Why You Should Choose a Coworking Space Over a Coffee Shop

Are you a remote worker or entrepreneur that is constantly on the hunt for a good place to work? If you don’t have an office space at home, you might drift from libraries to coffee shops to get your work done. Here are a few reasons why you should choose a coworking space over a coffee shop.

More Networking Opportunities

First, working in a coworking space can present you with more networking opportunities. A coworking space is an office designed to provide flexible working space for remote workers, entrepreneurs, small businesses, independent contractors, and more. 

Many different types of workers like to rent coworking spaces to get their work done, which provides many different opportunities for networking. This can help to provide you with a sense of belonging and community, especially if you are used to working from home. You never know when you could make a valuable connection that could help you progress in your career. 

Better Security

Using a coworking space over a coffee shop can also provide you with much-needed security. Coffee shops usually only have public Wi-Fi networks, which can expose your company data and information to lots of different cybersecurity risks. You could get hacked and have valuable information get stolen, which could severely affect your company’s reputation and future. 

A coworking space, on the other hand, will usually have a secure Wi-Fi connection or VPN that you can connect to. You can use secure Wi-Fi in a coworking space to avoid the dangers of public Wi-Fi networks. In an age when cybersecurity is a huge risk, you need to make sure that you’re working safely and securely.

Available Equipment

Finally, a coworking space will be able to provide you with much more equipment than a coffee shop. Usually, a coffee shop will have an open table, chair and if you’re lucky, an available power outlet. Coworking spaces usually have all of the office and technological equipment that you could need to complete your responsibilities. You’ll be able to have a desk, chair, electronic hookups, and even available monitors to use. If you’re working with a team, there are often presentation areas where you can go over big projects together. Some coworking spaces even have nap rooms where you can rest if needed. This can help you to complete your work much more efficiently and easily. 

So, if you’re tired of working from home or working in a coffee shop, remember the benefits of using a coworking space. A coworking space can provide you with more networking opportunities, better security, and the available equipment that you need. This can help you to get your work done in a safe, welcoming, productive environment.

Did you enjoy reading this article? Here’s more to read. How to Create a Brand for Your Small Business

4 Cities Perfectly Suited for Digital Nomads

With the advent of cloud computing and digital technologies, solopreneurs with a taste for adventure have transformed their way of living and working to become what’s commonly referred to as digital nomads. Have you also considered that lifestyle for yourself? Before you pack up your bags, there are things to consider when selecting a city to move to, such as cost of living, internet access, and available amenities. And here are four options that make great destinations for small business owners:

 

Seattle, Washington

Located on Elliott Bay, with access to the Pacific Ocean, Seattle has been voted the number one US city for remote workers and digital nomads. Not only does it offer spectacular landscapes and plenty of opportunities to enjoy nature, but it’s also home to several major corporations, which could give you an advantage when it comes to building business connections for your small venture. And with a variety of rental opportunities ranging from studio apartments to luxury condos, you’re sure to find a place that fits your lifestyle and budget in the Emerald City.        

 

San Angelo, Texas

Being a solopreneur doesn’t mean you should forgo the company of other humans and spend all your time in your home office. But if your work requires a certain level of privacy and security, working in a crowded coffee shop or in a library with free unsecured wifi could put your or your clients’ personal information at risk. Thankfully, some cities like San Angelo in the State of Texas offer the capability of working in communal spaces specifically designed for digital nomads. Becoming a member gives you access to high-speed internet, meeting rooms so you can engage with clients in real life, and other perks like community and networking events. And with an average monthly rent much lower than the national average, it’s an attractive city for entrepreneurs striving to keep their cost of living affordable.

 

Nashville, Tennessee

Music lovers will feel right at home in Nashville, Tennessee. With an average rental rate at $1,570 a month, it also boasts great restaurants and shopping, so you’ll always have something fun to do when you take a break from work. And while you’re out socializing in your new city, you may even meet your next client or customer! That’s why you should make sure you always carry something tangible to give people, which will help them remember you later. For example, this site could be helpful if you want to create an eye-catching business card bearing your contact information along with a well-thought-out logo that will increase brand recognition.

