Man sits at table while managing accounts

Building Effective Freelance Relationships

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There are thousands, if not millions, of professionals who make their living via freelance, contract-based labor. And with the number of freelancer marketplaces on the Internet today combined with recent hiring shortages, it’s not hard to understand why so many companies – big and small – depend on  freelance labor to supplement their workforce. 

While freelancing itself isn’t new, the ease with which you can connect your business with skilled professionals is. While this new “one-click” ability to enlist freelance work has major advantages, ensuring that you are using freelancers efficiently still requires due diligence on your end.  Simply put: freelance help isn’t free and unusable results are a waste of your time and money; not to mention that of the freelance contractor’s resources. As you consider the best way to incorporate freelancers into your workforce, use this guide to create a partnership that is beneficial for both your small business and the freelancer you contract.

Know What You Want to Achieve

Freelance workers generally create the best products when you know exactly what you hope to get out of your contract. Unlike partners and collaborators, freelancers expect direction and inspiration to come directly from you. No matter if your project is in design, copywriting, or any other area of business operations, your first step is to create a detailed description of exactly what you want your freelance worker to be responsible for. As you build out this description, include a bullet-list of primary responsibilities and/or areas in which you expect assistance from the freelancers.  When applicable – particularly for the production of creative assets (design, copywriting, etc.) – include examples of what you’d like to see. 

Here’s what you probably weren’t expecting: This paragraph isn’t for the freelancer; it’s for you to use as a guide as you go through the process of vetting, onboarding and working with a contractor.. By knowing exactly what you want, you’ll be able to choose the right freelancer for your exact needs.

Start with Small Projects

If you are completely new to freelance work, consider running small low-stakes tests to see if their work and skillset are a good fit for your project needs AND that it aligns with your company brand. A worst-case scenario would be bringing on and paying for a freelancer that produces work that is unable to deliver the desired results. Using small projects is also a great way to determine that fit.  It also provides a great opportunity to compare the work of various freelancers and see which best suits your business’ needs. If a freelancer delivers quality work for a small, inexpensive project, that is a great bed of trust to bring along to future projects.

Match Your Vision to Professionals’ Existing Style

Closely investigate freelance workers’ existing body of work before deciding to form a partnership. A Freelancer’s portfolio represents a cross-section of the work they are most confident creating with consistent quality. Before even contacting any freelancer, be ready to spend a serious amount of time sorting through portfolios, as the more time you spend in this phase, the less likely it is that the whole endeavor will be wasted over mismatched expectations. Asking a freelancer to work outside their preferred field of work is a waste of money for you and a waste of time for the talent themselves.

Firmly Establish Payment Before Work Begins

Depending on the type of work you are seeking out, freelancers can be paid in several ways. The most common system is a per-contract lump sum paid out generally in phases throughout the progress of the project. It’s also possible that your freelancer may want to be paid hourly if they will be frequently collaborating or working directly with your in-house hourly employees. No matter how they would like to be paid, follow the guidelines and rules set out by the freelancer themselves when negotiating payment. Be prepared as well to discuss additional payment for future edits or if the project goes over its deadline. Discussions about post-deadline payment must happen during your initial discussion in order to avoid uncomfortable and heated conversations later.

If your professional accepts payments per-contract, consider setting percentage payouts with certain milestones. For example, if you are looking for a new graphic to use as a logo, consider paying out the first 25% of the lump sum upon signing and then each subsequent 25% as drafts and revisions come to pass; be sure, of course, to clearly lay out when you expect those drafts to be completed. It is also essential to explain directly to your freelancer the possibility of termination; have a set percentage of your lump sum you are willing to pay out in the event that you terminate your contract either because of a change in your plans or the results in the freelancer’s drafts.

Be Honest with Feedback

Freelancers expect criticism and clear advice from their clients; this is how they create for you the best product or provide you with the best service. To ensure a happy partnership, always give honest feedback.  For example, when a freelance writer gives you drafts of a piece to evaluate, and it’s not on par with what you are looking for, don’t be afraid to say that you are unhappy with the results. Of course, you ought to also be prepared to give clear and reasonable advice for them to change their direction. Further, if you find that your the writer’s drafts are continually not up to your standards, sever the contract rather than try again. You, as the business owner and the client, will innately know when a freelancer isn’t meeting your needs. You should be sure to follow up on those feelings as soon as possible to both save you and your team money as well as the freelancer’s time.

Remember that You are a Client, not a Boss

Modern full-time freelancers can sometimes juggle several clients at once. While your contract is certainly a priority to your freelancer, remember that they are not your employee; you are their client. To maintain a healthy and beneficial partnership, be sure that you don’t cross the line and begin treating your freelancer as if they are your employee by adding on tasks and responsibilities that fall outside the scope of the initial project.  Remember, they were contracted for specific responsibilities without any of the benefits that come with being a full-time employee (benefits, vacation time, sick days) – so keep expectations and your requests in-check. 

Freelance Help is a Tool Best Used with Purpose

Teams who can leverage freelance help efficiently have a tangible advantage over those who don’t. Taking advantage of the international and multi-disciplined world of freelance talent with the right expectations puts you and your business in the best position possible.

Photo of front of Cafe de Stir it Up

BRB Stories: Cafe de Stir It Up and the Fight for Dietary Freedom

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Congratulations to Cafe de Stir it Up, an Alaskan-based small coffee shop and eatery that offers dietary-restriction-friendly fare, for receiving one of five third-place prizes in Kapitus’ inaugural Building Resilient Businesses (BRB) contest! Cafe de Stir it Up has received $20,000 to help grow their business

The world at large has undergone a dietary revolution in recent years. As nutritional choices and restrictions become more commonplace, eating at restaurants and cafes harbors much less anxiety for all those with limitations. Cities like New York, London, and even gastronomically-traditional Paris have numerous vegan, gluten-free, and other restriction-conscious spaces. But under Alaskan skies, such great expectations ought to be adjusted … or should they? Enter Café de Stir it Up, owned and operated by Michaella Perez, the premiere locale for dietary restriction-friendly fare in Fairbanks, Alaska.

 “Some people wonder why we withstand -25-degree plus temperatures, but there is just something about the Golden Heart City that keeps us here,” said Perez. And the voters of Kapitus’s Building Resilient Businesses Contest agreed, giving Perez and Stir it Up enough votes to earn them a $20,000 grant.

