Obviously, Indy Maven is the premier space for business baddies. Whether you’re reaching new heights in the corporate world, growing as a passionate nonprofit thought leader or taking the term multi-hyphenate to new levels, it’s always a good practice to step back and appreciate where we are because of, well, where we are.
In 2024, Indiana was named the second-best state in the US to start a business. (It’s ranked first in years before.) The metrics used include business costs, business climate, financial accessibility, economy, and workforce. And, as somebody who recently read a one-hundred-fifty-seven-page data analysis report on the state of the workforce for a job interview, I can tell you things are looking bright in the nine counties that make up most of central Indiana.
If you are thinking about starting a business as a side or full-time gig, let me tell you why that’s an absolutely awesome idea. First, there are so many resources available to get you off the ground. When Kristin and I started Orangily, we utilized a few of these and it gave us so much to think about!
Here is a micro list of resources that helped us.
SCORE INDIANAPOLIS
SCORE has it all, workshops, mentors, templates, and more. Kristin and I utilized SCORE to meet with a group of thoughtful individuals on a few Zoom calls. This is where we learned the term ‘value proposition’ and why we feel so smart using it at every possible opportunity from here on out. Your ‘value prop’ as they say in the biz, is your ‘x-factor’, it’s what sets you apart. For us, it was our passion and extensive knowledge of alcohol-free products, their makers, and use cases. We also got the advice to start small, which we did not use.
SHOPIFY
So, if you have heard my sister Kristin present on anything business-related, the first thing I guarantee she’s going to talk about is Shopify. We use it for our POS, our marketing, our data, and even our capital to grow. They have blogs, templates, and fresh ideas that come out all the time. Our recommendation: even if you have been using Shopify for a while, don’t sleep on their newsletters, new features can make a big difference!
YOUR LOCAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
I used to think of chambers as weird stuffy places where older white men go to have a good time. But, since we joined OneZone, our local chamber, we’ve had the chance to be involved in so many conversations and learning sessions, that I feel engaged as a community member. To be honest, owning your own business can feel a bit isolating at times, so joining a chamber can be a great way to learn more about issues in your neighborhood. Bonus points for joining their women’s group.
INDY MAVEN
Long-time reader, first-time poster! I’m always reading the posts on the Indy Maven social circle, but my goal for 2025 is to be more engaged. I want to be better about asking for help and also chiming in when I have thoughts. How are you going to be a better/different Maven this year?
XBE/ DIVERSE SUPPLIERS
One of the coolest and most interesting roads we traveled down in business ownership is becoming a certified Women’s Business Enterprise with the City of Indianapolis Office of Minority and Women Business Development. To be honest, I thought getting certified as a women-owned business meant that I got a sticker for my front door and a bunch of feel-good vibes. Wow, I could not have been more misguided.
Last November, I enrolled in a six-week course through OneZone on how to go through the XBE application process. Attending weekly classes, I learned about the certification process, but also why I would want to and what it’s all about. Being a certified XBE, or women, minority or veteran-owned business, can be advantageous, if it makes sense with your services.
If working with larger entities, like local government contracts, healthcare, and universities, then I can’t recommend this enough! Because we opened a wholesale non-alcoholic beverage side of our business, we felt that it could bring in some larger accounts, so we moved forward with the process.
DIVERSE SUPPLIERS
Large corporations are incentivized to work with women, minority, and veteran-owned businesses. It helps them land bigger contracts when they can prove they are working with ‘diverse suppliers’. This means business is good for everyone! Go Indiana!
Once our application was approved, a whole new world opened for Orangily. We started attending local diverse supplier fairs all over the city. Again, this is why Indiana is an amazing place to have a business. Other cities and states are not organizing events at this number and scale!
NETWORKING
At the end of the day, it kind of comes down to networking. You pound the pavement, you meet people for coffee and lunch, and you get your elevator pitch perfected. The more people you can connect with, the better your chances are that someone is going to connect the dots of your business and someone’s opportunity.
Opening a business can be intimidating, isolating, and sometimes scary. Collaborating with other businesses and getting out to meet more people is the antidote for all of that. You will find people, networks, and resources that will help and support you along the way.
At Orangily, we collaborate with women-led businesses all the time! We even have an event space for people offering professional development, art-making, and more. We have an open entry area where we hosted a cold plunge tub recently! We love to collaborate!
There are countless resources available for business owners in Indianapolis and I only named a few. At the last diverse supplier event I attended, I remember the speaker saying “If you want to go fast go alone, if you want to go far, go together”. With business ownership, I think that is the absolute truth. Use resources, meet people, and help each other grow. It’s the Indy Maven way.
SUPPORT LOCAL JOURNALISM
All of our content—including this article—is entirely free. However, we’d love it if you would please consider supporting our journalism with an Indy Maven Membership.
P.S. Sign up for our weekly newsletter with stories like this delivered to your inbox every Thursday!
