Minority Entrepreneurial Training Program

Program helping out entrepreneurs

Web Posted: 03/30/2008 07:44 PM CDT

Adolfo Pesquera
Express-News

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Roscoe Sistrunk knew a lot about operating a janitorial service, but he was weak on the accounting and marketing aspects so he enrolled in the

A 12-week program that is offered occasionally by the center at the University of Texas at San Antonio downtown campus has a new class scheduled to start April 14. For a $300 fee, it is being offered to small-business owners and entrepreneurs planning to launch a business this year.

Sistrunk, 58, was a U.S. Air Force intelligence officer when he and his wife started moonlighting in the janitorial business. He later acquired a Jani-King franchise and grew it into one of the largest janitorial services in San Antonio.

"I sold it," Sistrunk said. "I wanted to branch out on my own."

Sistrunk launched Choe Enterprises Inc. about the time he met Luke Ortega Luper, a business development specialist at the Minority Business Enterprise Center. He agreed to try the program.

"I had been relying on a CPA to do my taxes, but he wasn't efficient at keeping up with our growth," Sistrunk said, adding that he learned how to take over the accounting duties, and his marketing skills blossomed.

"I got a better feel for where to look for prospective clients, for how to get in the door," Sistrunk said. "I learned the proper way of putting together an ad; mine were too wordy."

Choe Enterprises is certified to contract with government agencies. It provides janitorial services for government agencies and private commerce in Texas, New Jersey, Hawaii and California. Most of the work is window cleaning and waxing floors, but Sistrunk keeps an open mind about what he can do.

"We also now have a contract at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery leveling and realigning headstones," he said.

Luper said many entrepreneurs, particularly those in the startup phase, launch a business without sufficient preparation. A common problem is starting without sufficient cash reserves to make it through the first year.

Referring to U.S. Census Bureau surveys comparing 1997 to 2002, Luper noted there are more Hispanic firms, but they are smaller and making less money. In 1997, San Antonio had 34,834 Hispanic-owned companies earning an average of $220,960 in annual revenue; by 2002, it was 37,745 firms making an average $175,404.

"Most of the time, they don't have a good plan," Luper said. "They just drift along without knowing the market and the competition."

The program will be Monday evenings and covers strategic planning, marketing, growing businesses and financial analysis. Guest speakers include bankers, lawyers, ad agency executives and certified public accountants. Students will finish class with a completed business plan.

To register, call Luper at (210) 458-2480.