Handling a side hustle, working a full-time job, and also taking care of yourself is difficult. You probably want to give yourself entirely to all three, but it's likely impossible. However, to function properly and handle all you’ve got going on, you need to take self-care seriously — even though it might look like a waste of time at first. Here are a few tricks to help you find a balance.
 
Compartmentalize 
This is the most crucial step. Having another job on the side can be distracting because the passion for the new venture is fresh and you'll likely have a hard time focusing on anything else. But it's called a 'side' hustle for a reason. You need to put your project in a box to focus on other things: your day job, family, and self-care still need to come first. Still, if you can master compartmentalization with your side gig, you will better succeed in your activities and balance all the aspects of your life.
 
Set Small Goals 
Having responsibilities and deadlines at both your jobs can become overwhelming, especially if you try to do everything at once. An act of self-care is, in this case, creating a list of the goals that you want to achieve. You can further split those goals down into daily, weekly, and monthly accomplishable goals to make them easier to meet and avoid burnout.

Allow Yourself to Pause 
Think about how often you allow yourself to slow down and take a break. Even though this may feel a bit limiting at first — especially when there is so much to take care of — constant activity puts you at risk of anxiety, burnout, and overwhelm, resulting in unpleasant things like resentment, exhaustion, and lack of motivation.
 
An easy way to avoid this is to schedule a time each day to take a break and zone out. Even taking a 15-minute walk, resting for a while in a room where no one can bother you, or asking someone for help so you can take a short break can feel life-changing. Give yourself permission to be present in the moment without having to create, give, or provide. Pausing also enables you to clarify what is working, what you need to change, and how you can make things happen.
 
Commit to Something That Brings You Joy 
Most self-care practices suggest doing something that makes you feel good. Joy and laughter are medicinal, increasing serotonin and endorphins in the brain, relaxing the muscles, easing tension in the body, and more. Laughter also relieves everyday stress and worry, adds positivity and resilience to daily life, improves overall mood and happiness, and helps ease fear.
 
Automate and Outsource 
When balancing a full-time job and a new side hustle, you need to understand the value of time. As unnecessary as it may feel to pay for a service to do something that you can do yourself, it could be in your best interest. Hiring help to tackle specific aspects of your startup will yield so much more as it helps you focus on other parts of the business that need more attention.
 
The task of business formation, for instance, involves the many steps. Instead of stretching yourself even thinner to tackle each one, you can engage a service to start LLC in Utah for you. It might cost you money in fees, but it can save your energy, giving you the chance to focus on more important things, plus you can work with a formation service instead of a lawyer to keep costs low.
 
Operating a side hustle requires lots of time, attention, and care. You should also adopt a few strategies to practice self-care, which is essential to every human being. Let the above steps help you find balance and thrive.
 
Utah Microloan Fund aims to strengthen Utah communities by providing business training and small business loans. Call 801-746-1180 to learn more.
​

In a world where we hear the word "uncertain times" several times a day and the landscape for what we call normal changes daily, mental health is more important than ever. Self care, boundaries and taking care of one's health is so important, especially when big names like Simone Biles are making it a part of our national conversation. This focus is why we wanted to highlight our client Summit Counseling Solutions as our August Business of the Month along with the awesome recent advancements they have made in their field. Keep reading to learn more from owner Kate Plato below. 

UMLF: Who is Summit Counseling Solutions? (SCS)
SCS: We provides Day Treatment and Intensive Outpatient counseling/treatment services for adolescents ages 12-17, and their families. Using different combinations of individual, group, and family therapy along with academic intervention and support (Day Treatment only) students and families participating in SCS programs learn to address and cope with a variety of mental and behavioral health issues and decline. This helps them ultimately develop the awareness and coping skills necessary to become resilient and manage the challenges of life.  In support of individual treatment, SCS families learn to support effectively and develop awareness, tools and skills that support healthy family communication and conflict resolution. To learn more about the individual mental and behavioral health issues SCS treatment can effectively address visit our website at summitcounselingsolutions.com.

UMLF: Tell us about your leadership team and your backgrounds? 
SCS: The SCS Leadership Team is comprised of seven individuals in various leadership capacities charged with the oversight and implementation necessary to service 150-200 students and families each year.   This remarkable team of tireless advocates has developed and applies a wealth of clinical and administrative knowledge and expertise necessary to strategically and interdependently break down and overcome the most common barriers to successful treatment for each and every family we serve. 

UMLF:  You offer treatment for a variety of areas of therapy adolescents, tell us more about those? 
SCS: We serve adolescents ages 12-17 offering counseling/treatment for PHP (Partial Hospitalization/Day Treatment) and IOP (Intensive Outpatient) levels of care. SCS counseling and treatment services are also appropriate for adolescents struggling with anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, ADHD and other learning disabilities, personality/mood disorders, family conflict etc.

UMLF: Do you have a specific service area?
SCS: We’re located in Utah County and although we will serve anyone will to drive to our facility. The majority of our clientele come from areas within a 25 mile radius. 

UMLF: We heard you have made some very notable advancements in your field, tell us more? 
SCS: SCS, along with several other key community partners, helped establish and works strategically with a nonprofit organization called Extraordinary Options for Ordinary People to support mental health providers by teaching them to break down/navigate the most common barriers of the mental health industry that prevent providers from providing care. By providing tools, training, and other resources that connect providers to other providers and consumer to providers SCS supports the removal of barriers or obstacles that most often interrupt the roads to care and support.
 
EO is launching officially in October with a tribute event concert performed by David Archuleta designed to honor and pay tribute to the tireless work and dedication of providers in adolescent mental and behavioral health. 

To learn more visit: 
Website: https://summitcounselingsolutions.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/summitcounselingsolutions
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/summit-counseling-solutions

Debt is not a foreign concept to small business owners. In fact, SEMrush reports that 40% of small businesses hold over $100,000 in debt! While taking on business debt is incredibly common—and often necessary—it can still be crippling. Thankfully, there are several steps you can take to get a handle on your business debt and eventually eliminate it altogether. Here are some tips from the Utah Microloan Fund to help you manage your debt and pay it off quickly.
 
