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Brewing Connection and Community at Java Moon

October 1, 2025

When Megan Cook acquired Java Moon in December 2021, her intention was to preserve the cherished legacy of the historic business in downtown Sheridan, while infusing it with a dynamic energy to propel it forward. For years, Megan had dreamed of owning a business downtown with a communal ambience. “I wanted to create a welcoming vibe where people can come to gather, to meet with friends and enjoy great food,” she explains. The menu at Java Moon ranges from made-from-scratch pastries to hearty lunch options and bespoke catering.

TikTok, RedNote, and DeepSeek: A Quick Privacy Wake-Up Call for Small Businesses

January 30, 2025

By Jacob Blacksten

In an age of viral videos and AI-driven insights, small businesses often jump at the chance to reach new customers through engaging platforms. Yet amidst this excitement, data privacy concerns loom larger than ever. From TikTok’s looming ban to emerging competitors like RedNote and now the controversial AI solution DeepSeek, it’s vital to understand how these technologies handle the sensitive information that can make or break your business reputation.

Prepare for Profits – 2025, Part 2. 8 Ways to Fight the Profit Pinch

December 30, 2024

By Barbara Nuss, CPA
Founder, Profit Soup

In our recent blog, Prepare for Profits – 2025, Part 1: Your Cost Structure May Never Be the Same, I shared my thoughts about how policy and economic changes might impact cost structures in 2025. I stressed the importance of monitoring your 5-Line P&L. This “Part 2” continuation lists 8 things you should do today to help fight the profit pinch in 2025.

1. Accelerate Equipment Purchases

If you have the financial capacity to act early on purchases you would make in 2025 anyway, you might consider stepping up now.

2. Forecast Your Cash Flow

Talk to your accountant about forecasting cash flow under multiple scenarios so you can plan to have adequate cash reserves or credit lines, Establish a cadence for comparing actual results to budgets by the 15th of each month.

Blooming Success: How the SBDC Helped Taylor Flower Patch Grow

December 10, 2024

At Taylor Flower Patch, our story is one of passion, perseverance, and the power of community support. I’m Jenny Campbell, co-owner of this beautiful flower farm nestled in the heart of Taylor, Mississippi, just south of Oxford. Today, I want to share how the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) transformed our dream into a thriving reality.

From Hobby to Business

Gardening has always been more than just a hobby for me—it’s a way to connect with the earth and bring joy to others. When my husband and I purchased our property, we knew we wanted to create something special. With encouragement from my husband and sister, I began to see the potential of turning my love for flowers into a sustainable business.

From PTSD to Prosperity: How Beekeeping Transformed this Disabled Combat Veteran’s Life

November 27, 2024

When Staff Sergeant Eric Grandon, a 20-year U.S. Army veteran, returned home from multiple combat deployments, he was struggling with the debilitating effects of PTSD. Rather than let the stressors of war consume him, Grandon found solace and purpose in an unexpected place – the gentle hum of honeybees.

In 2014, Grandon founded Sugar Bottom Farm in the small town of Ovapa, West Virginia, starting with just two beehives. Along with his wife Mary and daughter Abigail, Grandon dove headfirst into the world of beekeeping, determined to use this newfound passion as a way to manage his PTSD.

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