 

Charlotte, North Carolina

An up-and-coming, family-friendly city with plenty of parks and opportunities to enjoy recreational activities, Charlotte boasts a mild climate for most of the year. And since it’s home to the Charlotte-Douglas International Airport, you can easily hop on a plane and travel to fun and exciting destinations whenever the mood strikes. If you’re just starting out as a solopreneur and want to make Charlotte your home base, form an LLC using an online formation service, and appoint a registered agent to be your legal business representative, so you can be free to go on your next adventure while you run your company.      

If you love exploring new cities, becoming a digital nomad can give you the freedom to work and play wherever your travels take you. Think about structuring your small business as an LLC to ensure your personal assets are protected and look for places with great internet connection and plenty of opportunities for networking. You’ll see your business soar while living out your dream!

Work for yourself, not by yourself! Join our community at sanangelostudios.com and be inspired to take action, grow, and do better.

Entrepreneurship Doesn’t Have to Be a Guessing Game

While no one can predict which businesses will be successful and which won’t, there are steps you can take to put yourself on the path toward success before you make your first sale. From having a solid educational background to knowing where you’ll work and forming the right type of business structure, today’s San Angelo Studios tips are for those of you ready to make the leap but who are afraid of where you’ll land.

 

Start With An Education

If you don’t already have experience in education and business, now’s a great time to go back to school. You can earn a degree in anything from management and business communications to accounting online while you establish a solid foundation for your startup. Going to school online has many benefits, including flexibility and affordability. Check this website out for more information on the different types of bachelor’s degrees available to you.

 

Choose A Place To Work

Before you start any business, you have to decide if you’re going to work from home or if you’re going to provide a brick-and-mortar location for your customers to visit. Working at home has many advantages, including less overhead, considerable flexibility, lowered risk, and lots of tax advantages, according to AllBusiness. Unfortunately, it may not always look the most professional. Thankfully, you can take advantage of the amazing co-working space at San Angelo Studios if you need to book a spacious and well-appointed conference room to host an important client meeting.

 

Establish A Business Structure

Your business structure will dictate much about how you run your organization. For most small business owners, an LLC makes the most sense. This is an affordable and easy to DIY option when you use an online formation service instead of an attorney’s office. As an LLC, you’ll form a legal separation between you and your company, and you won’t have to fill out a ton of paperwork to enjoy this protection, plus tax benefits and management flexibility.

 

Know Where Your Money Is Coming From

All businesses cost money to launch. Whether you need something as low-key as a computer and desk or you want to outfit a full workshop, the money has to come from somewhere. If you don’t have enough savings to support your launch and your family for the next 6 to 8 months, look for small business grants. The NerdWallet blog explains that there are many options, including those given by the federal government, state and regional entities, and private funders, including Lenovo and the National Association For The Self-Employed.

 

Have A Plan

You don’t want to trust your future success to unknown factors. Although you can’t predict everything, you can start with a business plan that gives you a roadmap you can follow to reach your goals. The Small Business Administration explains that a business plan includes an executive summary, market analysis, and information on your sales and marketing strategies. This is also an important document that you’ll have to have if you plan to seek funding from an outside source.

 

Utilize Technology

Business technology is easier than ever to access, and it’s invaluable for start-ups. Don’t overlook things like cloud computing, advanced payment methods, mobile apps, data security, and CRM platforms. All of these and more can help streamline your start-up so that you’re not wasting time or money while you try to build your customer base.

As a future business owner, you’ll join more than 32.5 million other entrepreneurs in the United States. Although it might be an intimidating prospect, remember that success is not a matter of luck. When you take the time to plan ahead by getting the right education, forming the right business structure, knowing where you’ll do your work, choosing the technology you will use, and understanding where the money to launch will come from, you put yourself in your business leaps and bounds ahead of the competition.

Business Growth Stalled? Here’s What’s Next

Are you ready to grow your business but don’t know where to pick up where you once left off? Sales and customer service can only get you so far. If you’re ready to expand, today’s tips can help you move past simply sending more invoices.

Get more space.

Although many businesses operate on a virtual platform either full or part-time, sometimes you need a bit more space to spread out, collaborate with your team, or physically create inventory. For office space without a permanent commitment, sign up with San Angelo Studios coworking space. There are many flexible membership options that start at just $50 per month.

Change your business structure.

