For some people, obstacles are just made to be overcome. That’s definitely the case for Taylor Fee, who is certified in both American Parkour and USA Gymnastics—and is also a budding entrepreneur. He’s combined his love of sports and degree in elementary education into a new gym designed for children ages 3-15 to develop healthy relationships with sports and movement in general: Cowabunga Ninja Sports Gym in Petoskey. To learn more go to www.cowabunganinja.com

Taylor had been an employee in a similar program in a different market, but when he decided to become his own boss he sought out the Michigan SBDC. He met with Business Consultant Sam Augusta, who helped him understand the cash flow and start-up finances, determine whether to buy or lease and ultimately negotiate a lease. Taylor also leveraged on-demand webinars about writing a business plan and preparing to speak to a lender.

According to Taylor, “Starting a business is a very daunting task. There are a lot of questions that need to be answered, and projections that need to be created. Googling how to start a business is one way to get started, but working with the SBDC is a [fool]-proof plan. Sam was always available and readily found new information to help better my plan. The support I got throughout the process made me confident in what I was doing. I will recommend the SBDC to every new business owner I meet.”

Although the business is still very new, Cowabunga Ninja Sports Gym is exciting both parents and children while meeting client growth goals and financial stability targets—bringing Taylor’s small business vision to life.