After capturing minds and hearts in the BRB contest, now is our chance to learn more about the soul behind Stir it Up and what inspired a mom, entrepreneur, and visionary to bring dietary freedom to Fairbanks.

Authentic Inspiration

Stir It Up is a business born from inspiration rather than cold data. While a Starbucks or McDonald’s will go up on a corner because analysts calculated that area has the most foot traffic and potential for sales, Stir It Up came to be because a determined and business-savvy mother wanted to heighten the lives and experiences of those in her community. Dietary restrictions exist in a complex space where – until you, or someone you know well are faced with one – it can be hard to visualize how hard getting a good meal can be. Gluten-free, lactose mal-absorbent, vegetarian, vegan, keto, egg-free – it may sound like a fantasy to meaningfully serve these incrementally demanding restrictions, but according to Perez, it’s just part of the job.

After seeing one of her children deal with the unending blandness of most allergy-safe meals – white rice and salads can only last so long – Perez knew she could make dietary restrictions not just manageable but delicious and fun. “To survive in this market, you have to have a niche,” explains Perez. Café Stir it Up isn’t simply prepared for dietary restrictions; they are up to the challenge. “I realized that my community had a need: a place that truly understood dietary challenges,” Perez said about her business. With a gluten-free bakery and a collection of dairy substitutes on-hand, it is near-inconceivable for someone not to find the proper fix for their dietary lifestyle.

Power to the People, Power to Grow

In 2015, Perez and her team expanded to a brick-and-mortar location in Fairbanks, making the “café” in their namesake true to its merits. Now with increased capacity for customers and service, Café Stir it Up quickly became a community gathering spot for the Fairbanks community and everyone else willing to brave the cold. 

“Little did we know that we would be negatively impacted by a pandemic, major road construction, and shortages of revenue, supplies and employees,” Perez explained when talking about the challenges of maintaining Stir it Up. Cafés especially faced a share of hardships during the pandemic, and hiring troubles can quickly become hiring crises when the applicant pool only includes the greater Fairbanks area.

Keeping Cafe Stir it Up alive during the most challenging moments didn’t happen by chance or coincidence; Perez and her team put in the hours. Through engagement with their local community and a commitment to serve Fairbanks as best they could, Perez and her team got creative and survived as a result. Especially for those with dietary restrictions, Stir it Up stands for much more than a place to get good coffee and service. By having a business serve your needs, that business further justifies the legitimacy of your needs. Stir it Up gives a voice to a community that is usually restricted to much larger urban areas. While a dietary-restriction-friendly café may be a drop in the bucket in New York City, the people of Fairbanks know how lucky they are to have Stir it Up.

BRB for Growth

After submitting her video to the Kapitus Building Resilient Businesses Contest, Perez, and Stir It Up, found lots of love during the public voting phase. She and her team took home one of the five third-place prizes of $20,000. “We are ecstatic to win this prize,” Perez said. “So, to think…little old me in little ol’ Fairbanks won something and took third. This is huge for us. We are honored. $20k is going to help SO much.”

One of the many goals of the BRB contest is to enable small businesses to strengthen their communities. There are few better examples than Stir it Up and Perez when it comes to community empowerment. With these resources from BRB, Perez doesn’t just improve her business. With every coffee and meal served, Stir it Up fosters a home for dietary freedom.

Learn the stories of all of our small business winners:

BRB Stories: After Devastating Setback, Play Pits Takes First Place in Kapitus’ BRB Contest!

BRB Stories: Relying on Faith and Passion for Business Success

BRB Stories: Creating Libraries-worth of Unforgettable Memories!

BRB Stories: Healing Relationships with Body & Fitness

BRB Stories: Frères Branchiaux and the Fragrance Revolution

Swimmers in a pool

BRB Stories: Empowering a New Generation of Swimmers and Thinkers

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It is a wonderful gift to live in a time of shared ideas and growth. Modern technology and sensibilities can bring us together, but some demeaning stereotypes live on in unexpected and damaging ways. Black People Will Swim, owned and operated by Paulana Lamonier, works with gusto to modernize the image of black swimmers, and end the silent discrimination happening in our pools and minds. Black People Will Swim is an organization with one goal: To smash the stereotype that black people don’t swim. Through education, community-building exercises, and simply swimming, BPWS is a powerful example of how dedicated advocates can change perception through hard work. The voters in Kapitus’s Building Resilient Businesses Contest also saw the power in Lamonier’s vision and BPWS’s value, voting in quantity enough to win them a 3rd place $20,000 prize.

Winning in the first BRB competition, however, is just the beginning of the new day for Lamonier and BPWS.  

Education and Awareness

Stereotypes have a tendency to linger in “unfact-checked” territory. Stereotypes are supremely effective putdowns because they usually inflame an existing insecurity for the person being targeted. As a Black swimmer herself, Lamonier was familiar with the long-standing, hurtful stereotype that Black people can’t swim. And when she and BPWS were first offering lessons, she saw the harmful effect of this stereotype on full display. “This all started back in the summer 2019 when it was a challenge to teach 30 people how to swim. During that time, one of my students told me she couldn’t swim because her ‘bones are too dense.’ At that very moment I thought ‘Where did she get this idea from?’ From there, I started to do my research and realized that there are quite a few stereotypes and barriers that lead to the high number of drownings that take place in our community. I then realized ‘Wow! If she takes this false narrative as her truth, how many other black and brown people, who look like us, may have the same thought process?’”

This is why our program is rooted in education. Dispelling false narratives, but also educating non-POC, who teach people of color the racist history that takes place in aquatics.”

Starting a Business and Building a Community

Running an organization dependent on a pool and skilled instructors has its own unique list of difficulties in normal times; but maintaining those elements during the COVID-19 pandemic required some magical balancing. Lamonier, however, found impressive strength in her community even when pool access was extremely limited. “One of the biggest challenges in taking BPWS from an idea to a business was finding a pool to host our swim program,” Lamonier explains. “When we announced the opening of our program in just a few days, we postponed our start date due to the pandemic. This pushed us to get really creative and explore different ways to foster a community using the power of social media, despite not offering lessons.”

Among those creative concepts is the acronym F.A.C.E. which is a guiding principle for BPWS. “Our acronym F.A.C.E. is essentially our brand ethos. Any and everything we do within our brand must align with our acronym. The letter F is all about having Fun, the letter A is building Awareness, the letter C is creating a sense of Community, and the letter E is all through Education.”

