Stephen Brandon and Shelley Crombach with their Health in Focus team.

By Amanda Kuhnert

As an entrepreneur, it’s easy to lose sight of your business plan after the early stages of ownership, when daily operations start to overshadow long-term goals. But this is a missed opportunity, explained Stephen Brandon, who co-owns Health in Focus, a chiropractic care center in Shelburne, Vt., with his spouse Shelley Crombach. The couple has been working consistently with Steve Densham, an advisor with the Vermont Small Business Development Center (VtSBDC), since 2012 when they first purchased their business.

“Steve taught us that the magic is when you consistently use your plan,” Stephen said. “As you get into it and realize that some of the things you had planned for were not 100 percent accurate, you can go back to VtSBDC and meet with them and work with what’s real.”

Stephen said that when they were initially buying their business, they hadn’t even purchased a home yet. “Steve helped us very quickly gain some wherewithal—from the financing of the business to the finances of the business. He really brought us from excited practitioners to people who could run a successful business.”

Over the years, Stephen and Shelley met regularly with Steve to navigate challenges and fine-tune their business plan. They’re now working with him on the next phase of their business journey—expanding into a larger space that will support team growth and make room for community education programs.

“Steve has been connecting us with people in both the development and financing worlds, all while helping us really drill down on the financial side of everything,” Stephen said.

But for Stephen and Shelley, Steve’s value goes beyond practical advice. “Just as meaningful are the moments when Steve tells a story from his own business experience—and I realize, oh, that is relatable.” Stephen said these anecdotes play an important role in helping people like him—practitioners and artisans—grow into skilled businesspeople, as well.

“Although I once wanted a master’s degree in business,” he said, “I’ve realized that what I need is somebody who can teach me in a way that I can understand and help me excel at what I do. And Steve has done that.”

Reflecting on the evolution of their business, Stephen said there were times when he and Shelley forgot to ask for help. But he advised other entrepreneurs, “VtSBDC is here to support you at every stage—reach out even if you’re not sure what to ask.”

For more info: vtchiropractors.com.