Business Description
ICONIC STAFF SOLUTIONS (ICONIC) is a double minority owned company as it is owned and operated by a woman of African-American descent. Iconic Staff Solutions was founded by Phyllisia Taylor in June 2016, in the Chicago neighborhood of Rogers Park. ICONIC offers a unique niche in placement of Quality Assurance professionals as its candidates are certified in Process Improvement, Continuous Process Improvement, and Project Management. These professionals hold such credentials as Lean Six Sigma, Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL), and Project Management Professional (PMP).
I decided to start this business after realizing my professional peers needed someone to market them as newly certified professionals and the credentials we hold are in the top 10 certifications sought after by businesses. The staffing and recruiting industry is a booming business. Many businesses are outsourcing their Human Resource needs to staffing and recruitment specialists. These companies rely on the expertise of staffing professionals to provide rigorous and comprehensive recruiting practices that will ensure the right fit for a variety of short-term or long-term positions.
The future goals for my business include becoming registered as a Woman Business Enterprise, Woman Own Small Business and an Economically Disadvantaged Woman Owned Small Business to acquire city and government contracts. ICONIC aims to grow and eventually expand nationally then internationally. Iconic Staff Solutions aspires be a cornerstone in the Chicago North Shore community. I am most proud that my business will match great talent with great companies to create great solutions.
It is the corporate responsibility of ICONIC to close the gender gap for women in the STEM industries and leadership roles in the business community. As a woman in both of these environments, I have experienced being pigeon holed in a position until I had to change jobs to get more experience, denied promotions, overlooked for leadership roles, and pay gaps between me and my male peers performing the same job.
What is the purpose of this loan?
I decided to start my own staffing business during the summer of 2016. My resources were limited and my credit needs to be rebuilt. I need funds to get the basic start up necessities. The Kiva loan will enable me to pay for start up expenses such as registering my business as an S-corp with the State of Illinois $325, business license with the City of Chicago $200, virtual office space $99, Applicant Tracking Software $99, Marketing – logo $100, business cards $175, website hosting $150, registering with the chamber of commerce $350, and training $1000. I am a member of a unique entrepreneur community, designed specifically for entrepreneurs who have started a staffing and recruiting business, Staffingpreneurs Academy (SPA). My training will be provided by the Founder of SPA, Dee Williams, who is the Industry’s Best Coach & Trainer – the #1 person to call for recruitment coaching & training. I expect the purchases to increase revenue and profit through my business primarily being acknowledged as a legal entity to conduct business. Secondly marketing would increase revenue in my business by allowing me to recruit candidates and attract clients and lastly training would ensure my skills are nurtured to produce a return on investment. The Kiva loan would be a great step in rebuilding my credit.