Swimming and Empowerment

When asked if she sees swimming as a type of empowerment, Lamonier said, “Absolutely!”

“What I love about swimming Is that the ability to swim is not based off of height, looks, money, economic background, or anything of that sort. It is really a sport for the people. All people! Most importantly, swimming is the only sport that can save your life. It is a life skill that everyone needs to be equipped with. This is why I urge people to learn how to swim because it provides freedom.”

Swimming, then, has a power much grander than someone may guess at first. Building a community of people is an achievement in itself, but then demonstrating that that community can save lives and change minds is simply the first step in making a better, more understanding world. When asked what advice she has for people who want to be community organizers and activists, Lamonier explains that “I strongly encourage any and everyone who reads this to please remember your ‘why’! There are days when you are exhausted, may not have the funds to continue the mission, or the support either, but you have to remember your ‘why’ and the lives that you are helping and saving. That is what is going to help you continue. Also, it is vital for you to work smarter, not harder. Working hard is great, but working smart will take you further. Find help by assembling a team and delegate some of the tasks. You got this!

Building Resilient Businesses (and Communities)

To all those who followed the BRB voting period and those who put their power behind BPWS, know that your votes will go on to increase the scope and capabilities of Lamonier, her instructors, and all those in the BPWS community. Looking ahead, Lamonier has big plans for the next BPWS season: “At this time we are gearing up for our 2023 swim season. This means, hiring swim instructors, hiring an aquatics director, finding a pool location to host our swim lessons, and so much more. Most importantly, because swimming is a seasonal business, we really want to expand into merch. And with this win from Kapitus, we’re able to do just that.”

Black People Will Swim currently operates in the Brooklyn and Long Island area and offers a wide range of classes. And those who are inspired by Lamonier and BPWS’s message for community strength through swimming, Make the Promise to you and your loved ones that you will learn how to swim.

Learn the stories of all of our small business winners:

BRB Stories: After Devastating Setback, Play Pits Takes First Place in Kapitus’ BRB Contest!

BRB Stories: Relying on Faith and Passion for Business Success

BRB Stories: Creating Libraries-worth of Unforgettable Memories!

BRB Stories: Healing Relationships with Body & Fitness

BRB Stories: Frères Branchiaux and the Fragrance Revolution

Three of the founders of the candle company posing with products

BRB Stories: Frères Branchiaux and the Fragrance Revolution

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Fragrances and aromas can bring us back to our favorite moments. Whether under the protective charm of cinnamon and pine sap during the holidays or the essence of a seaside town and wet sand, a candle never fails to brighten even the most silent and grey days. The value and power of authentic fragrance are well understood by the team at Frères Branchiaux, a family-owned candle company currently based in Metro DC. In celebration of the Frères Branchiaux team’s 3rd place win in the Building Resilient Businesses contest, we at Kapitus had the pleasure of learning more about the inspiring story of three brothers and their parents who built an eco-conscious vegan candle company from the ground up.

Exclusively using soy and coconut wax, each Frères Branchiaux candle is hand poured with artisanal care. It is no exaggeration to say that lighting a Frères Branchiaux candle with your family is supporting a small business and strengthening a fragrance revolution calling for high-quality, natural products that enhance our own living.

Building a Business

The modern-day family business can be much more than a classic mom-and-pop shop, as exemplified by Frères Branchiaux. Let’s instead call it a brother-brother-and-brother shop; this is because the Frères Branchiaux story started with three brothers Colin, Ryan, and Austin who were faced with a big question. Their mother told the boys that they could make more spending money by either getting a job or starting their own business. Thank goodness they chose the latter. 

Celena Gill (mother of les Frères Branchiaux) explained that on top of making high-quality candles, she and her team faced several unexpected challenges when starting their business. “We had no idea of how to run an e-commerce business nor did we have any type of marketing plan,” explained Celena. “Most of what we learned was on Google and YouTube University.  After we figured out how to make candles, we had to figure out how to market them.  Because the boys were homeschooled, we were able to vend in major cities all around the country.  We were able to home in on our customers and determine our target market.  Our challenges helped us learn who our customer was and how to sell to them.”

Growing a Business

The Frères Branchiaux story is emblematic of a universal change in how our small businesses interact with their communities. By not engaging in ecommerce, small businesses don’t simply lose a revenue stream; they are shortening the potential of their community. Frères Branchiaux took this guiding concept in stride and even scored distribution for their candles in major retailers like Whole Foods and Target.

Any small business seeking national distribution is aware of the pitfalls and sometimes aggressive requirements from big-name brands for distribution, but Frères Branchiaux had some key advice for small business owners hoping to see their products on more shelves: “Start networking and getting connected to buyers.  Also, ask other business owners in Target about their process, their journey, and if they can share their buyer contacts. Apply for any local vendor programs or accelerator programs that would help you gain entry into department stores.  Also, make sure that your products are retail-ready—have proper packaging, UPC codes, ingredients (if necessary) and directions. Our CEO mom, Celena, leads the way in developing relationships and connections to launch in more retail stores.”

Building a Niche

Candles, like coffee or deodorant, are a market full of existing competition and big names who hold massive sway. From Yankee Candle to Harlem Candle Company, it’s clear that candle companies need a strong identity that consumers can identify with. Candles, by nature, are luxury products, so people need to be genuinely compelled to choose one candle over another. This is another fact Frères Branchiaux took to heart when building their business and brand.

Frères Branchiaux is family-owned, vegan, eco-conscious, and community-minded. And further, the team at Frères Branchiaux lives by these guiding principles. They make decisions not based on trend-chasing, but personal inspiration. That inspiration is more than present for Frères Branchiaux: “We care about the air quality in our home and wanted to create candles that would be as ‘clean’ as possible to everyone’s home environment. Austin, our youngest co-founder, has asthma so we had to make sure that any lit candle has the best ingredients for his health.  Soy candles are vegan, clean burning, and emit a better mix of fragrance and wax than paraffin candles.” In an ocean of impersonal brands, the value of personal inspiration cannot be overstated.

Further, consider the Frères Branchiaux recycling program. Co-founder Ryan explains that. “We are very invested in using renewable resources and reducing our carbon footprint.  Since we use glass jars, we thought it would be best to start a recycling program to encourage others to do the same.” After someone entirely burns a Frères Branchiaux candle, they can package up and ship the glass container to their Maryland base. Plus, processed returns can net the sender a $1 coupon for use at pop-ups or the Frères Branchiaux online store.