Rework Your Business Budget
 If you can’t afford to pay off your debt, reevaluating your business budget is the first thing you should do. You need to know exactly where all your money is going and how to best use those funds. Take a look at your budget and ask yourself a few questions. Are you meeting your revenue goals? Are your actual costs exceeding your projected costs? Are you struggling to cover your expenses due to cash flow issues? If the numbers aren’t adding up, find ways to reduce ongoing expenses and create more room in your budget for debt payments.
 
Find Ways to Cut Costs
 Use your business budget to identify opportunities to reduce spending. You may have to make some drastic expense cuts until you can get your debt under control, so don’t be afraid to pare down to the essentials. Look for subscriptions you rarely use, professional memberships you can cancel, or time-consuming tasks that you can automate.
 
Are you spending a lot of money on payroll costs? Online payroll and time-tracking tools can help you monitor how your team is spending their time and identify opportunities to cut costs. Look for a payroll platform that includes mobile timesheets, employee scheduling, real-time alerts, and smart reporting for valuable labor insights.
 
Boost Your Income
 On the flip side of cutting costs, boosting your income will also help you better handle your debt. Of course, this is easier said than done. Revenue growth often creates new expenses, which can add new debt to your load. Look for ways to increase your business revenue while minimizing your additional costs. Encouraging repeat business from existing customers is one great way to do this. On average, it costs about five times more to acquire a new customer than to retain an existing customer. Focus on increasing customer retention over acquisition and your profits are bound to climb.
 
Negotiate with Lenders
 Did you know that you can negotiate your loan rates and terms? Call your lender to discuss your options and see what they can do. If you’ve been making your payments every month, your lender may be willing to offer deferred payments, better interest rates, or reduced fees to help you get through a cash flow slump. Try to have this conversation as early as possible so you can keep your business credit intact and avoid hurting your reputation with your moneylender by missing payments.
 
Consolidate Your Debt
 Debt consolidation is another option, especially if you’re holding a lot of high-interest debt. Debt consolidation involves taking out a big loan to pay off a number of smaller loans. This will bring all of your debt together under one loan, making it easier to manage and, ideally, reducing your interest payments. Look for a loan that offers a lower interest rate than you’re currently paying. If you can’t qualify for a traditional bank loan due to poor credit or insufficient collateral, look for lenders that offer alternative loan options.
 
Managing business debt is critical to ensuring the long-term financial success of your business. While it’s hard to face debt head-on, it’s important to get things under control as soon as possible. Dive into your business budget, look for ways to cut costs, and take steps to improve your loan rates and terms so you can tackle debt once and for all!
 
Looking for business funding? The Utah Microloan Fund offers loans to entrepreneurs and startups that don’t qualify for traditional bank loans. Complete our online orientation to learn more!

Article by Brittany Fisher of financiallywell.info

Bacteria, yeast, fermentation. Sound gross? No way! This is just part of the process of making kombucha, a sweet, fizzy fermented tea that has taken the health world by storm. Not only can you make some amazing flavor combinations but evidence also suggests that kombucha has a range of health benefits, including gut and liver health, and can be the perfect alternative to sugary sodas and juices. With local Han's Kombucha it was love at first sip. A small-batch, women-owned kombucha brewery located in the heart of Salt Lake City, the gals at Han's motto is "We brew for you! Any and all."  Keep reading to learn more about our July Business of the Month in our interview with owner Kate Lubing, business partner to Hannah Hendrickson. Cheers!
​
UMLF: Tell us about yourselves and your backgrounds?
Han's: Hannah was born and raised in Boise, Idaho and after graduating from the University of Utah with a degree in Public Health, she worked in the pharmaceutical industry for a short time before starting Han's Kombucha in the fall of 2018. Kate hails from Jackson Hole, Wyoming and after spending nearly two decades in Hospitality and Restaurant Management with a degree from Le Cordon Bleu'. Kate partnered with Hannah at the end of 2019 and they haven't looked back since. With Hannah's passion and innovative approach to the kombucha brewing world and Kate's background of sales and management, they are a perfect powerhouse duo brewing their kombuha with love for the state of Utah.

UMLF:  We are drooling reading over your menu. How do you guys come up with your unique flavors?
Han's: We are also drooling. Sometimes it's an idea that comes to us in the middle of the day or a flavor combination that keeps us up at night with excitement to try it at the brewery the next day. We brew kombucha with flavors that we like to drink. Some flavors are simply classic like our front runner of Ginger Hibiscus and then some are experiments that take time and tweaking for many weeks like our Blueberry Lavender JUN kombucha. It's all made with love, which we think makes it taste that much better.

UMLF:  Your branding is obviously top-notch, tell us about your creative process?
Han's: A graphic designer friend of Hannah's from college actually did the first label for the company. We are so lucky that he did. Over the last year we've brought on an AMAZING branding, film and marketing duo to help fine tune the brand and bring our future brands to life. We want to represent what's important to us as business owners, consumers and community members. The arch is representative of our beautiful state of Utah and we fill in around it with an approachable, inviting blend of content, colors and product information.

UMLF: Every business has its highs and lows. Tell us about a challenge you faced as a small business owner and how you overcame it?
Han's: Oh goodness. I think each day is filled with many highs and certainly a handful of lows. That's being a business owner and young company though. I think that scaling the production has definitely come with it's challenges but we've kept a positive attitude and fought through the unknowns that show up. As we scale, balancing the supply and demand has been an interesting adventure for us and probably always will be. What we do know is that there is nothing we can't work out and overcome together and feel incredibly fortunate for not only our business partnership but our friendship too.

UMLF: How do you believe the Utah Microloan Fund has helped your business? 
Han's: The Utah Microloan Fund helped our business tremendously. We recently signed a long term lease on our very own space off of 300 West. Without the funding from the UMLF we wouldn't have been able to secure the equipment we need for our new space as well as cover the build out costs of the brewery production facility. Han's is grateful for this program and we implore other small businesses to apply.

