Gail Ambrosius is one of ten 2008 Dane County Small Business Award winners recognized at a banquet on July 13. For Ambrosius this award is proof that hard work really does pay off.

“It’s not easy starting a business. It’s nice to have recognition that I’m doing the right things,” said Ambrosius.”I’m achieving my goals. I’m able to employ people, give back to the community.  All that really feels wonderful.”

For Ambrosius the idea of starting her own chocolate-making business wouldn’t let go. When she was laid off of her job as a cartographer, she again thought of her passion. In 2004 Ambrosius turned that passion into a business. Since then Gail Ambrosius hand-made chocolates have become a familiar treat in Madison and beyond.

To master her chocolate-making techniques, Ambrosius studied the art in France with renowned French chocolatiers. To prepare herself for starting a business, she turned to the University of Wisconsin-Madison Small Business Development Center (SBDC).

“I didn’t really have any business training. I had that entrepreneurial spirit, but not a lot of the knowledge to back it up. So I researched UW SBDC and signed up for several classes,” recalls Ambrosius.

One of the classes Ambrosius took covered writing a business plan.

“That was a major class, really beneficial,” said Ambrosius. “It took me three or four months to write my business plan, but it made me incrementally look at every step that I needed to go through: how to price my product, who is my target market, how to market. It really helps you formulize everything in your head.”

After she completed the SBDC classes, Ambrosius was assigned a mentor, whom she contacted frequently in the first few years of running her business.

“They (SBDC)were helpful in pointing me in the right direction or sitting down with me to look at the numbers, cash flow, proformas – all those terms that go over my head,” she noted.

Ambrosius is particularly proud of being able to employ and provide benefits for 10 employees. She plans to continue growing her business and producing a high-quality product.

“Do I open another store or do I just expand the product line? How do I reach out to more markets?  I’m not sure what the next step is,” said Ambrosius.

”There are so many things to look at. What I’ve learned from the SBDC is to really do your homework. I’m cautious. I really want to look at all my options.”