Building a Future

Thanks to the Building Resilient Businesses Contest, Frères Branchiaux took home a $20,000 prize to continue their mission of clean-burning, hand-poured candles for all. When asked what is next in store for les Frères Branchiaux, the team mentioned some major plans: “In 2023, we are launching in Sur La Table in February, pet products on HSN, and have collaborations with creative brands.  We are also opening our flagship store in Oregon next fall.  Our oldest co-founder, Collin, will be entering the University of Oregon in the fall as a starting cornerback on the football team—so we wanted to open one of our flagship locations where we would spend most of our time. “

Those interested in getting their own Frères Branchiaux candles can find them through the company’s online store or at one of several national supermarkets. And keep an eye out for news on the new flagship and more on Frères Branchiaux team’s social media.

Learn the stories of all of our small business winners:

BRB Stories: After Devastating Setback, Play Pits Takes First Place in Kapitus’ BRB Contest!

BRB Stories: Relying on Faith and Passion for Business Success

BRB Stories: Creating Libraries-worth of Unforgettable Memories!

BRB Stories: Healing Relationships with Body & Fitness

BRB Stories: Empowering a New Generation of Swimmers and Thinkers

BRB Stories: Healing Relationships with Body & Fitness

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Congratulations to Superfit Hero, a Los Angeles-based small business that provides premium activewear for plus-sized women, for being named a third-place winner of Kapitus’ inaugural Building Resilient Businesses contest! Superfit Hero will receive $20,000 to help improve its business.

From Roller Skating to Workout Gear

It’s not often that one can use the words “roller derby”, an often-violent contact sport, and

Superfit Hero, Kapitus, building Resilient Businesses, small business

Micki Krimmil, founder of Superfit Hero, realized her passion for plus-sized sports wear for women after a stint as a roller derby player.

“entrepreneurism” in the same sentence, but in the case of Superfit Hero’s founder and CEO, Micki Krimmel, the two go hand-in-hand. Krimmel was a skater for the Angel City Derby team for nearly 8 years, and during that time, she came up with the idea of creating fashionable active sportswear for plus-sized women.

Krimmel credits playing roller derby for bringing out her inner athlete, as well as finding the will to stop being self-judgmental about her appearance. 

“I began playing roller derby around the same time I started my company,” said Krimmel. “What I thought was going to be a fun hobby quickly became much more than that. Roller derby became the most central part of my identity. For the first time in my life, I was an athlete.

This transformation proved nothing short of revolutionary. My entire relationship [with] my body changed and my confidence soared as a result. Like most people, I had a rocky relationship with my body and with fitness over the years. 

“I tried every diet, every fitness program, and I never felt like I was good enough. Once I began to think of myself as an athlete, my mindset completely shifted. Fitness became about performance instead of appearance…I applied this newfound confidence to every aspect of my life, including my business. As an athlete, I became increasingly frustrated with how fitness was being marketed to women. We are bombarded with constant messages that remind us of our inadequacy.”

Filling a Need

Krimmel has had an entrepreneurial spirit her entire career. In 2009, she founded Neighborgoods, a pioneering firm in the sharing economy, and served as a mentor for Code for America, a consultancy program for civic startup companies. When her career in roller derby was over, becoming an entrepreneur once again was a natural fit for her, especially given her new-found passion for helping women of all sizes get physically fit – a niche that had gone relatively unnoticed until Superfit Hero came along.

Superfit Hero provides active wear for plus-sized women, while encourage every woman to be proud of their bodies.

As the New Year approaches and many of us make resolutions to get physically fit, Superfit Hero is here to help plus-sized women keep that goal while encouraging them to be proud of their bodies. 

“Women are supposed to look a certain way, act a certain way, and fitness is a tool we use to conform to those ideals and as a punishment for not doing so,” said Krimmel. “I was frustrated that the real benefits of fitness were hidden behind these traditional marketing messages of the fitness industry. We all have the capacity for joy in movement. We all have the right to feel at home in our bodies. You don’t have to look a certain way to participate in fitness and enjoy the benefits. All you need is a body – any body.”

Manufacturing Woes

Like with all entrepreneurs, Krimmel faced some huge challenges when she launched Superfit Hero in 2015, with the biggest one being manufacturing. Krimmel found that despite Los Angeles being one of the biggest fashion and manufacturing capitals in the world, most of the factories in the city were geared to serve the larger retailers. 

In the first two years, Krimmel used six different factories and constantly ran into inventory shortages as a result. Krimmel was eventually able to find a manufacturing partner as well as slowly built a network of manufacturing hubs.

“I’m in a much more secure place in that I now have more options and a bit of leverage that comes with larger order sizes,” she said. 

A Passion for her Mission

Krimmel is just as committed to building a brand of plus-size fitness clothing so that no woman feels ashamed of or excluded from becoming physically fit, especially when they work out in public. Since launching, Superfit Hero continually offers new bundles of activewear, including its Daydream Eco-Leisure line, while continuing to offer its best-sellers such as its Superhold line of leggings and sports bras.

“My vision for the world is a future where the natural diversity of body shapes and sizes is celebrated, and everyone is welcome to participate in the fullness of life regardless of their size or ability…Superfit Hero is the world’s most inclusive line of premium plus size activewear with sizes L-7X,” said Krimmel. “Our mission is to make fitness and movement more inclusive and empowering for women. Over 68% of American women wear plus sizes but only 8% of fashion brands serve them. 

“Working with our community, we’ve spent years perfecting our fit for plus size bodies. We have established our brand as a leader in the plus size fashion industry. We partnered with Kohl’s to bring our entire size range to stores across the country. For many of our customers, this was the first time they were able to try on their size in-store anywhere.”

Marketing Expansion

Krimmel said that the company’s goal is to increase its reach through digital advertising and expansion, and the $20,000 from Kapitus’ BRB contest will help with those efforts.

“We are looking to hire a marketing director and increase our reach via digital advertising to expand our impact to a wider audience,” she said. “We’ve proven that we have what it takes to get our brand off the ground and now we need your help to get to the next level. Thank you for your support.” 

Learn the stories of all of our small business winners:

BRB Stories: After Devastating Setback, Play Pits Takes First Place in Kapitus’ BRB Contest!

