The Major Minor Details of Start-up

I know I've said this in a few of the other blog posts but hear me out. In a (recent) previous life, I was a master's level, higher education, instructor who taught a management and leadership of the non-profit sector course - this happens to be important in the grand scheme of this post. Like most courses, there was a textbook associated with my class that I navigated with students. I would say the early chapters were relatively in sequence of start-up, minus some details. However, as I have also said before, there are so many things in start-up that just are not textbook, and I have been learning that... the hard way?

Just prior to receiving our award letter from the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC), I connected with the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Clark University by way of recommendation from the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce (resources, resources, resources... just saying). I heard from the faculty there something similar I had heard from others I had connected with: you're ahead of most. Of course, it feels good to hear that sort of thing as someone who has worked in the non-profit sector my entire career, but I know being on track doesn't mean everything is completed. After meeting with the lead at the SBDC, I received a "New Business Setup Checklist". Because I had been focused on a few other items, it took me some time to review the document in depth but when I did, I realized I had some work to do - I recieved the checklist in October, I am still working through this list and it is December. There were items there I immediately checked off *pats self on back* and there were items I hadn't even thought about!

Have you ever heard an old-school cash register? It sounds something like "cha-ching"! That is the sound I heard in my sleep in November as I moved through the list and still do as I continue to move through the list. If you're a parent, it's a sound you hear already, likely.

Shortly after the meeting with SBDC and starting to go through the checklist, the award letter arrived from EOHLC and after a little celebration, my "to-do" list increased by 10-fold. One of the most important items on that "New Business Setup Checklist" that I hadn't thought about was... you won't believe this but... running payroll. How does one forget payroll?! *Hangs head in shame* I've always enjoyed being paid but never had to create the process to actually be paid myself or to pay myself. Once you begin to think about payroll, you might as well keep rolling because there is a laundry list of things that are connected to that like:

• Job descriptions

• Benefits for your staff (health, dental, vision, life insurance, retirement options)

• Policies and Procedures (a handbook)

• Profile/account with the state to take out taxes and PFMAL

• Organizational insurance

• Worker's Comp

• Background checks (so important for organizations like MSH)

Remember that "cha-ching" sound? Has it gotten louder for you? Did I mention I hear it in my sleep? If you've never started a business before or don't have a Human Resources (HR) background, there is a chance you will miss some of these items as well, but I hope this post provides support if you are in the early stages of start-up. A lot of these items are not completed overnight, are not free, and take a considerable amount of time to put into place while trying to line everything up just right. Even if you are not running payroll in the next few months, do yourself a favor and start doing some research. Through recommendation, MSH has created an account with a company who provides services like payroll and items connected to that and contracts with other businesses that can provide the service through this business and is managed all in one place. Don't get me wrong, that cash register sound is still playing in my head but the sound of convenience is as soothing as a lullaby.

Other items that have been taking up a lot of mental space, time, and effort while I wasn't thinking about important things like payroll are as follows:

• Having an attorney

• Having an accountant

• Having a realtor

• Having a grant writer, and

• Building relationships (the "Who's Who of Worcester" continues)

Depending on the kind of business you're starting, your list may look a bit differently but know, if they have just been sitting in the back of your mind, at some point, they should come to the front and you should put thoughts into action by first seeking recommendations from individuals you trust; heavy on the trust because the unfortante truth is most small business development programs and/or organizations do not specifically have a path to support nonprofit organizations and if I had the bandwidth, this is a need I would fill... maybe someday.

If you are the owner, founder, Pinky or the Brain, there is no doubt you know how to create and/or deliver whatever it is your business/organization will provide, but it is imperative to know you don't know what you don't know about start-up; seek mentorship, if it's something you're comfortable with. Take that meeting that makes you nervous just thinking about it. Engage with members of the community. Tap into your network and most importantly, remember that it takes a village.

As we close out 2023 with this last blog post, I want to take the time to say, "thank you". If this is your first time reading a blog post or last time reading a blog post, know the support is appreciated. Meryl's Safe Haven has seen a year since our incorporation at the start of this year in January and while the road has not been easy, the support is felt; the appreciation is real, and the gratitude runs deep.

In closing, I ask two things of you, the reader of this posting (1) be safe this holiday season and (2) bring a friend and celebrate the fresh start of a new year with us as we host our first annual fundraiser on January 13th at The White Room in Worcester. Our buy one, get one half off sale will end at midnight on December 23, 2023.

Tickets Available Here

Happy holidays to you and yours!