APIS BUSINESS SOLUTIONS, LLC - OUR STORY...

Apis Business Solutions, LLC was started in August 2008. Of course, looking back that was not the best time to start a new business venture. However, the business founders, Suzy Schutz and Nancy Barnett, decided they had a choice to make in this new and difficult business environment. We believed the choice was to be fearful or fearless.  We chose the latter "fearless".  We believed that our services were even more vital to small business owners and entrepreneurs.  Truly understanding the numbers of their business not only empowers the business owner or entrepreneur, but enables them to make better strategic decisions in order to start and grow their business and contribute to their community's economic recovery."

When we founded the company, at least three things were clear to us:

  We had the passion and expertise to make the business successful, and

  Most business owners do not start their own business because they "love" accounting and bookkeeping, yet effectively managing their financials is essential to their initial and continued success. Organized and complete financials mean access to funding, better cash management, and better opportunity for success.

  We could not build this business alone.

   In June 2009, we were honored to be named one of the 10 winners nationwide in Intuit/QuickBooks® “Power to Get More Done” stimulus grant competition.  Apis Business Solutions was chosen from more than 700 applicants from across the country because of our professionalism and our willingness to give back to the community. 

We were judged on three criteria:

  The actual business model of the company;

  Having the expertise to make the company successful; and

  The ability to offer employment in our community.

This prestigious award included $10,000 in Intuit/QuickBooks® products and services, which we used to help other Colorado entrepreneurs grow their businesses.  The award validated our business model and gave us courage to move forward.

We began working with the consultants at the Denver Metro Small Business Development Center.  They were instrumental in helping us develop our marketing strategy and stay focused on the established goals. We volunteered to teach at the SBDC as well and today Nancy is a part-time SBDC consultant for start-ups and both Nancy and Suzy teach financial management to small business owners and entrepreneurs.

We surrounded ourselves with other professionals in the Denver community who are truly advocates for their clients.  We built a relationship with the Office of Economic Development and several community groups in the Denver area. We not only believed in the "pay forward" attitude, we did it every day.

  In May 2011 we were honored as one of three finalists for the “Emerging Business of the Year” award sponsored by the Denver Metro Chamber. As an advocate for small business success and growth in the Denver Metro Community, we are honored to be recognized as a "Small Business Making a Difference."