Alex Cesal’s journey to becoming a chiropractor started with a personal experience: witnessing the life-changing impact chiropractic care had on his older brother’s soccer injury. After years of education at Central Michigan University and Logan University in St. Louis, Missouri, followed by a valuable rotation at Scott Air Force Base, Alex was ready to bring his chiropractic skills back home to Michigan.

After working for a time in another practice, Alex endeavored to open his own, Mitten Health & Performance, in Elk Rapids. He had the medical expertise but needed help with the business side of things, specifically securing a business loan. and the financial and logistical challenges of launching a practice. “I needed pointers on how to get a small business loan,” Alex said. “I just typed in ‘small business michigan’ on Google, and the Michigan SBDC website popped up. I put in my email and decided to see what would happen.”

His initial contact with the Michigan SBDC connected him with Business Consultant Joni Krolczyk. Alex shared that Joni immediately provided him with the support he needed, including software to help create a professional business plan, which made a huge difference. “The bank commented on how professional my business plan was,'” Alex recounted. “They really didn’t have many questions, because they read through it and were like, ‘Alright, I think I got everything.'”

Mitten Health & Performance recently opened its doors, and the business is off to a strong start. It’s already profitable in his first few months, a significant achievement for a new business. One of the key factors in this early success has been the steady patient base that followed Alex from his previous job to his new location in Elk Rapids. However, he’s also focused on building trust within the local community.

“Elk Rapids is a very word-of-mouth community,” Alex explained. “I had a new patient today, and she said, ‘Yeah, my neighbor said they had a great experience with you, so I thought I’d check you out.'” This word-of-mouth growth is a testament to the quality of care Alex provides and his commitment to his patients. He’s even started treating entire families, a sign that his practice is becoming a trusted fixture in the community.

When asked if there’s anything he would have done differently, Alex said he would have started his own practice sooner. He admits that the fear of failure and the financial risk of a business loan were daunting. “I think a lot of people have that fear of, ‘What if I fail?'” Alex said. “You make this whole list of ‘what-ifs’ instead of what you can achieve. Don’t let those fears hold you back.”

He also highly recommends the Michigan SBDC to other aspiring business owners. “It’s just nice to have someone in your corner who has probably seen a plethora of things. Some of those things that you were super stressed about, they’ll say, ‘Oh, I’ve seen this a hundred times, don’t even worry about that.'”

Alex’s story is a great example of how passion and professional guidance can lead to business success. He’s confident in his ability to provide evidence-based care and is excited to see his practice grow in the community he now calls home.