the taking from organizations such
as the SBA, REI, and SCORE.
Visit us online: www.sba.gov/ok OKLAHOMA Small Business Resource — 9