BRB Stories: Relying on Faith and Passion for Business Success

BRB Stories: Creating Libraries-worth of Unforgettable Memories!

TFTI Experience, Brian Andaya, Building Resilient Businesses Contest, Small Businesses, Kapitus

BRB Stories: Creating Libraries-worth of Unforgettable Memories!

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Congratulations to TFTI Experience, a Houston-based small business that takes “selfies” to a whole new level, for winning the 2nd place prize in Kapitus’ inaugural Building Resilient Businesses contest! TFTI, which stands for “Thanks for the Invitation,” will receive $50,000 to help grow their business

Picture Perfect

TFTI launched its first “selfie” exhibit at the Marq’E Entertainment Center in Houston in 2018 and became an immediate success. The business creates specially designed rooms that are ideal places for individuals, families and friends to take selfies. TFTI then took their unique business idea to showrooms in Atlanta and Dallas. 

After surviving the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic, TFTI took off by opening a 5,000 sq. ft. space in

TFTI Experience, Brian Andaya, Kapitus, Building Resilient Businesses

TFTI’s Love Room has been the setting for many romantic gestures, including marriage proposals.

the Galleria in Houston which features 15 custom-designed rooms that provide unique experiences and backdrops for  customers to take the perfect selfies. 

“They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and if that’s the case, then we’ve created libraries worth of unforgettable memories with all of our guests,” said Bryan Andaya, founder and partner at TFTI. “TFTI is the original photo experience concept and we’re ready to create more. We are family-owned and started by first-time entrepreneurs who have learned so much since our opening back in 2018. All we need is the fuel to grow. Our name TFTI stands for the popular social media acronym ‘Thanks For The Invite,’ and we definitely want to thank Kapitus for inviting us to this wonderful opportunity.”

The Upside-Down

TFTI Experience, Building Resilient Businesses, Kapitus, contest, Brian Andaya

TFTI’s Upside-Down Room is one of its most popular attractions.

No, we’re not talking about the parallel universe in Netflix’s hit show “Stranger Things,” but we are referring to one of the coolest rooms at TFTI’s space at the Galleria – the room that mimics an upside-down apartment. The ceiling consists of hardwood floors and a fully decorated Christmas tree. Wrapped boxes and basic furniture are bolted to the ceiling. Photos of guests are turned upside-down, giving the appearance that they are defying gravity. 

There’s also the cherry blossom room where guests can sit on a swing, as well as the space station room where customers can put on astronaut gear and pretend that they’re floating in a space station. These are just some of the creative rooms TFTI has created for its guests. 

“People come just for the upside-down room,” said Andaya, adding that the room will change once the holiday season is over. He added that the “Love Room” has been used for marriage proposals, and the entire space has been rented out for parties. The creativity of the business is still flourishing, despite the bumpy economy. 

Expanding the Lens

Andaya said that the company will use the $50,000 to enhance the specialized rooms by installing high-quality photo booths in them. 

“TFTI plans to use part of the winning funds to start building photo booth systems in our interactive rooms,” said Andaya. “This will allow guests to take high-quality photos and receive them via text message or email on the spot. Perfect for guests who may not have the latest phone or [hightest] quality camera.”

Part of the prize money will also be used to enhance the company’s marketing strategy, said Andaya, noting that online advertising is the company’s biggest challenge. 

“Our biggest challenge currently is the rising cost of online advertising spend. Most of our guests can be found on popular social media platforms, but with online privacy changes and rising costs, they are becoming more difficult to target,” he said. “We work to overcome this by doing continuous organic postings, reaching out to local influencers in our area for partnerships and focusing on interacting with potential customers organically by commenting and liking their posts.”

Moving Forward

Andaya and his partners plan for continued success and expansion for TFTI, which was a natural offshoot of another company Andaya launched nearly 12 years ago, Lucky Shots. The company rents out portable photo booths that can print out custom, branded photos and has been used for events for big clients such as the Houston Texans, Houston Astros, CITY CENTRE and the Houston Rodeo.

Learn the stories of all of our small business winners:

BRB Stories: After Devastating Setback, Play Pits Takes First Place in Kapitus’ BRB Contest!

BRB Stories: Relying on Faith and Passion for Business Success

Strands of Faith, Ameka Coleman, small business, Building Resilient Businesses, Kapitus

BRB Stories: Relying on Faith and Passion for Business Success

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For small business owners, it’s all about keeping the faith – not only in God, but in yourself and your ability to succeed. That’s what drives Ameka Coleman, founder and CEO of Strands of Faith and one of the 3rd place winners of Kapitus’ inaugural Building Resilient Businesses contest. Strands of Faith is one of five 3rd place winners, and Coleman received $20,000 to help maintain and grow Strands of Faith. 

Starting her own business in 2018 took a tremendous amount of faith, courage, and hard work for Coleman, who gave up a lucrative career as a clinical researcher for pharmaceutical contract research giant PPD to become a small business owner. The Christian mother of four took the plunge into entrepreneurship when she realized that her passion was hair care.

Coleman was able to fill a need by creating a line of cruelty-free, non-toxic hair care products that

Ameka Coleman, Strands of Faith, Building Resilient Businesses, Kapitus, Contestof Faith

Ameka Coleman, founder and CEO of Strands of Faith, used her personal credit card, a small amount of savings and her faith to launch the business.

contain no parabens or silicone-based materials, yet keep hair moisturized and healthy.

“I launched the business in 2018,” said Coleman. “Prior to this, I never thought that I would one day own a business. I was in a career, Clinical Research, that I loved. It was truly a scenario of passion meeting purpose. Starting in 2006, I developed a passion for loving and embracing my natural hair and I was equally passionate about making progress in the field of clinical trials. Eventually, my science background and real-life experience merged into one to make a beautiful faith walk with purpose!”

A Wing and a Prayer

Like most small business owners first starting out, Coleman had few resources. She used a small amount of savings and personal credit cards to fund the launch of Strands of Faith, and her biggest assets during that time were support from her family and her passion for making clean hair care products. Even though she took a huge gamble by starting her own business, she found the resilience to push through the COVID-19 pandemic through hard work.