Many small businesses began as sole proprietorships or LLCs. However, there are other options out there, including an S corporation. This is a type of structure that gives you the benefits of a corporation with the pass-through tax advantages of an LLC. This means you can count business losses on your personal taxes and skip paying federal taxes on the business level. To save, file yourself online.

Evaluate your process with BPM.

If all of your business processes are currently manual, it’s time to reevaluate. Look for ways to get your systems to talk to each other. This is usually achieved through business process management strategies, which help you automate many practices. Your workflow, data, and people will be in more constant contact with each other, and you’ll cut down on laborious tasks. Talk with your staff continually to see if your BPM plan is working, and listen to them when they offer advice on how to make it more effective.

Hire more people.

Even though everyone around you considers you Superman or Superwoman, you can’t do it all alone. Your business got to where it is with your hands-on guidance, but now may be the perfect time to let go of some responsibilities and hire new people. Marcus Lemonis has famously said for years that his employees are his number one priority, taking that coveted spot away from the customer. When you have great employees, they are an asset to your business and can help you grow in ways you never imagined.

Research complementary products.

Complementary products are those that your customers are likely to purchase alongside of or shortly after buying yours. Make sure that you know what your customers need and want, and then offer it to them. If you are a salon, for example, you might sell your shampoos, conditioners, and styling tools. You’ll also want to make sure you always have gift cards on hand, which is just one of the many marketing tips from The Salon Business blog.

Consider buying out the competition.

If you’re ready for a huge leap on the growth journey, consider buying out the competition. Lendio explains that this has many benefits, including fewer competitors and quick growth. However, you will want to proceed with caution as it may be tough to integrate, and you may go into debt to make the purchase.

Streamlining with business process management, hiring new staff, and moving to an S corporation structure, along with the other tips we presented above, are just a few ways to grow. What’s important for your business is that you look ahead and lay a strong foundation for the future. Remember, growth does not have to happen all at once, and even small steps along your journey toward success are something to be proud of.

San Angelo Studios has a desk for you. Contact us today to see how you can get a free day in our cozy and comfortable coworking space.

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How to Manage Entrepreneurship Across States

If you run a business that operates in several states, becoming a multi-state homeowner may have been a strategic choice that you made for entrepreneurial success. But managing multiple homes while running a business isn’t easy. Designing great workspaces with tips from Phoenix Home + Garden can simplify your life! Furthermore, these tips can walk you through everything from managing your cost of living to secure your homes to finding a registered agent.

Keep Your Homes Safe

If you own several properties and you move between them, you need to ensure that they’re safe and secure when you’re gone – especially if you store business tools or documents in your homes. You may want to buy security cameras, an alarm system, or a safe. To make sure you’re investing in high-quality products, check out detailed reviews from neutral sources before making any purchases. 

Assign a Registered Agent 

When your business is registered in one state, but you manage operations throughout several states, it’s a good idea to have a registered agent in the state where your business is officially based. You can rest assured that your business will run smoothly even when you’re on the road. You’ll have to lay out established processes and decision-making guidelines for your agent. If a lawsuit or tax notification crops up in your absence, your registered agent can handle the situation for you.

 Choose the Right Insurance Policies

Everyone needs various forms of insurance – but your policies are typically tied to the state where you live. What if you own homes in multiple states? If you divide your time equally between states, you can enroll in a health insurance policy in the state that offers the lowest rates. If not, you’ll want to enroll in a policy in the state where you spend the most time. To purchase car insurance, you will need to choose a policy in the state where your car is registered. 

Stay on Top of Organization 

Staying organized is key for multi-state homeowners and entrepreneurs. Keep your digital files in a cloud storage system that you can access from anywhere, and ensure that your physical documents are kept in order at your homes. You may want to make copies of key documents to store at different homes. If possible, you may want to hire a remote personal assistant who can handle your business affairs no matter where you are.

Control Your Cost of Living

Managing a business and several homes in multiple states means that you’re always dealing with changing prices. A service that’s expensive in one state might be cheaper in another state! These cost of living figures can help you balance your budget while living between states:

  • If you want to expand your real estate portfolio in Scottsdale, AZ, a new home will cost you around $845,000.
  • CareLuLu states that for couples with children in Tucson, AZ, daycare generally costs about $630 per month.
  • Payscale states that going to the doctor for a checkup in Salt Lake City, UT, will run you approximately $115.21.
  • Over the course of a year, residents of Albuquerque, NM, will typically spend about $3,792 on groceries.
  • If you’re seeking a storage unit in Las Vegas, NV, note that Vegas storage options are usually priced around $125.87 per month.

