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Owner Drank In Advice At Small-Business Class

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By ANGELA DELGADO, The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 9, 2008

TOWN 'N COUNTRY - Kim Pham's 3-year-old business is a success, and that's partly due to the small business courses the county provided her years ago.

Pham, who moved to Tampa to start her business, Kaleisia Tea Lounge, 1441 E. Fletcher Ave., said she had experience working at her parents' restaurant, but this was her first venture opening a business of her own.

"Basically I opened the business without any knowledge of anything," said Pham, who co-owns the lounge with her cousin. "I was new to the city of Tampa, and I didn't know how things worked for Tampa."

While looking for permits she saw fliers advertising the small-business program series put on by the Hillsborough County Small Business Information Center. The program teaches the public about small business loans, and how to start small businesses.

The classes have been taking place throughout the county since 1996, and this month the courses are coming to the Town 'N Country Regional Library, 5455 W. Waters Ave. The courses include starting a daycare, learning about small business loans, opening a restaurant and starting a lawn care service.

"It gave me a new way at looking at my business instead of following the same structure of our parents," Pham said.

The business information center chose the classes based on what the public was requesting, said Beth Calhoun, community service coordinator for the center. She said the center teaches about 20 workshops a month, most of which are free, or have a small fee.

Interested parties once had to call the center to register but recently an online application was created for those who wish to register via the Internet. Go to www.hillsboroughcounty .org/sbic and click on the yellow star that reads "online registration."

"That's pretty brand-new," Calhoun said. "That's been nice and convenient for them."

Calls to register should be made at least a day in advance so those conducting the class are prepared.

"I would recommend the courses if they're a new" business, Pham said. "A lot of people who open a business think they know everything, but I don't think they do. There's a lot you can learn when you're opening a business. I could've easily done this without taking the courses, but I couldn't have done as well ... ."

SMALL BUSINESS PROGRAM SERIES

LOCATION: Town 'N Country Regional Library, 5455 W. Waters Ave., Suite 208

REGISTRATION: Call (813) 914-4028 or visit http://hills boroughcounty.org/sbic and click on Calendar of Events.

COST: Free

Reporter Angela Delgado can be reached at (813) 865-1501 or adelgado@tampatrib.com.

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