According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, small businesses make up 99.9% of all U.S. businesses. What’s more, Utah has been credited as the most pro-small business state in America, thanks to our state’s pro-business initiatives and support systems. Each month, the Salt Lake Chamber will highlight a small business in Utah to emphasize its [...]

According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, small businesses make up 99.9% of all U.S. businesses. What’s more, Utah has been credited as the most pro-small business state in America, thanks to our state’s pro-business initiatives and support systems. Each month, the Salt Lake Chamber will highlight a small business in Utah to emphasize its importance in our economy and encourage local support.   For many entrepreneurs, the hardest part of running a successful business is starting it — identifying a need, finding a customer base and marketing a product. But for Carl and Lori Churchill, founders of Alpha Coffee, their small business seemed to fall into their laps just when they needed it most.

Small businesses play many important roles in our society. They encourage culture and engagement opportunities, create unique shopping and dining experiences and provide essential community services. In the case of Brighter Futures, Inc., small businesses can even provide children in the foster care system with what they need most: a family.

Every business has an origin story, and LitJoy is no exception: It all began with a book club. In 2016, Kelly Dearth was the organizer of a longtime neighborhood book club, and Alix Lewis-Burrows owned a blogging business. As fate would have it, the two connected at a conference and hatched a plan — a plan to create a book club in a box.