UMLF:  Where can people find your kombucha?
Han's: Great question. The best place to look is on our website www.hanskombucha.com, where we list a good portion of our retailers from Heber Valley to Moab. We hope in the near future that we can offer Han's state wide and one day start shipping. We also offer pickup and delivery online. While waiting for our new facility to be built out, we offer you the option to place your orders online, choose a pick up time at our production facility or delivery to your home.

To get some tasty kombucha asap and to stay in touch visit: 
Website: www.hanskombucha.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/hanskombucha
Facebook:  www.facebook.com/hanskombucha

It's June in Utah, which means it's definitely construction season! Essential to the process are the dump truck companies who tirelessly provide materials throughout the state needed to complete the different projects working on our roads, homes, infrastructure, and more. HPG Trucking, LLC is a new trucking company based in Clinton, Utah that serves the tri-state area.

Lakasha Hodges and her husband Louis might be new to owning their own company, but the years of customer service and hauling experience in previous jobs have enabled them to now start their own venture. Keep reading to learn more about their journey. 

UMLF: For those who don’t know, who is HPG Trucking and what do you do?
Lakasha: HPG Trucking, LLC ( Hodges Pretty Girl Trucking)  is a dump truck company based in Clinton, Utah. We haul aggregates transporting large quantities of construction materials, dirt, rocks, asphalt, gravel, road base, and sand to and from construction sites.

UMLF: Tell us about yourself and your background?
 Lakasha: I always wanted to own my own business. I have been interested in trucking for the past 15 years. I love the logistics part of the business.

UMLF: What inspired you to start HPG Trucking?
Lakasha: A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity came available when I heard about a new project that was available for owner-operators, giving us an opportunity to join their team. I knew that was the opportunity for me to achieve my dream.
​
UMLF:  What makes you different from other trucking services in Utah? 
Lakasha: HPG Trucking, LLC provides excellent service to our customers in the construction industry. We pride ourselves on the integrity, compliance and competence from our employees and we prioritize customer service above all else to remain the first choice for our clients’ hauling needs.

UMLF:  What is your service area? 
Lakasha: We service all clients within the state of Utah and the tri-state areas.

UMLF: Every business has its highs and lows. Tell us about a challenge you faced as a small business owner and how you overcame it?
Lakasha: The day-to-day maintenance and breakdowns are a challenge but with hard work and a little elbow grease we have gotten through them. Being a Black woman in a male-dominated industry is a challenge in its own, but once again I will make it! I am still learning being diligent and resilient in my efforts will help me reach my goals.
 
UMLF: How do you believe the Utah Microloan Fund has helped your business? 
Lakasha: Utah Microloan Fund gave us the capital we needed to purchase my first dump truck which helps me achieve continued success and growth for our company.     

Website: https://hpgtrucking.com/                                                                                                                             

Spring has sprung and as Utahns come out of hibernation, we all know one thing: It's time to start thinking about the lawn! When to start watering, what fertilizer or weed care to use, when is it time to start mowing, and most importantly, how is your lawn going to look this season? They say don't judge a book but its cover, but what about someone's yard? A good lawn can make all the difference in how your house is perceived amirite? For the more discerning lawn connoisseur, what if we told you your lawn could look as on-point and premium as a golf green? Jason Taylor, owner of TaylorMade Lawn, has made that very thing possible! Keep reading to learn more about this new Utah company.

UMLF: For those who don’t know, who is TaylorMade Lawn and what do you do?
TaylorMade: TaylorMade Lawn is a premium lawn leveling, top dressing, renovation, and restoration service. We create and tailor your existing lawn into the lawn you've always wanted it to be. We can transform your lawn to look short and tight, like a golf course fairway, or into a level, lush 3” traditional lawn. 
 
UMLF: Tell us about yourself and your background?  
TaylorMade: I was born and raised in Utah and I love this area and the outdoors.  I love golfing and making music.  I am a father and a husband and enjoy spending time with my family.  I come from the securities and business development world.  I thrive around people and love making genuine connections!
 
UMLF: What inspired you to start TaylorMade Lawn? 
TaylorMade: After working for others for years I wanted to work for myself but I was not sure in what capacity.  I love creating things and I enjoy beautifying my own yard.  I challenged myself to totally transform my own lawn in a way that is unique to Utah.  I studied and experimented on processes. Through my own yard transformation and feedback from friends and neighbors I realized I could bring this service to others and create a niche in the landscaping industry.
 
UMLF:  What makes you different from other lawn care services in Utah?  
TaylorMade: There are many offering lawn maintenance or installing new landscaping.  I am exclusively offering lawn leveling and renovation services that are tailored to those who want a unique and upper-end look to their yard.  This is a premium service for those who are passionate about their yards and desire an exquisite lawn.
 
UMLF:  What is your service area?
TaylorMade: We service the Wasatch front area in Utah.  I have clients from Bountiful to Nephi.
 
UMLF: Every business has its highs and lows. Tell us about a challenge you faced as a small business owner and how you overcame it?
TaylorMade: Starting my own company during a pandemic when resources are low for everyone was a challenge.  I wasn’t sure how to get started.  My company needed specialized and expensive equipment. I had to be creative in getting funding to get my company off the ground.  I weighed all of my options and found financing and got things started.
 
UMLF: How do you believe the Utah Microloan Fund has helped your business?
TaylorMade: I did not know how I was going to get funding for my business and wasn’t sure anyone would be willing to take a chance on a start-up company during a global pandemic.  I am grateful to the Utah Microloan Fund for the opportunity to get my company the money needed to start my business and give me guidance along the way.

To drool over some beautiful lawns, follow TaylorMade Lawn here: 
Website: https://taylormadelawn.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/taylormadelawn
Instagram:  www.instagram.com/taylormadelawn

Spring has sprung and so has the imaginative power of Brian Jensen and Alicia Lockwood, a dynamic brother and sister duo in St. George Utah who own and run 6BIT Creative, LLC. Who are they you might ask? Not only are they the Utah Microloan Fund's choice for our April business of the Month, 6BIT is a company that offers professional creative services, making and selling creative products and digital assets. They are located in a historic part of the heart of downtown St. George, UT at 55 N. Main Street but are also available for work around the state. Keep reading to learn more about Brian and Alicia and why you should think of them the next time you are in need of creative services for your business. 

