University of La Verne SBDC Small Biz Blog

La Forme 238 N. CItrus Ave Covina, Ca www.Laformefit.com Christina Lemaire is the owner of La Forme, a boutique wellness studio that offers Barre, Pilates, and Yoga that caters to women's health and fitness. Christina was originally a Barre instructor until 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic when all the classes moved online. She then started teaching classes virtually from a courtyard. Christina’s first introduction to the SBDC was finding workshops in the LA Regional Network for starting and managing a business. “I’m pretty positive I googled ‘small business resources’ and it led me down a little rabbit hole to seminars online for the SBDC,” Christina explained. Christina was connected with the University of La Verne SBDC and was able to schedule an appointment with business advisor Mark Hicks within a week. Like most new business owners, Christina didn’t have a background in business and did not know how to plan a business or even where to begin. “The challenge was understanding

Starting a business and joining a multi-level marketing (MLM) company are two different paths to entrepreneurship. Both options have their pros and cons, and it's important to consider your goals, resources, and personal preferences. Let's explore the advantages and disadvantages of each path. Starting a Business Pros When starting a business, you have complete control over your brand, marketing, products, and pricing. You can work on your business at your own pace and on your own terms. You can also set your own schedule and work from anywhere, depending on your type of business. This can give your business more flexibility, and a successful business can lead to unlimited earning potential. Starting and growing your own business can be incredibly satisfying and fulfilling . Cons Starting a business can be a high-risk endeavor, and there is no guarantee of success. Now, depending on the type of business, it can require significant upfront costs , such as product development, m