Operating a business in several states can leave you feeling pressed for time. Managing your life efficiently is key. With these tips, you’ll be able to make a reasonable lifestyle budget, choose the right registered agent, and ensure that all of your properties are secure.

Are you looking for a great co-working space that’s good for both handling your business and meeting like-minded people? Check out San Angelo Studios today.

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How to Create a Brand for Your Small Business

To grow your small business, you need to develop a brand that helps you stand out and attract customers. Branding can encompass many aspects of business, from advertising to product development. You can help your company succeed by understanding the different approaches and styles used in business branding. These tips can steer you in the right direction.

The Importance of Branding

Branding helps you differentiate your business from competitors and allows you to build recognition and reach your target market. Furthermore, branding practices can aid you by increasing consumer retention and loyalty. Successful branding strategies create emotional value for the customer.

A memorable brand also generates value for the company because customers tend to choose products or services they know. Positive experiences with a company improve the customer’s impression of the brand, and they are more likely to try other services and products offered by the business.

Creative Marketing Strategies

Marketing strategies help you identify and reach your target audience. Branding is an important part of any successful marketing strategy. You can build credibility and distinguish your business within the marketplace. Your branding practices should align with your company’s marketing plan. You should conduct market research to learn about the location, income and demographics of your customers. Surveys and interviews can provide valuable feedback about your company’s logo, products and customer experience. Working with a marketing professional can help you develop a consistent and effective branding strategy.

Using Social Media to Market Your Brand

There’s no doubt that social media is a powerful tool for marketing your brand. Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter give you the opportunity to reach a huge audience. When marketing your brand on social media, it’s important to define your target audience. Who are you trying to reach with your message? Once you’ve pinpointed your target audience, be consistent in your branding across all social media platforms, and make sure you’re active on social media.

To get the most out of your social media marketing efforts, you can also create targeted ads on Facebook. Design a Facebook ad using a free ads maker. This tool allows you to use a premade template to create customized ads with your own text and images.

Developing a Memorable Brand

Research finds that 59% of customers prefer to buy from a trusted brand. You can create a consistent and cohesive brand by developing a memorable branding story. Your company’s mission can help you discover the voice and aesthetic of your brand. Explore various logos, fonts and colors on your own or work with a professional designer.

Stand out from the crowd by developing products and services that reflect your values and appeal to your specific target market. You should strive to create an experience that excites new customers and satisfies existing ones to help your business grow.

Successful Rebranding Tips

You should also conduct research to identify issues with your branding strategy before they impact your business and income. Using a wide range of marketing techniques can help you protect your business from changes.

If you notice problems with your strategy, you can alter aspects of your brand or, as Business News Daily notes, develop a new approach through rebranding. For example, you can update the design of your company to reflect more modern styles. For a fresh start, consider renaming your business. If you need to totally revamp your company’s branding strategy, start by redefining your mission and values.

Pollfish points out that customer feedback and market research can help you decide when and how to rebrand. For instance, you might discover that your target market struggles to remember your company. Creating a more distinct brand that contrasts your competitors could be helpful. You might also rebrand your business as you branch out and offer new services and products. Finally, if your company develops a negative reputation, changing your branding can help you recover and move on.

Regardless of the type of business you run, your company can benefit from a consistent, memorable brand. Your branding and marketing strategy should align with your values and reflect your company’s mission. By developing your company’s image and reputation, you can cultivate a loyal customer base and help your business thrive.

Looking for some help rebranding your growing business? SethLife offers great packages to get started turning your brand into a community!  

Need more space for your growing business? San Angelo Studios offers affordable coworking spaces. Schedule a tour!

How a Coworking Space Can Help Your Small Business Succeed

With so many people working from home, you may wonder what advantages a coworking space has. At first glance, it may appear that having your employees work from a home office would save the company money. After all, there are no rental fees to pay and you don’t have to worry about maintenance or cleaning. However, working from home can be isolating and distracting, leading to decreased productivity. Additionally, your company is missing out on the many benefits of a coworking space. Here are just a few of those benefits.

