business owner , who has failed and succeeded and knows the trials and tribulations and what it takes to be successful . So , to stay in business is a big part of why SBA is here . We help people to have that continuity so that through good times , bad times , disasters and success , we can be sure we ’ re helping you plan for the future .
Stacey : Let ’ s talk about what some of those SBA resources are .
Ashley : Let ’ s start with people who are thinking of starting a business . I think every statistic will show you that , the longer you take planning the beginning of your business , the longer you will probably be in business . So , the preparation phase is important . You must know exactly what you need , make sure you ’ re offering something the marketplace wants and that you can be successful with the clientele you ’ re looking for . Do they have the ability to pay for the services you ’ re offering ? One of our key partners is SCORE . SCORE is dedicated to our start-ups . They ’ re the people you go to with your idea . They help you put your idea on paper in the form of a business plan that you may want to propose to potential investors to access to capital to start your dream . That ’ s the first part . Now , once you ’ re in business and you ’ re rolling , we have what are called small business development centers known as SBDC ’ s . They ’ re usually attached to community colleges around the state . They ’ re the people who can help you figure out , how to stay in business once you ’ ve started your business and how to maintain that level of success . AND IT ’ S A FREE SERVICE ! Let me clarify ; it ’ s not free , you ’ ve already paid taxes on it so you may as well get your money ’ s worth .
Stacey : Many people are afraid to walk into these places because they don ’ t know if there will be a large ticket at the end , so it ’ s important that they understand the services are prepaid right ?
Ashley : Yes , and Tthat ’ s very important . The SBDC ’ s ( Small Business Development Centers ) are critical because they are there to help you know what you don ’ t know . I think , for everyone who wants to go into business , yes , you know the service you want to provide , yes you have a great idea , but you don ’ t know what you don ’ t know about business . I ’ m a lawyer ; I had to build my law practice . Nowhere in law school did they tell me how to build my law practice . They taught me how to practice law . Many of our biggest success stories are people without MBA ’ s , but once big enough , they can hire someone with an MBA . The mistakes you will make by not knowing the critical steps to start a business will cost you money . That bottom line is someone you could have hired to help with your accounting , marketing or just money you could have put away in a rainy-day fund . We can help you alleviate those mistakes and save you money so that you can continue to be on the right track . Our SBDC ’ s will pair you up with mentors who have done what you ’ ve done , who are in your same sector , whose job it is to give back and help you make it and I think that ’ s a great service offered by our SBDC ’ s .
Stacey : So , the small businesses in the South East Region are in good hands ?
Ashley : I believe that if you are out there and you want to control your faith , and you want to work for it then SBA needs to be a part of your story . Not only do we offer to counsel , but we also offer access to capital . People may think that getting a loan through SBA is too difficult or it takes a long time … at one point , that may have been true , but we ’ re in a new day now . If you go to our lender match program online , you can fill out the application to see what your business qualifies for . You may see several banks pop up immediately that you qualify for but let ’ s say nothing shows up initially , that means we need to get you ready for access to capital . That ’ s where our SBDC will help you write your business plan in a way where Banks will be more able to accept it . Remember , the Banks want to lend you money when you work with us because we guarantee a portion of it . So , we help the Banks out . When you go to the bank , and you qualify for SBA ’ s guidelines , the banks will say , if SBA is willing to guarantee 75 or 85 % of the loan , I ’ m more likely to issue this money out . So , please , take advantage of those programs . We can help you get to the point where the banks can say yes , our job is to get you to yes . You must be patient , and you must be willing to work for it .
Stacey : So , it ’ s a process , right ? If you want to grow your business and be sustainable in the marketplace , then you must be willing to do what you have to do to get access to capital .
Ashley : Yes , and I ’ ll talk about something else that I ’ ve been working on . It ’ s a goal of mine in this region . We have a micro lending program . Our microlending programs are often partnered with nonprofits , and this is something that many people don ’ t know about . Access to capital is so important ’, we need to get more access points in our community . If you have a small nonprofit and you want to get into to microlending , the SBA can work with you . If you ’ re a nonprofit and you can show a year of issuing successful revolving lending SBA will help you figure out how to get your system in place to do it . After that year , SBA will match what you have and sometimes give up to two to three times what you have to lend to the people in your community .
Stacey : I ’ d like to talk about some of your accomplishments . I think it ’ s important for people to know some of your background .
Ashley : Okay …
Stacey : In 2016 . You were recognized as one of the top 40 young lawyers by the American Bar Association . And You were appointed as Associate Director of the Peace Corps .
Ashley : One of the best jobs , I ’ ve ever had . I loved the peace corp . The Peace Corps is known for their work in tough places . We have a lot of returned Peace Corps volunteers that now work for the SBA , and that ’ s fantastic , being an organization of people who know service at that level . I ’ ve worked with many village savings and loans banks in Africa and the Caribbean and can tell you that access to capital is a problem around the world and I ’ m glad I ’ m in a position to continue to offer those special opportunities .
Stacey : I ’ m glad you mentioned that . Being in this region , South Florida specifically , there are so many people who are now here who may have had businesses in the country of their birth but are now finding it difficult to do the same here with all the laws , rules and procedures , it ’ s good to know they now have someone in their region who gets it .
Ashley : Absolutely ! We live in a great country with great opportunities but there are a lot of rules , and they ’ re hard for people who have been here forever yet alone for people who just got here . So , what we have to do is do everything possible to make sure language is not a barrier and make sure that you feel comfortable walking into any federal government building because if you ’ re paying taxes , this is your federal government . You should be able to talk to people there in whatever language is appropriate for you . We have the staff to do it ; we need to be reaching out to you , speaking your language . Nelson Mandela said it best . “ If you reach out to a man in his language , you ’ ll reach his heart and not just