“Building Strands of Faith has been a journey of faith, hope, and resilience,” said Coleman. “If you would have told me 6 years ago that I would one day start a business, I wouldn’t have believed it simply because I didn’t have the mental fortitude, faith, and self-confidence to bet on myself. However, little did I know, my journey leading up to it was the perfect segway to creating my brand. While I was on a journey to finding myself, it resulted in me falling in love with the hair that God blessed me with. I then found great joy in encouraging and motivating other women to do the same.” 

Expansion Plans

Strands of Faith has found success through some rough times, and has grown to 10 employees and dozens of product lines, as well as a successful blog on hair care. Coleman said that she plans to use the $20,000 in prize money to help expand her team and strengthen its marketing efforts to serve customers both in the US and internationally. 

“This business became bigger than me,” she said. “I was led to create products that could help further the

Strands of Faith’s Holy Grail collection of natural hair care products has helped launch it to success.

mission by providing clean products for textured hair that would make women feel confident about their hair regimen. This entire journey has been one of faith. Starting out, I didn’t have many resources, but I didn’t let that stop me. I put my best foot forward, juggled all of the roles, and trusted God to lead the way. I was working my full-time job while also being a mom to 2 kids and a wife. It was rough but the vision made me stay committed.

“Now, as a mom of 4, I strive daily to be the best example to my kids, and it gives me great joy for them to see me keep pushing along this entrepreneurial journey. Building this business has impacted my life and others in so many ways but the most impactful way has been the reminder to simply keep the faith! This grant by Kapitus is such a tremendous blessing in allowing me to expand my team and marketing efforts so that we can continue to serve women all around the world.”

Maintaining Balance

Coleman may be unusual among small business owners in that she’s achieved something that many small business owners have not: balance between her personal and business lives. Her secret is putting her family and faith first. That balance, she said, is a key part of the success of Strands of Faith.

“I did the groundwork in the beginning and worked super hard to lay a foundation, so I now have a team who has helped tremendously with taking off some of the workload. Now, these days, though the business still needs much of my time to run, my priorities have shifted, and it is all about family first! Business now comes second to my family. I intentionally did the groundwork in the beginning when my kids were younger. Now that they are older, I am super intentional about being present for them!”

Advice to New Entrepreneurs

Coleman said that the beginning days of Strands of Faith were the most difficult as they are for most small business owners, but she advised new entrepreneurs that the learning experience of launching a business is well worth it. 

“I would say that the most challenging parts, in the beginning, were wearing many titles,” she said. “I now appreciate the process of first getting the experience in each role because over time it built me up to be an efficient business owner. I have learned that entrepreneurship is not just a journey by itself but, instead, it is also a personal healing journey! There will be many times where the journey may feel lonely, but this is when it becomes super important to lean on your self-confidence and focus on the past wins to get you through and, of course, God’s given strength.”

Congratulations to All the Winners

Kapitus’ inaugural BRB contest awarded $250,000 to 7 small businesses that are the epitome of strength and resilience – two crucial ingredients needed to launch and operate a small business. The first-place prize was $100,000, the second was $50,000 and five third-place winners each received $20,000. All of the winners also will receive a complimentary, 8-hour consulting/advisory session to help their business. Kapitus also looks forward to this being an annual contest starting every spring.

Learn the stories of all of our small business winners:

BRB Stories: After Devastating Setback, Play Pits Takes First Place in Kapitus’ BRB Contest!

Play Pits, Building Resilient Businesses, Chantel PowellKapitus

BRB Stories: After Devastating Setback, Play Pits Takes First Place in Kapitus’ BRB Contest!

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Congratulations to Play Pits, an African American-owned producer of specialty deodorants made from all-natural ingredients, for being named the winner of Kapitus’ inaugural Building Resilient Businesses (BRB) contest. The Atlanta-based family business will receive $100,000 and 8 hours of complimentary educational consulting/advising sessions on its business. 

Embodiment of Resilience

Chantel Powell, Play Pits, Kapitus, Building Resilient Businesses, contest

Chantel Powell’s small business has endured the COVID-19 pandemic and a warehouse fire, making it one of the most resilient businesses out there.

For Chantel Powell, creator and CEO of Play Pits, resilience isn’t just a trait, it’s a necessity. The four-year-old company suffered through the pandemic shortly after it was created – a period in which nearly 40% of all black-owned businesses were forced to shut down. As if that weren’t enough, in September 2022, its Atlanta-based headquarters and warehouse (where all of its inventory was stored) were completely burnt to the ground in a fire – a catastrophic event that left Powell and her family reeling.

In the aftermath, however, instead of giving up, Powell and her family members are determined to rebuild the business and will use their $100,000 prize to help do so, making  Play Pits the very embodiment of everything for which BRB stands..

“It’s by the grace of God that we won the Building Resilient Businesses Contest because in the last few weeks, Play Pits has proven that we are the personification of a resilient business,” said Powell.

A Family Commitment

Play Pits. Chantel Powell, Kameron, Kapitus, Building Resilient Businesses, Contest

Chantel Powell was inspired to launch Play Pits by her son, Kameron.

After spending nearly six years as an executive assistant at Viacom International Media Networks and graduating Summa Cum Laude from Clark Atlanta University with a degree in fashion design and merchandising, Powell had picked up the skills she needed to pursue her passion for launching her own small business. All she needed was an innovative idea and a product to sell.

That idea came in 2017 when she picked up her six-year-old son, Kameron, from basketball camp. Like most active kids coming home after attending a sweaty sports camp, Kameron’s body odor hit Powell hard. 

“My exact words to him were, ‘You smell like a grown man!’” said Powell. She was determined to make him wear deodorant but didn’t want to use the typical ones that were filled with toxic chemicals. When she searched for deodorants that used natural ingredients, she found them to be boring products that she knew she would have to fight her son to get him to use them. 

Powell spent days in her kitchen using organic ingredients to make an all-natural deodorant that she felt comfortable with her son wearing. To her surprise, Kameron loved the deodorant and suggested that she make it for all his friends at camp.

“After my initial refusal, I quickly reconsidered once it hit me that Kameron had a genius business idea!” she said.

Hard Work and Self-Sufficiency

Like many seeking to achieve the American Dream, Powell put in a lot of hard work and $3,500 of her own money to start Play Pits. With no outside investments, she spent nine long months perfecting the secret formula to create the first all-natural deodorant free of aluminum, parabens, synthetic fragrances and other harsh chemicals found in most deodorant products, and one specifically designed for active kids. 

