Ask the Patch Pro: Local Experts Answer Questions About Starting Your Own Business

Our panel of experts are waiting in the comments to answer your questions about starting a business in the latest installment of Ask the Patch Pro.

It's time for another edition of Ask the Patch Pro, where each week we tackle a different topic and open up the comments section for questions. Our team of experts stop in to help you out and answer your questions. This week we're talking business. Thinking about starting your own business, but not quite sure where to start? Patch wants to help you find answers to your questions this week, but we needed some help. We've compiled a team of experts to help us out. Meet the experts: Have a question? Ask our experts in the comment section below! 

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Robin Tidwell

8:25 am on Monday, March 4, 2013

I don't see the benefit of two separate checking accounts, just more fees for the bank and more work for you and your partner. As for the phone - sounds to me like more of an expense again. Even if Charter doesn't charge a fee for this, if you're using a cell as a business phone why would you want it to ring to your home? In my experience, most people answer a home phone with "hello" which, by …   more ›

Not a Fit Day Out for BBQ Pork or Chicken

Pik-A-Bone BBQ calls it a day after wind and cold snowy weather had its way with its tent.

The Pick-A-Bone BBQ tent on the parking lot of the Gas 'n' Stuff gas station and convenience store, 2599 Highway 141, Fenton, home of the famous pink elephant, was in disarray Thursday morning as the strong wind that blew in winter left it a shambles. Word on the inside at Gas and Stuff was that the BBQ smokers likely would be fired up again Friday morning to serve all of those who stop in for their regular taste of the BBQ pork or chicken the Pick-a-Bone guys are known for.

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Can’t Bake? Buy Your Holiday Cakes and Pies from These Local Bakers

This holiday season you can treat your family and friends to some of the tastiest treats that our award winning local bakers can provide.

If you’re all thumbs in the kitchen, have no fear—local bakeries are here! Patch checked out three local bakers who are offering delicious pies, cakes and cookies for the holiday season. All the items these bakers offer are prepared in house and fresh. Jilly’s Café in High Ridge: You may not expect to find home baked pies at a steakhouse, but Jilly’s offers a wide range of tasty flavors. The pies are not on the regular menu, but they are baked with loving care from the restaurant’s own baker, Dana Gisi. Pies are $20 each and can be picked up as late as Dec. 24, but you must order by Dec. 20. If you have another date in mind, Jilly’s can bake a pie with a 48 hour turn around. Flavors: Carmel Apple, Makers Mark Pecan, Key Lime, Coconut Cream…

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Businesses, Business Leaders Recognized by Fenton Chamber

A variety of businesses were honored at the annual awards banquet of the Fenton Area Chamber of Commerce.

The Fenton Area Chamber of Commerce recognized leading businesses and business people at its 2012 awards banquet Wednesday. The award recipients were: Small Business of the Year: Baumhaus designs Mid-Size Business of the Year: Drury Hotels Large Business of the Year: Walmart Supercenter, Fenton Ambassador of the Year: Russ Ahlheim of Ad Source One Volunteers of the Year: Deb Bokamper, Decorating Den Interiors, and Joe Fischer, Jr. and David Christoff Fischer-Christoff Independent Asset Consultants. Chamber Spirit Award: Lisa Huseman and Jen McCook, Z Total Body, LLC. Board Member of the Year: Scott Borlinghaus, Fabick CAT.

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Maggie's Lunchbox Has the Mostess Cupcakes

The Fenton restaurant is filling a gap created by the Hostess bakery shutdown.

With the Hostess bakery shutting down due to labor problems, leaving sweet treat eaters in a bind without any Twinkies or CupCakes to consume, the bakers at Maggie's Lunchbox, 867 Horan, Fenton, have partially filled the gap. Displayed large and proud at the restaurant's front counter are what it calls Mostess Cupcakes. The familiar treat is larger than the Hostess version, but the chocolate treat sports the familiar twirling design on top of rich chocolate icing that covers the top. The size makes it more than just a snack cake, but its appearance promises mouth-watering yummy goodness. The Mostess Cupcakes are $2.50 apiece and can be ordered as a nostalgic Christmas gift item as long as it's ordered a day in advance.