UMLF: Tell us about yourselves and your background?  
Brian Jensen, Co-Owner, 3D Designer, Graphic Designer, Artist
Brian is our 3D Master! He can render just about anything and always loves a good challenge. Brian has a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Communication with a double major in Fine Art and Entertainment Art. Brian is very creative and his fine art is amazing and interesting! Brian's education and skills in entertainment art help with any video project. Brian's good humor and calm nature make him awesome to work with and be around. We are always laughing during our workday. Brian was part of the team in a mural project of Washington County in downtown St. George, that was for the Greater Zion tourism and Arts to Zion. Brian is also a cancer survivor. He is happily married, and a dad of two boys, one girl, and one angel boy. He loves to go explore and go on hikes with his family. 

Alicia Lockwood, Co-Owner, Graphic Designer, Photographer, Artist
Alicia is our graphic design and printing guru! She enjoys tackling the projects that level up her design work. She says the best feeling is when her clients say, "wow! How did you make that based on my scribbles!?" Alicia has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Visual Communication with a double major in Graphic Design and Photography. Alicia's education and experience in photography is the icing on the creative cake. Alicia's whirlwind ideas and energy keep everyone on their toes. It is never a dull moment during the workday. Alicia is an active member of several organizations. Alicia has served on several boards and currently serves on the Advisory Board for the Modern Farm and Artisan Co-op.  Alicia was one of the 30 in their 30's Influencers in Greater Zion 2019 recipients. She is a 1st place, award-winning photographer. Alicia is a single mom to one girl. When Alicia is not creating for her clients, she is still creating art with her family on Friday Night Art Nights, playing games, or binge-watching Star Trek.
 
UMLF: What inspired you to start 6Bit Creative?
6BIT: We both were doing freelance work but in different cities and we kept collaborating on projects. One evening on April 14th, 2018 we were chatting online about the fate of the future of both our businesses. It was at that moment we were talking about our futures and the idea came up for us to join forces. We decided to merge our two businesses together. We knew we were good at what we did, we loved, we knew we could work well together as a team, we knew we needed to do something to grow our businesses. By April 16th we had registered our LLC and had a logo. What was meant to just be us working remotely turned into a brick and mortar location in St. George, UT. 
 
UMLF: What is a creative company and how is 6Bit Creative different from others out there?
6BIT: A creative company is slightly different than a marketing company. Our specialty is taking your ideas and bringing them to life in creative ways. We offer a variety of creative services such as 3D visualization, graphic design, photography, videography, and illustrations. We also make and sell creative products, stock imagery, fine art, and offer printing services. We also have our photography studio and sound room available to rent. What makes us different is the idea that we are the company to complete the project and we have a range of creative services that we have. We structure our business model, subscriptions, and pricing to help those smaller businesses or individuals to bring their projects to life. Our tagline is: visually clarifying ideas. We believe that our clients know what they want to say or do, they just need someone to guide them, interpret it and build it, that is us. And the most important, is we are a brother and sister team. Perhaps it is a brother and sister superpower, or our combined 20+ years experience and combined education, whatever the case may be, we have this creative synergy that produces some amazing work when we come together.

UMLF: We love your monthly and annual subscription options for business owners, what made you offer these and what is included?  
6BIT: We realized that a lot of time we get smaller jobs that we spend more time billing than doing the actual job. This made it tricky. As the smaller projects were important to accomplish we couldn't figure out how to properly charge for the project. We also understood that hiring a professional graphic designer feels like it is out of budget or unobtainable. So we found a way that we can help our clients budget their graphic design needs, have affordable options, cut time and costs so we can dedicate more hours to graphic design time for our clients. There are no surprises for our clients when the final invoice comes. They know how many hours they have for projects they need to accomplish. We offering a one-time payment for a discount based on how many hours the client needs or we can break up the yearly subscription into 12 payments. Clients that utilize the subscription model love it. It is easier for them to submit projects and us to turn them around without that extra paperwork. Currently, we have graphic design and video services subscriptions. We are working on finalizing other kinds of service subscriptions. 
 
UMLF: 3D rending, graphic design, photography, video services, custom illustrations and promos. Is there anything you guys can’t do it? And how did you get so good at this?
6BIT: Actually, there is a lot we can't do, but when we first started we were trying to target a specific industry. It may have worked but we were finding out that we were missing opportunities to some other creative work. We changed our business plan to be a full creative business without being industry-specific. Crazy, right?! We love getting jobs that make us stop and say, "how can we accomplish this?"  We love to innovate and learn. We watch tutorials and try them for our own business or personal projects first. We enjoy teaming up with our clients to discuss how to make their ideas happen. We want the projects that we have to research how to accomplish them. And if we can't, we will find someone to contract out that can. 
 
UMLF: Every business has its highs and lows. Tell us about a challenge you faced as a small business owner and how you overcame it? 
 ​6BIT: Social media—believe it or not! It has been a challenge to fully dive into what it can offer and it feels overwhelming at times. We know the power social media can have and we have so many cool things we want to share. We've embraced it by planning out what content we want to share and making sure we are more conscious about what and when we are posting, by using schedulers. We are figuring out ways to make it fun and exciting to do instead of dreading it. 

UMLF: How do you believe the Utah Microloan Fund has helped your business?
6BIT: We are incredibly grateful for UMFL! Honestly, when one of our computers died we were at a slow standstill. Alicia was working at night and Brian was working during the day to still accomplish all the projects we had. We had been so careful to keep our overhead low and save money but nothing could anticipate the need for a new computer during the pandemic! Having the opportunity to get a new computer changed the course of our business. It was a better, faster, machine than the other computer was and we were now able to produce more and at a faster turnaround time. It exponentially helped our business having the equipment we needed to provide that top-level professional service we strive for our clients. ​

I was also in the Banking on Women program and it was a great program. It gave an opportunity to analyze the business and where to take it. It was great to learn more tools and ways to help it be successful. It was also great to make new connections and be a part of a great business community. 

