CLEVELAND — Small businesses are the lifeblood of our economy. 2023 was a record-breaking year for small business start-ups, according to a study by Lendio, an organization that advocates for small businesses. Ohio ranked sixth out of all states as the best place to start a business. And there are resources available to grow successful businesses in Greater Cleveland.
“There's nothing that was going to stop me from doing this,” owner and founder Kanisha Rounsaville says about her business, Balance Cheer & Gymnastics. She started in gymnastics at the age of 2, breaking barriers as a black gymnast. Today she is showing the next generation of children what is possible.
“I knew that when I was in a position to open my very own gym, I would advocate for inclusion and also target underrepresented groups and present day, we're doing just that,” said Rounsaville with a smile.
Looking at numbers, the Northeast Ohio region is great for business owners like Rounsaville. Just over 99% are considered small businesses, that’s over 46% of employees. Resources, like the Council of Smaller Enterprises, or COSE, and JumpStart are there to provide education and guidance.
“When a small business comes to us and says they need help with business planning or access to capital or even something like space, we know exactly who to refer them to get the help that they need,” said COSE Executive Director, Megan Kim.
“We provide group workshops, and we provide, larger events to support small business entrepreneurs as they think about their growth,” added JumpStart Chief Investment Officer, Lorne Novick.
Rounsaville only discovery both organizations a few months ago, but took advantage quickly. With the gym’s waiting list growing and her desire to expand, she needed capital to secure a larger space.
“I knew that I needed funding, and I wanted to avoid like certain debts and loans. So, I just started really applying for pitch contests,” said Rounsaville. “The pitch competition I won; they really want small business owners to succeed in Cleveland.”
She actually won two pitch competitions, the Impact program at JumpStart and Chain Reaction from COSE, for a total of $50,000. She is not done yet, attending the Business Innovation and Growth or BIG Summit on Tuesday, Oct. 15 at the La Centro Conference and Banquet Facility in Westlake.
“Anyone who knows a small business owner knows that they wear a lot of hats. And a lot of times they're completely focused in the business versus having the opportunity to work on the business,” Kim said.
“I just love being in a room with like-minded individuals and people that know more than me, because I'm like an open canvas. I love to learn more,” Rounsaville said when asked about the BIG Summit.
Both COSE and JumpStart are seeing demand for their services grow as more people hope to be their own boss.
“We're all Clevelanders. We're all trying to stimulate the economy,” said Novick. “And individuals like Kenisha can make much more of an impact than they even realize.”
If you are a business owner, you can register for the COSE BIG Summit by clicking here. Featured is advice from two Cleveland favorites, Malley's Chocolates and Great Lakes Brewing Company.