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Cheryl Jaycox The HIVE44 Business Coworking Community

1:55 pm on Wednesday, December 5, 2012

If you have not check out Maggie's Lunch box you are MISSING out!!Not only are they the #1 favorite of the HIVE44 Coworking Community Members for thier fabulous lunches and daily specials! The amazing desserts that Ben and Kari offer are out of this world and actually put Hostess to shame....Hostess wishes they had sweet treats like Maggie's!!   more ›

SCORE Helps Business Owners

No, there's not a catch. SCORE's experienced mentors will help you take your business to the next level.

When it comes down to it, behind just about every small business is an entrepreneur hoping to turn their passion into a paycheck. But, as many wise business advisers have noted: Hope is not a strategy. Business owners need support to turn dreams into reality. That's why Patch is pleased to announce a new partnership with SCORE, a nonprofit organization with 12,000 business experts nationwide who provide free mentoring to small business owners. The partnership makes sense because we believe that when local commerce grows, the whole community gets stronger. Patch already provides free listings for local businesses and other tools to help build local brands. Whether you're a 10-year-old jewelry designer or a 79-year-old who carves wood knives…

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Vote for St. Louis' Readers' Choice 2012 Winners

You get to decide who is named Readers' Choice. Click on the categories below and vote for your favorites.

There is a lot to celebrate about St. Louis—great family-friendly activities and great local businesses. But who do you think is the best?  Help Patch determine the best of the best by voting for your favorites in each one of the categories below. Click on the links under each category and vote in the poll attached to each article. Cast your vote by August 17 and help us decide who's best. Whichever business gets the most votes will be named the Readers' Choice winner. Businesses were added to polls following an earlier nomination period. If you want to help make a case for your favorite business, be sure to add a comment and tell your friends on Facebook. Health & Beauty Food & Drink Kids & Family Services Entertainment Automotive

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Who Do You Trust?

Who Do You Trust? Veterinarian Edition

Who do you call on when your pet needs reliable medical care?

Two scenarios: 1. You're at home when the family dog comes in from outside and is noticeably limping and obviously in pain. 2. You arrive home from work and discover the cat has made several messes in the house and is laying on the floor in a lethargic state. In both situations, a veterinarian could be needed, but who do you call? When you pet needs to be cared for, who do you trust? That's the topic of this column, making it's debut today on Fenton-High Ridge Patch. We want to help find the most trusted people and places in town and we hope you will share you expertise with us and with your neighbors. Because Fenton-High Ridge Patch has a seriously extensive business directory, we want all of our readers to benefit from your experiences …

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High Ridge Business Profile

It's All in the Cards for This Game Boy

Donnie Binz’s shop is a place where fantasy gamers can add to their card collection or just hang out.

Donnie Binz has been collecting trading cards since he was a little kid. He started with traditional sports cards with his dad, who owned a baseball card shop. When gaming cards were introduced in the 1990s, he was instantly hooked. Binz has been playing Magic, The Gathering and Yu-Gi-Oh! since those games first came out in 1993 and 1996 respectively. To play, gamers collect the trading cards in order to build a powerful deck and challenge their friends. Each card has a detailed illustration of a monster, spell or weapon with a list of statistics that show how the card is played. Magic was the first game of its kind and is produced by the same company that publishes Dungeons and Dragons. Last summer Binz opened Mr. D’s Gaming and Cards in …

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Fenton Business Profile

Neighbor’s Hobby Creates Delicious Salsa

A local salsa and pickle company was born after two friend’s gardens produced an abundance of tomatoes.

Fenton neighbors Joel Austin and John Sikorski grow tomatoes, hot peppers and cucumbers in a large garden that straddles both of their backyards. One year’s bumper crop paved the way for their salsa and pickle business, Two Men and a Garden. They converted their wealth of tomatoes into salsa and started giving it out as Christmas gifts to their friends and family. The salsa was so good they were encouraged to make more and sell it. Austin said the salsa business is really just a hobby--and a way to support their gardening habit. They make and promote the salsa in their free time. Since they've outgrown the capacity of their home kitchens they borrow a friend's restaurant kitchen and make huge batches on Sunday mornings. Two Men and a …

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