To stay in touch with 6BIT visit: 
Website: http://6bitcreative.com/ 
Facebook: www.facebook.com/6BITCreative
Instagram: www.instagram.com/6bitcreative

Who doesn't love a good sandwich? When we were getting together to decide on our January Business of the Month, we knew immediately that we wouldn't be happy campers if we didn't decide on Happy Camper Deli of Salt Lake City, Utah. Owned by Marc Singleton, Happy Camper is a mobile deli with a twist, their trucks are repurposed from old campers and horse trailers which is fun to see. Keep reading to learn more about these deelish sammies and catering. ​

“With us, you’re not a price tag. The moment you walk through our doors, you become part of a family.” These are the wise words from the team at Chapel Motorcycle in Murray, Utah and this attitude is one of the many reasons we chose Chapel as our December Business of the Month! Read all about the business that strives to be the best motorcycle shop, parts and accessories vendor in the industry below!

UMLF: Tell us about yourself and your background?
​
Chapel: Our team includes Karl Baird, Kolby Reber, and Colleen Reber Baird. We are the owners of The Chapel Motorcycle Shop. We also have a very solid management team including Mitch Fichialos and Robin Neilsen, plus 5 other full-time employees and 2 part-time employees.

Karl’s background has been focused on working with start-up companies for the last 13 years along with holding executive level management positions. He has a strong focus on marketing, B2B relationships, and customer service. He has built multiple departments and companies from the ground up while maintaining high levels of employee and customer satisfaction. Karl’s true passion has been riding and working on motorcycles his whole life. His skills and background are a driving force to make this company successful. The last 5 years of Karl’s focus has been on building the overall company but with a strong focus on customer service, shop operations, and efficiencies.

Kolby brings a wide range of talents, skills, and abilities to the table. He has been a professional graphic designer with 20+ years of experience working with clients and designing everything from business packages, logos, advertisements, publishing, website design, and even 3 years of pre-press experience. He has worked in retail customer service for 12+ years and understands the true value of keeping the customer happy. Kolby is also very skilled at building and creating things. He has 3 years of remodeling construction experience that taught him a full range of general building practices, including framing, concrete, sheetrock, and various finish work. He also has over two years’ experience, as the assistant head carpenter for the Utah Opera, building professional theater sets. Besides this work experience, Kolby is also a great thinker and has great problem-solving skills. He is excellent at product research and purchasing. He has a keen eye for detail and quality, and he will find the best price. He is also great at choosing products that other people enjoy. He has a great sense of what “cool” is.  The last 5 years of Kolby’s focus has been on building the overall company but with a strong focus on running the Design Studio which includes Embroidery, Design, Vinyl, and clothing, this further includes designing custom artwork for custom products, ads, web design, flyers, logos. etc., and his great appreciation for strong customer service. Kolby is definitely a solid asset for the company.

Colleen is a retired middle school teacher from the Salt Lake City School District bringing organization and compassion into our shop. She is a mother/owner/partner / who stands behind her two son’s Kolby and Karl.  She is a huge part of the foundation of our business and family, and the glue that helps hold it all together.  She has a strong passion to see our business grow. Colleen has been involved in the company since the very beginning, she knew there was an opportunity and was the first investor who enabled The Chapel to grow from an idea to a major player in just 5 short years.
 
UMLF: What inspired you to start the Chapel Motorcycle Shop?

Chapel: On Paper, The Chapel Motorcycle Shop has only existed since 2015, but the dream and drive began long before that when brothers Karl and Kolby were riding their motorcycles both street bikes and dirt bikes as kids. We were always surrounded by motorcycles. We realized there was something missing in Utah’s motorcycle market. Our family mechanic was retiring, the dealerships treated customers and staff poorly, and the shop with a true personality was closing down. Instead of accepting the fate of Utah’s motorcycle market, we decided to make a move, and after that point, The Chapel was born. Along with our parents (investors)  and an amazing determination to succeed we started The Chapel Motorcycle Shop. What started as a long-time dream quickly became a local meeting spot and social hub for bikers of all walks of life from the beginner to the lifelong biker and everyone in between. It was clear from the beginning that the community wanted a change and we were that change. We believe in treating everyone with respect.

UMLF: You describe yourself as a one-stop-shop for all Utah Motorcyclists. Tell us about all the awesome services you offer?

Chapel: The Chapel Motorcycle Shop has a department dedicated to style. It is called Chapel Customs, within this department, we have multiple commercial embroidery machines, a Vinyl plotter, weeding stations for the vinyl, along with multiple heat presses for both shirts and hats, plus other accessories. Pretty much if we can brand it, we will! This is offered to all of our clientele including small businesses, local clubs, and organizations along with our own apparel. The Chapel Motorcycle Shop continues to service all new and current clientele with a Full-Service Motorcycle Service Shop & Design Studio. The Chapel also continues to aggressively market our services to the current Harley-Davidson market from Logan to Provo, and from Tooele to Heber City. We also market to the rest of the V-Twin market that includes the non-Harley lines. The other motorcycle brands such as Indian, Victory, Triumph, Honda, Yamaha, and Suzuki, are also markets/brands that we target. We are able to provide services from tires and minor repairs to full high performance and custom applications. This allows us to provide apparel, parts, and accessories to this client base as well. The full-service shop includes custom work and fabrication for items like sissy bars, custom bike modifications, lowering kits, bobber kits, engine builds, fiberglass and LED light kits. Some of these items include outsourcing to local specialists to complete portions of the builds. The Chapel Motorcycle Shop has a Trademarked logo which we use for clothing lines, advertising, and branding of our services and motorcycle lifestyle. Our custom apparel and items include our logos on shirts, hoodies, patches, hats, leather apparel, sunglasses, bandanas, handlebars, pegs, and many other items.
 
