Jennifer Long, a family life studies graduate from the University of Oklahoma and a foster care professional, became interested in franchising opportunities with We Rock the Spectrum, a company that supplies inclusive gyms for special needs children. After three years of researching opportunities with them, she registered for advising with the Oklahoma Small Business Development Center (SBDC) to achieve her dream of starting a business. She sought help preparing a business plan and navigating state paperwork.

Working with Business Advisor Claudia Pannell, Jennifer filed the required forms and paperwork with the state and worked to hire a professional team for her business. The final task was acquisition of funding to open their facility. Jennifer and her husband, Robert, applied for a loan in the spring of 2023 after researching multiple funding options.

The Longs’ loan was approved and funded, and they opened their We Rock the Spectrum location soon after. The facility is designed to provide children with sensory processing disorders with a fun and safe place to exercise, stay active, and socialize. Since the opening of their business, the Longs have been committed to supporting their local community and supplying an inclusive environment for the children of Yukon, Oklahoma.

“[The Oklahoma SBDC] was always quick to respond,” said Jennifer. “They were there to answer any and all questions. If they didn’t know the answer, they knew how to find it! As a first-time business owner, I really appreciated the support I received from the OKSBDC.”

Starting a business can be a daunting task, but Alora Champagne was able to successfully start her own donut shop, Doughnut Theory, in Broken Bow, Oklahoma. The Oklahoma Small Business Development Center (SBDC) is a great resource for entrepreneurs like Alora who need help with starting or growing their businesses. The SBDC provides confidential, high-quality, no-cost entrepreneurial and small business management advising to help Oklahomans start and grow businesses.

Alora’s experience with the SBDC is a great example of how the center can help entrepreneurs with various aspects of starting a business. With the help of her business advisor, Joe Silk, Alora was able to create a business plan and prepare financial projections for her donut shop. Joe and Alora also assessed the likelihood of success for a donut shop in Broken Bow based on many factors, using information provided by the Oklahoma SBDC’s Center for Oklahoma Small Business Research and Analysis.

Doughnut Theory’s grand opening on May 3rd, 2022, was a success, with the shop selling between 400-600 donuts during the first two days of business and completely selling out within the first few hours of opening on both days. It’s great to see small businesses like Doughnut Theory thrive with the help of resources like the SBDC.

“Joe has helped out during every part of my business planning,” says Alora. “The info that was shared [helped] to build my plan; my experience has been great!”