Small Business Blog Posts

The good news is that most businesses follow the same core steps — but the details matter.
In this guide, we’ll break down everything you need to know about starting your own business.

Sam’s Club Point of Sale by Clover is a merchant services solution that resells Fiserv (formerly First Data) products. Previously known as Sam’s Club Merchant Services, it now operates under Clover while using Sam’s Club branding to attract merchants.

Costco Merchant Services is essentially a reseller of Elavon, one of the largest payment processors in the U.S. That means when you sign up through Costco, you’re really getting an Elavon merchant account — with Elavon handling the actual processing, customer service, and contracts.

My mission is to help them understand that we are bookmarkable. I get it. You get a point of sale system. You don’t need another product or service for six months, but then you end up running into a situation where you might need a loan or a lender. We’re here for that. We have that. We have the information that you need for that.

Vector Volcano is still Bend’s only classic arcade — and each game is picked and rotated with care. Come meet Pulliam and learn more about this thriving small business. 

With delicious cupcakes with a unique twist, if you are in Bend, a stop at the cupcake cafe is a must. Come meet Autumn and learn more about Ida’s Cupcakes!

Tomi Mart — Bend’s first Asian market, owned by Natasha Dempsey and Jessi Scott — is a feast for the eyes and taste buds. Stocked with treats, snacks, traditional favorites, and a ramen wall, the marketplace is a love letter to Asian culture and community (which are two important aspects of Dempsey and Scott’s business plan).

On the Main Street Mavericks trip to Central Oregon, we started our first interview of the day with Emily Head of The Nest Design Studio. Located right in downtown Sisters, Oregon, Emily’s interior design studio is a one-place stop for designing a space as unique as you are. Initially helping design homes as a partnership with her husband’s construction company, Emily ventured out on her own after the housing market collapse left her thinking about the future.

POS: Deena uses Clover POS (check out our review) to run her retail shop and when she goes on the road. She loves her Clover system and admits that having a dedicated rep who is committed to your business helps when she runs into any hiccups.

And I think everyone has different temperaments. You have to be a risk taker if you’re a small business owner, and that’s not the case for everyone. I do take risks. This was the first time that a risk didn’t pay off. So, it was a great learning experience for me to realize that it doesn’t always go the way you want it to. But I do like having the power to make the decisions.