Having thought through the issue, you conclude the time is right for you to start a business. Your business idea is to open a flower shop that sells floral arrangements for the home. Currently, when customers in your area want floral arrangements their only option is a luxury supermarket. You have heard customers complain about the high cost of the supermarket's floral arrangements. You know you can create similar floral arrangements at a much lower price, while still making a decent profit. This is a business you can start yourself or with one other person, and the technology needed to run the business already exists. Now that you have an idea for what type of business you want to start, you begin working on your business plan. Your plan will include five key parts:

An executive summary

A product description and market analysis

A marketing plan

An operations plan

Financial projections

As you examine the financial component of your business plan, you realize your personal funds are not sufficient to get started. You recognize the potential for growth in your business is low for the first few years, but you move forward anyway hoping to secure the funds to get started.

As you talk to others about securing startup financing, a family friend asks if you have considered opening a franchise of

$1-80$o$-$FLOWERS.com. Recognizing there are advantages to opening a franchise, you consider the recommendation.

You discuss your entrepreneurial ideas with a few friends who may have experiences that apply to your situation. Each friend updates you on their career.

Select the friends below who are working in a small business.

a$.$ Jonathon works at a branch campus of Microsoft. This branch has only $50$ employees.

b$.$ Jacquil started a non$-$profit foundation to help the homeless in his town. He enjoys helping people get new starts and improve their lives. Although Jacquil currently only has two employees, he hopes to $4$ xpand soon.

c$.$ Alexa purchased an ice cream truck. She and her husband operate the business May through September. Alexa enjoys meeting people through the ice cream truck, but she said it is frustrating to drive into a neighborhood and see that another ice cream truck was just there.

d$.$ Enrique runs his tax accountant business from his home office. He hasn't hired additional employees because, although he is extremely busy January through April, the business is slow the rest of the year.