Expand Your Network

Within any group of people exists a wide variety of skills, knowledge, and connections. When you combine a group of people into a singular workspace, you synergize those skills, knowledge, and connections into something that is truly greater than the sum of its parts. Why? Because each individual’s strengths are a potential boon to everyone else. Coworking spaces bring people together from a diverse array of industries, many of which would never think to collaborate otherwise. However, by uniting these professionals into one space, it is easy to intermingle and share expertise. All of this provides excellent opportunities for networking.

Access to Better Tools

When you move your business to a coworking space, you get instant access to the tools provided. Sharing tools saves you money and allows you access to high-end equipment that a small business might not otherwise be able to afford. One crucial technological advantage of coworking spaces is increased security. Free public Wi-Fi exposes you to cybersecurity risks

Increased Productivity

Coworking spaces are designed with productivity in mind. Working from home comes with a few perks for the employee, but virtually none for the business. This is because people tend to be less productive and feel more isolated when they work from home. At home, there are endless distractions, from crying children to a mind divided by work and home to-dos. Coworking spaces offer affordable, dedicated office space where productivity can be greatly increased. Coworking spaces eliminate that dual-focus of a home office and offer unique spaces that are specially designed for various work styles.

The many benefits of coworking spaces are causing this modern workspace model to catch on all over the world. With expanded networking opportunities, access to better tools, and increased productivity, it is hard to go wrong. Add to that affordability, flexibility, and versatility, and it is hard to imagine why you wouldn’t want to take advantage of the numerous advantages of coworking spaces.

Check out this article on startup essentials you can’t get by without!

How Female Entrepreneurs Can Build and Market an Online Business

 

While practically everyone suffered during the pandemic, women, in particular, bore the brunt of the hardship. Women who worked in the service industry were the first to go, followed by retail workers. Those women who had to leave their jobs to care for their children when schools closed found themselves replaced. If that was you, and going back to your old job is no longer an option or desirable, San Angelo Studios is here to share some ways you can make a living from home with your own online business.

 

The World of Online Business

With little to no capital or inventory required, online businesses are open to anyone who has an idea, an imagination, and a determination and drive to succeed. Women entrepreneurs are the fastest-growing sector in the county with 1.2 million or 21% of businesses being owned by women in the year 2020. If you found yourself handed some lemons during the pandemic, here are some ways to turn those into lemonade. 

  • Teaching Even if you’re not a professional teacher, if you’re a mom, chances are you had to be one for your kids during the quarantine. If you thought to yourself, I should get paid for this, there’s a good chance you can. Tutors, English language teachers, music and art teachers, and reading coaches are all available as online businesses. You can network with your local schools, dance and martial arts studios, PTAs, and other parenting organizations to get the word out. 
  • Retailing Your Home Crafted Goods. If you enjoy making candles, soap, jewelry, clothing, baked goods, or handmade home accessories, why not turn that into a business? Before, there were few sites to market them, with Etsy being the one most identifiable. Now there are dozens of sites where you can sell and market your products to a group of consumers who are looking for something not only unique but handcrafted. A lot of people have been turned off from shopping in the big box stores and want to support small businesses.
  • Selling What You Know Are you fluent in a second language? You could earn a modest full-time income being an online translator. Can you design websites? Are you adept at Photoshop? There are loads of people who are in need of those services. Are you a good organizer? You can market yourself as a personal assistant. Almost anything you know how to do can be turned into an online business. 

 

Marketing Your Small Business

You’re all about online businesses, so use online tools to help you market it too.

  • Marketing is like sending out invitations to a party. You can have all the food, drinks, and ambiance for a great big blow-out, but if nobody’s there, it’s not really a party, is it?
  • First, write a marketing plan. A comprehensive marketing plan will address budget, target market, sales goals and strategies, and how to quantify success. 
  • You can learn how to market yourself with some tutorials or you can attend college classes and even earn your degree in marketing. It’s all up to how much of your own time you’re willing to invest.
  • There are sources to find free apps, downloads, and programs that can help you save a lot of your cash resources too.

 

Managing Your Small Business

Running a small business has a lot of moving parts and it’s easy to get overwhelmed or even worse, run the risk of all your hard work going down the drain because you weren’t prepared. Thank goodness there is online help for that too. 

