04/29/2002
Bobra Bush was fresh out of college and working for a telecommunications company when the idea to start her own business first crossed her mind."I was bored working for someone else," she says of her job selling telephone systems to large companies. "In the course of doing my job for clients, I would look at their telephone bills and realize what a mess they were. Many were being overcharged or paying for services they hadn't ordered, costing them hundreds -- even thousands -- of dollars."
With this knowledge and a single client in tow, Bush left her job and started Telcom Corporation, which audits the telephone bills of medium to large companies as well as governmental entities, in 1989. Today, she also operates a second company, TeLCare Corporation, which provides customer follow-up and retention services such as telephone satisfaction surveys and personalized greeting cards.
Running her own businesses spurred Bush's interest in politics. In addition to serving on Florida's NFIB Leadership Council, Bush actively campaigns for issues such as tort reform, healthcare mandates and fair taxation.
"Many of these same issues come up during every legislative session," she says. "It's a constant fight to maintain what I feel has become a more small business-friendly government here in Florida."
After years of campaigning for these issues, Bush decided to run a campaign of her own in 2000 when she made a bid for state representative. Though she didn't win, she feels her campaign was successful -- thanks in large part to NFIB, the organization she credits with educating her on the issues and encouraging her to run.
"NFIB is the main reason I feel my campaign was a success. I was able to raise consciousness in the business community about many of the issues that are so important to small business," she says. "I also got to know so many legislators through my campaign. Now I know I have an audience when I approach them about an NFIB issue."
Quick Facts:
Business Names: Telcom Corporation, www.telcomcorp.com
TeLCare Corporation, www.telcarecorp.com
Location: Boca Raton, Florida
Founded: 1989 & 1993
Number of employees: For Telcom Corporation, we have three employees, including myself. We have a more unique arrangement for TeLCare Corporation. In that business, we have five full-time employees, but we also hire homebound disadvantaged/disabled operators on a project basis. We try to find people who want to work, but may not be able to sit in an office all day long. They are wonderful help, and it allows them to feel they are contributing.
Is this a family business?
No, it's just me. My parents are silent directors, but they aren't involved in the day-to-day work of running the business.
What services do your businesses provide?
Telcom Corporation provides telecommunications consulting and auditing services exclusively to businesses and local governments throughout the nation. Typically, we work with clients to evaluate their current services and identify refund and savings opportunities on a contingency basis.
TeLCare Corporation provides a customer and employee retention services, including satisfaction and marketing surveys, and customer retention cards and letters. Our primary expertise is in telephone satisfaction surveys and marketing research for medium to large corporations.
Interesting changes in the life of your business:
When I first started Telcom Corporation, it was a very labor-intensive business. We needed 10 employees to audit our customer's phone bills. Today, we have automated the audit process by creating a custom program that allows three people to do the work of 10. With TeLCare, we had an old software program that required a lot of manual entries. We recently converted to a new system that automates more processes. I think the lesson here is that technology can really help small businesses, if you are committed to it and aren't afraid to make an initial investment.
From a legislative side, I believe state government has made tremendous strides in making life easier for small business owners. For example, the state has lowered the corporate filing fees for small business, and we can now file the Uniform Business Report online. Also, there are more exemptions for the accounts receivables intangible tax that hit many businesses hard.
Why did you join NFIB?
In 1995, I attended the White House Conference on Small Business as a delegate of the National Association of Women Business Owners. While I was there, I got to know the NFIB staff and realized that they fought effectively for many of the issues that I feel passionately about. They asked me to review a telecommunications bill they were involved in, and I've been an active member ever since. NFIB really takes action on issues important to small business.
How have you been involved in grassroots activism?
I travel to Tallahassee when the Legislature is in session to lobby for the NFIB ballot issues. I'm also in close contact with not only my representatives -- but also other legislators that I know -- throughout the year. As a member of Florida's NFIB Leadership Council, I keep up with all of the issues and work closely with local business leaders through other associations to rally support. Unfortunately, there seems to be a lot of apathy in South Florida regarding public policy. Right now, I'm focusing on educating business owners and considering forming a local Action Council.
What have you done through NFIB to help small business?
With the help of NFIB, we just defeated a bill that would have revoked the Florida law that says service-based businesses do not have to collect and pay sales tax. If this law had passed, it would mean that businesses like mine would have to start keeping track of and remitting sales taxes, which would be a huge administrative burden. I worked very hard to persuade my state senator to vote against this measure, and I was very proud that it was defeated.
What are your top legislative concerns?
There are so many issues important to small business. I feel very strongly about tort reform legislation, which was passed by the Legislature, but was defeated in Florida courts. I believe we really need a comprehensive bill that levels the playing field for business owners by removing employer liability and limiting frivolous lawsuits. I also lobby hard against adding more healthcare mandates.
Why do you like being a small business owner?
I love the challenge. I'm the kind of person who needs to be challenged all the time -- and this is a constant challenge. Each day is different. There's always something new to work around!
