Steve Green is a most unusual handyman. He doesn’t come to your house, he doesn’t build fences and he can’t do electrical work. Yet, he wants to be the first guy you call if you wantthose things done. Green owns Hocoa, a service network company in Henrico County that matches members with contractors. Members, who pay an $89 membership fee, call him when they have work to be done on their homes. He then matches the job with screened contractors.

Steve Green is a most unusual handyman. He doesn’t come to your house, he doesn’t build fences and he can’t do electrical work. Yet, he wants to be the first guy you call if you wantthose things done. Green owns Hocoa, a service network company in Henrico County that matches members with contractors. Members, who pay an $89 membership fee, call him when they have work to be done on their homes. He then matches the job with screened contractors.

When Colleen Crone Moore lost her job in late 2007, she said there weren’t many work options for her.

Midlothian Turnpike is not the first thing that pops into your mind when someone uses the word “posh.“ Gray Maher, Debbie Brooks and Amy Satterfield are hoping to change that. The three women own a home décor and design business called, you guessed it, Posh. The store is both a retail business that carries merchandise as divergent as couches and candles and a full-service home-design studio.

First cafés began charging $2 for cup of coffee. Now a store in Richmond-area is asking $2.95 for a cupcake. Not just any old cupcake though, said Christina Pearl man. Pearlman owns Two Sweet with sister-in-law Debra Pearlman. The shop off Lauderdale Drive in western Henrico County specializes in gourmet cupcakes. Each day the owners make 12 flavors in three categories—gourmet filled, classic and kids couture.

Working out of her Chesterfield County kitchen, Bernie Richardson has turned her hobby into a business poised on breaking into the big time. Richardson owns Bernie’s Baked Goods. The company, which started about eight years ago after friends told Richardson she should charge for what she bakes, sells made-to-order cakes, pies, cookies and wedding cakes.

Working out of her Chesterfield County kitchen, Bernie Richardson has turned her hobby into a business poised on breaking into the big time. Richardson owns Bernie’s Baked Goods. The company, which started about eight years ago after friends told Richardson she should charge for what she bakes, sells made-to-order cakes, pies, cookies and wedding cakes.