She officially launched Play Pits in March of 2018, and success came quickly for the new business. Powell saw 497% growth after just 20 months in business, with over 12,200 units sold. Play Pits soon had both out-of-state and international customers, and distributed through both Amazon and Target, as well as directly.

Powell also worked hard by engaging in one of the toughest types of marketing campaigns a business can engage in: word-of-mouth. Powell works extremely hard to market the company through social media and customer recommendations. She also doesn’t keep herself on the company payroll. “Every dime made is completely due to us bootstrapping our business, getting out there and hustling. It has been the best method for us to advance and grow Play Pits,” she said.  

“Quietly, Play Pits has become the nation’s largest 100% black-owned deodorant company,” said Powell. “This grant money is going to be invested in scaling our company by allowing us to purchase larger amounts of raw goods and materials at reduced costs, increase our marketing efforts into youth and professional sports, and to add knowledgeable professionals to help us meet customer demand by expanding our product line and increasing revenue.”  

More Than Just Survival

As Play Pits recovers and rebuilds from the devastating fire, its mission to educate parents about the

Play Pits, Chantel Powell, Building Resilient Businesses, Contest, $100,000, Kapitus

Paly Pits has endured the pandemic and a devastating fire to come back better than ever.

dangerous ingredients found in commercial deodorants and to provide a healthier, all-natural solution for their children, remains the same. The business is still seeking to grow both domestically and internationally, and to never forget where it came from. Since launching, Kameron has been named the company’s Chief Inspiration Officer and is still active in sports, while Powell continues to work hard to market and sell the company’s products. 

“As we start recovery from this tragic event, this grant money is needed now more than ever as it will play a key role in helping us to rebuild, replenish lost inventory/materials, equipment etc., while still allowing us to continue our initial expansion plans,” she said.  

interest rates, small business, lending, bank loan, Ben Johnston, Kapitus

How Will Rising Rates Impact Small Business Lending?

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The Federal Reserve Bank has raised the overnight rate four times so far in 2022 to try to tame runaway inflation, with more hikes likely coming. This leaves Main Street businesses that rely on financing in a major bind – rising rates mean small business loans have become far more expensive than they were just a year ago, and that added expense creates yet another challenge for those that have already faced rising costs, a demand for higher wages and supply chain shortages, among other things.

So now that we’ve been forced to live with higher interest rates for the time being, what should small businesses do? Should small businesses hold off on plans to take out loans until interest rates come back down? What if you need financing now, despite the current interest rate environment? 

Ben Johnston, Kapitus, rising interest rates, lending, small businesses

“Better credit quality small businesses can expect to see lower increases in rates while businesses with lower credit quality can expect to see a more dramatic increase in rates,” says Ben Johnston. Kapitus’ chief operating officer.

Ben Johnston, the Chief Operating Officer at Kapitus, tries to decode this situation by offering valuable advice for small businesses during these difficult times. 

Borrow for the Right Reasons

With the cost of capital being especially high right now, small businesses may want to hold off on borrowing if they can afford to. Interest rates often swing wildly from year-to-year, and once the current inflationary environment begins to settle down, the Federal Reserve may start to loosen its belt once again, so it may be worth waiting until then to apply for financing. 

If you need to borrow money now, however, it’s now more important than ever to make sure you are using the proceeds of that loan to invest in a project or aspect of your business that will increase your profits. These can include growing your business with new hires or expanded inventory, or the development of a new product that is projected to increase your revenue. The increased revenue should offset higher costs of capital and will enable you to comfortably pay back the loan.

“Small businesses should always weigh the cost of the capital that they are seeking with the expected economic return of the project they are financing,” said Johnston. “If the project provides sufficient returns at the cost of capital being offered, then they should move forward with the project. Unfortunately, as interest rates rise the number of economically viable projects declines, meaning that many small businesses will choose to hold off on financing growth until rates either come down or revenue and expense prospects improve.”

Fix Your Credit Score

Despite the fact that the prime rate is now far higher than it was a year ago, one fundamental rule of

credit score, small business, lending, interest rates, Kapitus, Ben Johnston

Fixing your business’ credit score is especially important in a high interest rate environment.

lending still applies: the higher your credit score, the less you will have to pay in interest rates. As the COVID-19 pandemic winds down, however, many small businesses may have taken hits to their credit scores given the COVID-related recession the US endured in 2020 and 2021. 

“Most lending companies are seeing their own cost of capital increase, and over time, this rise in interest rates can be expected to be passed on to small business customers in the form of higher rates as well,” said Johnston. “Better credit quality small businesses can expect to see lower increases in rates while businesses with lower credit quality can expect to see a more dramatic increase in rates.”

If you struggled during the pandemic and your FICO score decreased as a result, don’t worry – fixing it may not be as daunting of a task as you may think. There are some basic steps you can take to possibly improve it:

  • Talk to your creditors. If you have any outstanding debt, it’s worth contacting your creditors to see if you can modify your payment structures. Remember, creditors would much rather negotiate a new payment arrangement with their borrowers than have to send the debt to collections. Once a new arrangement is agreed upon, you can comfortably make payments without having any late payments show up on your credit score.
  • Pay off or lower your revolving debt. If you can afford to, make sure your debt on your line of credit or business credit card is 25% to 30% of your spending limit, as that is the credit utilization level that credit agencies prefer to see. Not only will this reduce your interest rate payments, it also lets potential lenders know that you can properly manage your debt.
  • Encourage your suppliers to give you trade references. Having a strong payment history with your suppliers will not be reflected on your credit report. However, your suppliers can give you a trade reference: a verbal or written notice to credit reporting agencies such as Dunn & Bradstreet, Experian Business or Equifax stating that you’ve always made payments on time. These positive references may increase your score and will be looked upon favorably by potential lenders. 
  • Try to increase your credit limits. If you have a line of credit or a business credit card, increasing your limits on them can increase your credit utilization ratio and help boost your FICO score. 

Consider Alternative Lenders

Higher costs of capital means that traditional banks will have to take on more risk when they lend to small businesses. As a result, many banks will have stricter requirements for small businesses seeking financing, thus making it harder for Main Street businesses to qualify for loans. This may make alternative lenders – non-bank lenders such as Kapitus – more attractive. 

Alternative lenders often require less paperwork and fewer requirements than banks for small businesses seeking financing. Plus, interest rate hikes often don’t affect the cost of capital from alternative lenders as much as they do traditional banks. 

