Business Stages Served

– Idea: This is the very beginning of the business lifecycle, either defining or refining the idea of the business. This stage involves problem validation, market analysis, and a potential IP evaluation. Ultimately, it is an assessment of how viable the startup can be.

– Launch: After the problem, market and potential IP have been vetted, a startup will launch (often with an MVP-minimal viable product) to validate customer demand, technical feasibility, and target market(s). The startup should have paying customers in this stage (with the exception of some life science companies who should have strong partnership interest)

– Grow: After the startup has demonstrated the ability to attract and retain paying customers with a proven business model, this stage is focused on growth where the business is generating consistent income and regularly adding on new customers. Cash flow should start to improve as recurring revenues help to cover ongoing expenses, and the startup should see profits improve slowly and steadily.

Business Types Served

– Innovation-led: Businesses in which research and development brings forth an innovative product or process; job-creating firms that form around a breakthrough technology or process with big market potential

– Main Street: Companies that make up a large segment of our economy, serve communities’ growing populations and define our cultural character (i.e., dry cleaning, grocery store, coffee shop, restaurant, or graphic design boutique); brick-and-mortar storefronts that define a city’s character

– Microenterprise: Businesses that require less than $35,000 in capitalization to start; require little capital to launch and don’t require a physical location

– Second Stage: Enterprises that have survived the startup phase and have owners who are focused on growing and expanding; have grown past the startup stage and generate millions in revenue

LOG IN/REGISTER

1. While on the Professional Services Directory page (https://pros.southbendelkhart.org/), locate and click on the “LOGIN” on the top right corner.
2. If you have registered and created a business profile before, please input your email and password and click the blue “Log In” box to log in.
3. If you have not registered before, please follow the next steps:
   1. Click on the “Register” bullet point beneath the “Log In” blue box.
   2. Input your email and create a password. You must confirm your password.
      ***Hint: The password should be at least twelve characters long. Make it stronger by using upper and lower case letters, numbers, and symbols like ! ” ? $ % ^ & ).
   3. To finish registering, click on the blue “Register” box.
   4. Once registered, input your email and password to log in.
   5. Once you have signed in, feel free to edit your profile.

CREATE A LISTING

1. In order to create a listing, you must be logged into your registered business profile.
2. Once logged in, locate and click on the “MANAGE MY LISTINGS” on the top right corner.
   
3. Within this page, you will have the option to “Return to directory”, click on the link. This will take you to the Directory.
4. Once in the Directory, scroll down until you find a blue box reading “Add Listing”. Click on the box.
5. Within the “Category Selection”, choose the Industry or Industries your listing will serve and click the “NEXT” orange box.
6. This will take you to the “Listing Information” page. While on this page, you will input the information on your service.
   *** Information required will be marked with an asterisk. The more information included in your listing, the better for those seeking your services.

1. First, you need to input the “Organization Name”.
2. Next, you will input a short description of your services in the first “About” section. This will be visible on the Directory page along with the other services.
   
3. Input a “Business Phone Number” (this is optional).
4. Input a “Business Contact Email” (this is a required field).
5. Entering a “Business Address” is optional, but it is required to input the organization’s “City”, “State”, and “ZIP Code”.
6. The second “About” section is for a longer description of your services. This will display when someone clicks on your Listing.
   
7. Input a “Business Website Address” with a required “URL”, but optional “Link Text”.
8. You must select an option or options for the following sections:
   • “Area of Assistance”
   • “Business Stages Served” – refer to definitions found here for more clarity
   • “Underserved Communities” – If you specialize in serving underrepresented communities, please select them
   • “Business Types Served” – refer to definitions found here for more clarity
9. Click the “NEXT” orange box to continue to the “Listing Images” page. If the page will not continue, please be sure you have filled in all the required fields.  Missing fields will show in red.
   
10. On the Listing Images page, upload your company logo.  We recommend uploading a JPG file that is square, with a max of 500px by 500px.  All logos will be approved before publishing to make sure they accurately reflect the business.
    
11. Click “Complete Listing”
12. You will receive an email notification that your listing information has been submitted.  We will review within approximately 3 business days and you will receive a confirmation email when your listing has been approved and published.

• The Professional Services Directory (“PSD”) is hosted by the South Bend – Elkhart Regional Partnership.
• “Users” are defined as any individual – primarily entrepreneurs and business owners – based in the South Bend – Elkhart Region seeking professional services to support their business.
• “Service Providers” are defined as the companies listed in the directory that have self-identified as consultants or companies that provide services for-hire.
• Service providers that are included as listings in the directory are companies that are for-profit, with at least one location based in the South Bend – Elkhart Region. Should there be a non-profit or higher educational institute that provides services connected to advanced manufacturing, healthcare, technologies, or entrepreneurship, consider submitting your resource to the South Bend – Elkhart Digital Innovation Hub here.
• Service Providers included as listings in the PSD are not endorsed by the Partnership.
• Service Provider profiles are maintained at the responsibility of the company. Those not maintained on at least an annual basis will be removed.
• There is no cost for Services Providers to be included in the PSD and there is no cost for Users to find services providers in the directory.
• Service Providers included should provide at least one of the following service sectors:
  • Accounting
  • Book Keeping
  • Business Planning
  • Buying or selling a business
  • Commercial real estate
  • Co-working/shared office space
  • Economic and site development
  • Financial resources and assistance
  • Human resources
  • Import and export assistance
  • Legal services
  • Management, operations, and logistics
  • Manufacturing, high tech, life sciences development
  • Marketing/sales
  • Mentoring
  • Product development
  • Public policy and government relations
  • Regulatory compliance
  • Selling to the government and large corporations
  • Starting a business
  • Tax services
  • Training