UMLF: You celebrated 5 years in business this year. Congrats, how does that feel?

Chapel: It feels great to reach these goals and to be stable when we do it. Everyone talks about reaching the 5 years mark but until you can do it with your own company, and a strong team surrounding you it really feels good. I would say hitting 5 years and having a solid plan to move forward to the next 5 years we are very excited. The first 5 years have been a roller coaster, to say the least. We have seen some very dark and challenging days along with some major highlights from ribbon cuttings, to securing large customer accounts and seeing our company grow from 3 people to 12 employees.
 
UMLF: Every business has its highs and lows. Tell us about a challenge you faced as a small business owner and how you overcame it?

Chapel: A low for our company would be when a major supporter, an advisor to our company, a husband and father to the 3 Business owners (Dee Baird) passed away in March 2018. During this time we were also dealing with a very bad person (ex-business partner) with whom we had done business and were paying for it. His goal was to sink our company and take everyone down with it. All said and done we were able to overcome these hurdles and become a top motorcycle shop in the state. Another challenge for our team would be the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic. All of our social events have been canceled due to Covid-19. One of our top sources of income was instantly taken away. We sat down and figured out what we needed to do. After a meeting with our team, it was clear what needed to be done. We put our best foot forward, doubled down on our team members, and set out to have a great year of business no matter what happened. As of 11/29/2020, we can say we are still going strong and are now one of the best motorcycle shops in the state.
 
UMLF: How do you believe the Utah Microloan Fund has helped your business?

Chapel: The UMLF has been there for us as a small business when most lenders wouldn’t even return a phone call. As a company, we are very grateful for the relationship we have with the UMLF. Our first loan with the UMLF came at a time when we needed financial support. We were a new business and needed funds for operations. As we have grown over the last 5 years we have been able to keep a strong relationship with the UMLF. From the very first application to today we are always learning new tricks and absorbing all the advice and valuable info that the UMLF team has to offer. As a business owner and an advisor to many other companies and friends, I always include the UMLF, as part of my advice to any start-up.

A vegan and gluten-free food truck that tastes amazing? Say what?! That's right! You can't beet the Hearty Beet, our October Business of the Month. Keep reading as we learn about what inspired owner Brittney Jones to start her own food truck in the heart of St. George, Utah. ​

Eggnog, pumpkin, lemon, black licorice, cashew, raspberry, peanut butter, very hot cinnamon, mango habanero, and pineapple habanero. What do these have in common? These are just some of the flavors of caramel JulieAnn Caramels makes to tantalize your taste buds. Keep reading to learn more about owner Rowena Montoya and the story of how her delectable sweets came to be!  ​

At Beauty Trendz Salon,  clients arrive as guests, and leave as friends. Beauty Trendz was founded in 2016 by industry professional and beauty maven Becky Sorensen who wanted to create a beautiful salon atmosphere to tailor to her existing clientele. Beauty Trendz offers a full range of cutting edge salon services and products. Their extensive service menu features hair, nail and skin care; as well as massage and permanent cosmetics.
In keeping with their name, Becky and her team strive to stay current with the latest trends in the beauty industry by continually attending and hosting education classes throughout the year with our staff. Keep reading to learn about owner Becky Sorensen and how she started this amazing August Business of the Month. ​

Why should you research fireworks before you buy them? So you get the best BANG for your buck! But in all seriousness, Utah Grand Finale Fireworks is no joke! These are the best aerial fireworks you can find in Utah, hands down and what makes these fireworks stand out even more is that they all have a fun Utah theme like BYU and U Holy War,  Utah's Green Jello, Wasatch Thunder, the Polygamist, Uinta Flowers, This is the Place and more. We love these playful pokes at Utah culture but what we love more is that Douglas frequently models for the artwork on his fireworks, a big surprise when he first applied for a microloan! Utah Grand Finale Fireworks is our July Business of the Month so keep reading to see how Douglas got his start creating these awesome fireworks! ​

With our dog food that is! KetoNatural Pet Foods is our June Business of the Month and not just because owner and founder Daniel Schulof has some of the cutest dogs on the planet. Read our interview with Daniel and how his keto dog food went from just an idea to his successful business below: ​

​Are SBA's resources available during the COVID-19 crisis?
Answer: “The health and safety of our employees is our number one priority. SBA has deployed technology solutions to assist small businesses with any of their needs while also ensuring the safety of our staff and adhering to the CDC guidelines. ”

How can I get information on SBA’s disaster loan program?
Answer: Contact us...
Online - sba.gov/disaster
Phone - (800) 659-2955 (TTY: 1-800-877-8339)
Email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov
The call center is open Monday – Sunday, 8a.m. – 8p.m. ET.

When can I apply for an economic injury disaster loan?
Answer: Once your state or territory has an official declaration, a business owner can access the application online at sba.gov/disaster. Utah has officially declared. 

How do I apply for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan?
Answer: Visit SBA at sba.gov/disaster and apply online using SBA’s Electronic Loan Application.

I have questions about the application, is there someone I can speak with to help me?
Answer: Yes. Please contact our disaster assistance customer service center at
Answer: Contact us...
Online - sba.gov/disaster
Phone - (800) 659-2955 (TTY: 1-800-877-8339)
Email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov
The call center is open Monday – Sunday, 8a.m. – 8p.m. ET.

What documents will I need to submit my application?
Answer: Depending on a small business' specific situation, we may need different documentation to capture the business’s information, liabilities, and other relevant financial information.
Some examples of the type of documents you may be asked for are:

• Signed and completed SBA application form 5
• IRS Tax Authorization form
• Copies of your most recent federal tax return (2018)
• Personal financial statement
• Schedule of liabilities

​
How much can I borrow?
Answer: The maximum loan amount is $2 million. The loan amount is based on the working capital needs caused by the COVID-19 situation so the business can meet its ongoing obligations.

