Our health care system is broken, but for Virginia’s small, family businesses, health care reforms that saddle them with higher taxes and burdensome mandates would make things worse, not better. Unless changes lead to more affordable insurance, more choices for employers and employees, and more competition among health plans, reform legislation will hurt small business—and that, in turn, will hurt all of Virginia.

Entrepreneur Bob Cabaniss admits that he hasn’t been an easy client for his accountants at Keiter, Stephens, Hurst, Gary & Shreaves. Cabaniss is the owner of Williamsville Wellness, a treatment center for compulsive gamblers and alcoholics in Hanover County. But he has operated several other businesses over the years, including being a wine and beer wholesaler and a microbrewer.

Lawrence Chavis stops by Sally Bell’s Kitchen at least three times each week. “I wanted some homemade food, not fast food,“ said Chavis, who discovered the Southern eatery on West Grace Street near Virginia Commonwealth University’s academic campus about 20 years ago. Chavis has tasted almost all of the items at Sally Bell’s.

Employees: Three full-time and 19 part-time, including Martha Jones
  Location: 708 W. Grace St.
  Contact: (804) 644-2838 or http://www.sallybellskitchen.com

Emily Baish visited several day care centers earlier this year before deciding to place her two children in Tuckaway Child Development and Early Education Centers. “When I visited Tuckaway I felt comfortable,“ she said. “I could see my kids there.“ It’s important to Baish that the school has a caring atmosphere. “I have incredible trust in Tuckaway,“ she said. “My kids are happy and secure there so I am happy.“

Q:Given the tight money environment we are experiencing, how should one go about securing a business loan for a new venture?—Andrea F. Answer: Getting a small-business loan is not as easy as saying you have a great idea and holding out your hand. Though it is difficult to get a startup business loan without a proven track record, it’s not impossible. Here are six tips on how to improve your odds.

Edward Kassab wanted to find a way to make a difference—and give back. As a student at Penn State University, Kassab worked as an orderly in a nursing home as part of a community-service project. After receiving his master’s degree in vocational rehabilitation, he worked as a nursing-home administrator in Pennsylvania and North Carolina before moving in 1989 to Richmond, where he worked as an administrator for two long-term-care facilities.

Bobby Marchetti relies on Higgins & Gerstenmaier to come up with unique landscaping ideas for the shopping centers his Marchetti Properties is developing. “When you drive into the project, the first thing you see is the landscaping,“ Marchetti said. “Higgins & Gerstenmaier provide a great presentation. They are probably the most talented guys in Richmond.“

Be wary if planning to run your business Q:I have been out of work for more than nine months and have little hope of securing a job in the near future. I have been thinking of starting a business of my own and would appreciate any insights you can offer.—Philip C., Midlothian Answer: Philip, you have not indicated what kind of business you wish to start, so I will try to offer some general advice for your consideration.

Times sure have changed in the cross-promotions world. Years ago, when I taught the concept of cross promotions, it was simple: Noncompeting businesses promoted one another via usage of fliers or coupons, with the aim of sending customers back and forth. It was, and remains, one of the cheapest and most effective methods of increasing traffic for most small businesses.

Bob Williams had a time-sensitive construction project that needed to be built at a South Carolina shopping center 10 years ago. Williams hired EDC, the Chesterfield County-based general contracting and development management firm that specializes in retail and office construction, to handle the job. “They knocked that job off so fast. It was amazing,“ said Williams, the Southeast senior construction manager at Edens & Avant, the Columbia, S.C.-based owner and operator of shopping centers in 14 states, including Virginia.

Turnaround team helps businesses needing aid Q:My upholstery business is suffering in this economy. Is SCORE counseling just for startup businesses or is help also available to me?—James G., Richmond A: There is a misconception that SCORE’s volunteer time and monthly workshop content are devoted to clients who are thinking about starting a new business.

Atight economy can be a good time to start a business. Danielle Vallee, an Alexandria small-business consultant, pointed to a new Kauffman Foundation study that says that more than half of the companies on the 2009 Fortune 500 list and just under half of the 2008 Inc. list began during a recession or bear market. It supports the premise in her newly released book, “Whiz Biz in Changing Times,“ that economic downturns present new opportunities to start a business.

Rick Alvey’s passion for music serves as an inspiration for students at his Mechanicsville Music shop. Megan Adkins, 11, takes lessons there and is auditioning for the Richmond Youth Orchestra. She has been playing the violin since the second grade. “The people at Mechanicsville Music are the ones who encouraged Megan to pursue other avenues and try out for the orchestra,“ said her mother, Jennifer Adkins. “They knew it would end her lessons, but it was the next step.“

Bonnie Adelman delivered 10 cases of her homemade cheese spread to the Kroger store at The Shoppes at Bellgrade in Chesterfield County in late November 2006. By the end of the day, shoppers had snapped up all 120 jars. “We had nothing left,“ recalls her husband, Ron, of their inventory of Miss Bonnie’s Gourmet Pimento Cheese Spread. “Thanksgiving was the next day, but we had to postpone it [for ourselves] until Friday so that we could make more.“