  • Use online experts to walk you through what you need to know, from staying legally compliant, to finances and taxes. Eventually, you’ll want to hire an outside professional for help, but in the beginning, a good solid online resource like this one can make the process easy to understand and give you a thorough knowledge of everything you need to get started.
  • Write up a business plan. You can use a professional who specializes in that, or you can find some online templates and guides to help you if you feel you’re up to the challenge. And it is a challenge. A good business plan not only outlines everything you’ll need to run your business now but forecasts what your needs will be as it grows.
  • Don’t neglect your bookkeeping! Maintaining precise records is a must, no matter what direction your business takes, so invest in a bookkeeping system that you can trust.

If there is an upside to living through a worldwide pandemic, it is perhaps the great awakening to the possibilities of doing something new. If you think this is the right time to step out on your own, there’s a whole world-wide-web of help out there, right at your fingertips. 

San Angelo Studios is a community of bold minds who have decided to work under the same roof. Our workspace and the people around us inspire us to take action, to grow, to do better. Call (325) 400-9957.

9 Clever Moves Successful Entrepreneurs Can Make So Their Business Thrives

It’s no secret that being a successful entrepreneur requires grit, determination, and a lot of patience. You may already know this if you own a business or hope to start a new one soon. However, there are a few key tactics that savvy business owners use to get ahead of the competition and help their startups thrive and grow.

If you’re an upcoming entrepreneur, work for yourself not by yourself at San Angelo Studios coworking space. Visit our site or call (325) 400-9957 to schedule a tour!

Invest in Automation 

There are some projects that are too complex for even savvy entrepreneurs to master solo. If you want to get ahead, invest in tools that help you automate these tasks. For example, if you have employees, you’ll have to be sure they get paid accurately and on time. Fortunately, you can use a payroll template to keep accurate and organized payroll records and calculate employee wages and taxes.

Choose Your Business Structure Wisely

The business structure you choose will affect the taxes you pay, how much personal liability you have, and your day-to-day operations. For example, if you need to raise capital or take on investors while protecting your personal assets, then a corporation could be the ideal business structure for you. The easiest way to register a Texas corporation is to work with an online formation service.

Value Time  

Why automation? The top reason for automating payroll and other detailed tasks is to protect your time. You see, entrepreneurs who are in the know understand that time is one of their most valuable commodities. Unlike profits, products, or services, you can never make more time and you can never get time back once you’ve lost it. So you should make every minute count.

Maximize Productivity

Automation is a good way to make the most of your time, but there are also quite a few popular productivity tools that can help. You can use these apps and services to manage your own schedule and projects, or you can put them to work to boost productivity for your entire team.

Master Branding  

Learning how to optimize your time is a good way to boost your business, but so is learning how to optimize your branding. SethLife offers web design, social media management, and search engine optimization (SEO), all of which are key to projecting a polished and professional brand. Visit their website and learn what they can do to set your startup apart from the competition.

Network Locally

Branding will help you connect with more customers, but you also need to look for ways to connect with other entrepreneurs and small businesses. A good place to start is with your local chamber of commerce. Join your chamber and then attend events to network with other businesses in your area, and of course to spread the word about your own small business.

Learn From Others

Connecting with other small business owners is also crucial because you will have the opportunity to learn from these seasoned entrepreneurs. You may even find that your chamber of commerce provides guest speaker events and mentoring opportunities. More than 93% of successful small business owners agree that connecting with mentors is key for success.

Prioritize Self-Care

Ask your mentor or other business owners for advice, and they might emphasize the importance of self-care, especially the everyday self-care routines that are essential for managing your health and well-being. Making time to eat healthy foods, drink plenty of water, fit exercise into the day, and focus on sleep will also give you the focus needed to be a better business owner.

Practice Saying “No”

Wondering how to find time for self-care when you’re busy with meetings and building your business? The secret is to say “no” more often without feeling guilty about it. Yes, you should still keep yourself open to potential business opportunities, and you should be willing to take risks. At the same time, you don’t want to take on too much and end up burning out. 

Thriving as an entrepreneur is less about secrets and more about savvy. If you know which steps other successful business owners have taken, you can simply replicate their efforts and tailor each one to your specific goals and needs. Start with the tactics mentioned above and then connect with other entrepreneurs, mentors, and professionals who can help.

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