What are the terms of the Economic Injury Disaster Loan?
Answer: The interest rate is 3.75 percent for small businesses and 2.75 percent for private nonprofit organizations with terms up to 30 years. Loan amounts and terms are set by SBA and are based on each applicant’s financial condition. The first payment on the economic injury loan issued due to the coronavirus will be automatically deferred for one year.

How long will it take to know if I am approved for a loan?
Answer: We are processing applications as quickly as possible. Some are processed as fast as within a few days, although actual times vary from case-to-case.

Does SBA have any grants available to small businesses?
Answer: No. Our disaster assistance is in the form of federal low-interest, long term loans.

Does SBA require collateral?
Answer: It’s important to note that for the first $25,000, no collateral is required. Over $25,000, you may be required to pledge available collateral.

Can SBA refinance my loans or mortgages?
Answer: SBA economic injury disaster loan funds cannot be used to refinance pre-existing debt.

What can I use the SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan for?
Answer: Economic Injury Disaster Loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that cannot be paid because of the disaster’s impact.

I have an existing SBA Disaster Loan from a previous disaster, what are my options?
Answer: Pre-existing disaster loans still in repayment will have their payments deferred through the end of 2020. This deferral will be automatic, and borrowers of previous home and business disaster loans do not have to contact SBA to request this deferment.

Every state/territory is impacted with cases of confirmed COVID-19, including Utah. Does the federal government have the workforce to deal with this and all those affected?
Answer: With the national emergency declaration, the federal government is leveraging all its power and has taken decisive action to ensure state/territory, local, and tribal leaders have the resources they need to provide protective measures for their communities and limit the spread of COVID-19 in the U.S.

The collective resources for this can be found at usa.gov/coronavirus or en Español at gobierno.usa.gov/coronavirus. SBA is focused on providing assistance to small businesses impacted by this health emergency with Economic Injury Disaster Loans, counseling, mentoring, and preparedness services across the country.

Why are only loans available and not grants? A loan won’t help a small business stay afloat for an extended period of time with no customers.
Answer: SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loans are just one piece of the expanded focus of the federal government’s coordinated response, and the SBA is strongly committed to providing the most effective and customer-focused response possible.

SBA offers loans with reasonable terms, including long-term repayments (up to a maximum of 30 years), in order to keep payments affordable. Terms are determined on a case-by-case basis, based upon each borrower’s ability to repay. These loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that can’t be paid because of the disaster’s impact. The first payment on the economic injury loan issued due to the coronavirus will be automatically deferred for one year.

Small businesses can also receive counseling assistance throughout the country – SBA’s 68 District Offices, as well as our Resource Centers, including Small Business Development Centers, Women’s Business Centers, SCORE volunteers and Veterans Business Outreach Centers. More information about these services can be found at SBA.gov.

How much money is SBA able to allocate for financial assistance for small businesses and non-profits? Is there a state limit?
Answer: SBA is available to assist small businesses across the nation and does not have a total cap on the number of loans the agency is able to make. There is no state or territory limit on the number of loans or the total amount of the loans combined. A small business can get a loan up to $2 million to assist with economic recovery, and there are other access to capital programs available to help as well. Information can be found at SBA.gov.

Since the Federal Reserve lowered its target for the federal funds rate to nearly 0% recently, why is it that the SBA EIDL rate set to 3.75%? Aren’t these direct loans from SBA? What entity is making the 3.75% interest? Is it possible that the interest rate will be lowered soon?
Answer: Disaster loan interest rates are a statutory formula that is calculated quarterly and based on the Treasury Department’s rates. The interest rates are currently set at 3.75%.
​
What banks are authorized to offer these economic injury disaster loans?
Answer: SBA offers direct loans through its Economic Injury Disaster Loan program. Traditional SBA-backed loans are still available via banks as well. To find an SBA-approved lender, visit sba.gov/lendermatch.

With the social distancing recommendations and closures, how will SBA’s Disaster team help small business owners get their loan applications in and processed?
Answer: In this case, all applications and processing will be done online/virtually. The Disaster Assistance Call Center is available to answer questions from small businesses. Contact them:
Online - sba.gov/disaster
Phone - (800) 659-2955 (TTY: 1-800-877-8339)
Email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov
The call center is open Monday – Sunday, 8a.m. – 8p.m. ET.
Additionally, SBA's resource partners and our local SBA staff are still available in your local community to help answer the questions. You can find them at sba.gov/local-assistance.

How does a business define an impact and/or loss for this? Is there a percentage, dollar amount, etc.?
Answer: A business needs to define its loss in comparison to its 2019 operations/financials. Losses will be compared to the effective incident period starting on January 31, 2020. Just a loss needs to be reported; there is no threshold of a percentage or dollar amount.

SBA's Loan process:

• Step One: Apply for Loan – SBA.gov/Disaster and click on Apply for Assistance.
• Step Two: Loan Processing Decision Made – An SBA loan officer works with the small business to provide all the necessary information needed to reach a loan determination.
• Step Three: Loan Closed and Funds Disbursed – Once SBA receives the small businesses signed Loan Closing Documents, an initial disbursement will be made within days.

For an Economic Injury Disaster Loan, what are the business obligations, and what is looked at for underwriting?
Answer: When processing a loan request, SBA evaluates three main areas: 1) eligibility; 2) satisfactory credit; and 3) repayment ability. Economic injury disaster loan funds provide working capital to cover normal business obligations and necessary operating expenses.

What is a business to do if it doesn’t qualify for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan? What are banks doing to help too?
Answer: Traditional SBA-backed loans are still available via banks as well. To find an SBA-approved lender, visit sba.gov/lendermatch.

If a business currently has an SBA-backed loan and it fears it will not be able to make the payments, what course of action should it take?
Answer: Borrowers of home and business disaster loans from previous disasters that are still being payed back will now have their payments deferred through the end of 2020.
This deferral will be automatic, and borrowers of previous home and business disaster loans do not have to contact SBA to request this deferment.
SBA is granting small businesses who receive an Economic Injury Disaster Loan due to the coronavirus an automatic one-year deferment period before they are required to start making payments. Small businesses with other SBA-backed loans should first talk to their SBA lender about potential deferments of loan payments.