“Banks too are seeing the effect of higher interest rates on their cost of capital and all lenders are looking warily at the economic uncertainty in today’s economy,” said Johnston. “Given this uncertainty, we can expect banks to reduce their exposure to small business loans in the coming months, and to continue to increase the cost of capital offered to small businesses. This means that Kapitus and other non-bank small business lenders will play an even more important role in providing small businesses with the capital they need to grow and weather uncertainty in this challenging economic time.” 

Johnston added that he “absolutely” expects that alternative lenders will be more attractive in the small business loan market than traditional banks. “I expect that non-bank small businesses lenders will be slower to raise rates to strong credit quality customers and will be less likely to tighten their credit boxes significantly, making small business lenders a critical source of capital in the coming months.”

Be Prudent

It’s no secret that we are living in uncertain economic times. Small business owners that rely on financing would be wise to shop around for the best rates, lower their revolving debt and seek financing products, such as SBA and term loans, that typically offer the lowest costs of capital. As the country is officially in a recession, small businesses should seek ways to tighten their spending and maximize profits. 

Small business legislation, small business lending Kapitus Vince Calio

Small Business Legislation: Childcare, Credit Card Fees and Part-Time Benefits Proposals That Could Affect You

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Small businesses should be keeping an eye on this current session of Congress as well as the upcoming midterm elections. There are three bills still being debated in this current session of Congress that, if passed, could make it easier for small business owners to fund childcare for themselves and their employees, as well as lower credit card processing fees and give part-time workers additional benefits. 

The Credit Card Competition Act of 2022

A controversial bill to reduce credit card processing fees for small businesses could be in the works this year.

This bill, S.4674, and an identical bill in the House, H.R. 8874, are easily the most controversial pieces of small business legislation being debated. It was introduced by Sen. Richard Durbin (D-IL) in July and, if passed, would require credit card companies to offer two options for credit card processors whenever a customer makes a purchase with a small business. The goal of the legislation is to reduce the credit card processing fees that merchants, including small business owners, must pay in exchange for giving their customers the ability to pay with a credit card. 

Critics and Supporters

The typical credit card processing fees range from 1.5% of a purchase to 3.5%, raking in hundreds of billions of dollars in profits for credit card issuers. These fees are typically priced into the costs of products and services offered by small businesses. Small business advocates such as the National Federation of Independent Businesses support the bill, saying that it will reduce the credit card processing fees charged to small businesses that are already feeling the burden of inflation, rising interest rates and other economic issues. 

Banks and credit unions, however, are against the bill, saying that banks will cut cash-back rewards and other credit card perks as a way to offset the losses they will suffer if the bill gets passed. Many of them point to the controversial Durbin Amendment that was attached to the Dodd-Frank Act in 2010, which limited the interchange fees banks charged on debit cards, as a forewarning of the consequences consumers will suffer if the bill passes. That amendment, critics claim, did nothing to lower the cost of banking and led to retail banks eliminating rewards and perks offered on checking account debit cards. 

Likelihood of Passing?

Democrats in Congress are pushing for the bill to be voted upon in the current session of Congress. The Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs even tried to attach the bill as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (an annual defense spending bill that Congress almost always passes), but the effort was rejected. The likelihood of passage rests greatly on the results of the midterm elections, as it will most likely die if Republicans gain control of Congress. 

Part-Time Worker Bill of Rights Act of 2022

This is probably the most partisan piece of legislation being debated in Congress as it pertains to small

Kapitus small business lending part time workers

Part-time workers could be eligible for full-time benefits if Democratic legislation is passed.

businesses, as Democrats have been pushing for versions of this legislation since 2015. Renewed debate has once again begun on this bill, H.R. 6699,  and Congressional Democrats may want to push this bill out for a vote before the current, 117th session of Congress expires in January. 

The one section of the bill that most pertains to small businesses is the one stating that if a part time employee has been with a company for a year or more, that employee is entitled to the protections of the Family Medical Leave Act. This act allows employees to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave for medical reasons as well as the birth of a child without fear of being fired. This could have an obvious impact on small business owners who are already facing labor shortage problems. 

Another provision in the bill would affect high margin small businesses that offer retirement plans to their workers. This provision would allow part time workers who have worked at least 500 hours per year for two consecutive years for a company to participate in any retirement plan that company offers. If the bill were signed into law, it could cost small businesses that offer matches to their employees’ contributions to their 401(k) or other retirement plans, as they would have to make more matching contributions. 

Likelihood of Passing?

The eight co-sponsors of the bill, all Democrats, are pushing hard for a full vote on the floor of the House before the 117th session of Congress expires, especially if Republicans win back control of Congress. If that happens and the bill isn’t voted upon and signed into law by President Joe Biden before January, the bill will almost certainly die. 

Childcare DESERT Act

Kapitus childcare small business lending

New legislation could make it easier for small businesses to fund childcare for their employees.

This bill, S.5022, is a bi-partisan bill introduced in late September 2022 that, if passed, would allow small businesses to use a portion of the proceeds of the popular Small Business Administration 504 CDC loan to provide childcare services to employees. This would help address a serious problem that small businesses face in hiring and retaining employees. Goldman Sachs found in its most recent 10,000 Small Businesses study that 80% of small business owners cite childcare as a hiring issue, and just as high of a percentage of those surveyed said that they support the government providing childcare assistance to workers. 

Right now, qualifying small businesses can borrow up to $5 million through a SBA 504 CDC loan through Certified Development Companies to finance new equipment, build new facilities or purchase or lease additional land. The loan can also be used to improve storefronts and existing facilities, and the borrower must demonstrate that the proceeds will be used to create new jobs and help develop the community in which they operate. 

Likelihood of Passing?

This bill has a high chance of passing, as it was introduced by Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and co-sponsored by prominent Democrat Senator Gary Peters (D-MI). The bill was introduced in the Senate and will be debated by the members of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. Given that it is receiving bi-partisan support, the biggest threat to the bill being passed is time. There are only two months left in the 117th session of Congress, but if it isn’t voted upon within that time frame it could get reintroduced in the next session.

Show Your Support (or Opposition)!

There are several pieces of legislation being debated in Congress right now that you can show your support for. You can view upcoming bills and how they can affect your small business by clicking here. The site, Legiscan, also gives you access to the specific Representatives and Senators in your state and allows you to write to them to show your support or opposition to current bills circulating in Congress.

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