What are some things businesses can do to prepare and/or stay afloat? Are you seeing any innovative/creative strategies/solutions they’re using?
Answer: Small businesses could explore obtaining revolving lines of credit if they are experiencing capital challenges. SBA’s Express Loan Program can be used for this purpose. To find an SBA-approved lender, please go to sba.gov/lendermatch.
SBA is also offering economic injury loans of up to $2 million per small business, in addition to offering all of our counseling, mentoring, and preparedness services across the country.

Is SBA offering other types of assistance beyond financial help?
Answer: Yes, as it has for more than 65 years, SBA is offering ongoing assistance for small businesses across the country to help them start, grow, expand and recover. This includes various trainings and education offerings, financial and preparedness planning, supply-chain assistance and the like. Find guidance and resources for small businesses at SBA.gov/Coronavirus. Small businesses should contact their local district office – visit sba.gov/localassistance for assistance with accessing available local resources.

Where should a small business go to find additional resources for help?
Answer: Small businesses should stay up to date with SBA’s ongoing assistance by visiting the SBA’s website online, SBA.gov/Coronavirus, following @SBAgov on Twitter and subscribing to the district newsletter via sba.gov/updates using their zip code. Also, small businesses can find local educational and counseling resources via sba.gov/localassistance.
​
SBA INFO & RESOURCE DIRECTORY
APPLY ONLINE (RECOMMENDED):
https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela
- Apply online
- Get additional disaster assistance information
- Download application forms

NEED MORE HELP:
SBA EIDL Customer Service Center
Phone: (800) 659-2955
Email: disastercustomerservice@sba.gov

HEARING IMPAIRED:
(800) 877-8339.

PAPER APPLICATION BY MAIL (ONLINE RECOMMENDED):
Completed applications should be mailed to:
U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX  76155.

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CORONAVIRUS INFO:
Coronavirus.gov.
​
SBA CORONAVIRUS INFO:
SBA.gov/coronavirus.

 They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but what about watching captivating film? Salt Lake business Elm Studios is made up of a progressive team of creatives that represents the next generation of artists & storytellers. Their mission is to deliver breathtaking visuals and stunning sound to captivate your audience. The guys behind Elm are seasoned in an array of genres including documentaries, branded content, short films, commercials, music videos, and more. Owners Evan Moore and Wes Thompson even shot and produced our promotional videos to promote who we are and what we do here at the Utah Microloan Fund! Elm Studios is our January Small Business of the month, keep reading to learn about the guys behind the lens, their process and why they got into the art of music and film. 
​​
UMLF: Tell us about yourselves and your background: 
 Evan - I originally started Elm as Elm Productions in 2010.  The goal at that time was throwing concerts and promoting music.  Film had always been sort of a side hobby but nothing I ever pursued seriously.  From 2010 to 2013 it was a struggle throwing concerts and trying to manage unsigned artists.  Constant ups and downs of making money, losing money and trying to build a team of people I could depend on and trust.  In 2013 I decided that it was a safer route to have a music venue where I could still host shows but not have to be the person to put all the money on the line.  Instead, people would pay to utilize my venue, so no matter what, I would always make at least some money.  And when it came to throwing my shows, since I had my own space, I could cut down on my costs to throw shows.  The warehouse I rented was large enough that i also had space to sub-lease to artists.  The warehouse was known as "The Project." It was a venue and art collective. A couple of my renters at the collective were photographers and videographers and I had the chance to work with them which sort of ignited a passion for filmmaking.  In 2015 my landlord sold the warehouse to developers which forced me to shut down the venue/art collective and go elsewhere.  As they say, when one door closes, another one opens.  I sold all of my assets in the concert venue and invested all of that money into filmmaking equipment and began pursuing a career in filmmaking.  Now, five years later, my filmmaking career is far more successful and fulfilling then my concert promotion, venue and art collective ever were. 

UMLF: What inspired you to start Elm Studios? 
We were both working at an art space called The Project from 2014 to 2015.  We met each other there and collaborated on a handful of projects together.  Mostly Wes would give music to me (Evan) to use in my videos.  The Project closed its doors in June of 2015 and I started to look for my own warehouse and invited Wesley to join me in sharing the space.  We then found a 2,500 square foot warehouse and at first we were just splitting the rent.   By the end of 2015 we had been doing so much work together that we decided to officially partner up and start Elm Studios.  A short time later we applied for a loan through the UMLF and were approved. 
​
UMLF: What is your creative process behind starting a new video project? 
Evan: While there is a step by step process going from pre production to post production, the creative process is usually different depending on the project.  Sometimes we're working with an agency where the creative part has already been completed.  Then we step in and do the job of creating whats in the script.  Other times, clients come to us to bring their project to life. 


UMLF: What projects are you looking forward to in the future? 
 Evan: We are most known for our involvement in music, but lately we have been working on more short films, feature films and tv series. We have also started to produce our own content and shop it to distributors and producers for major funding. 


UMLF:  Every business has its highs and lows. Tell us about a challenge you faced as a small business owner and how you overcame it?
Evan: We were location scouting for a job in a very remote area of the mountains and had a bunch of gear locked in our truck.  We parked on the side of the road and hiked away from the truck and were gone for a couple of hours.  We returned to find two smashed out windows on the truck and $15,000 worth of gear was stolen.  Among the gear was a hard drive that contained a copy of footage that had not been duplicated.  It was the only copy.  Fortunately for the equipment, we were prepared and had insurance in place that replaced all of it.  We had to pay out of pocket to cover the cost to re-shoot.  


UMLF: How do you believe the Utah Microloan Fund has helped you and your business? 
Evan: No other entity would loan to us or even look at us. The UMLF gave us the funds we needed to invest in the equipment we needed to produce the best video and audio possible. 

Facebook: www.facebook.com/elmstudiosslc
Instagram: www.instagram.com/elmstudiosslc
Website: https://whoshootsyourfilms.com
​