Open for Business: Bellwether Learning Center

Bellwether Learning Center opened March 23 at 1740 S. Glenstone, Ste. M, under new ownership, said owner Amber Hainline (pictured). The business has operated in Springfield for about 25 years, she said, and was run by its previous owner, Julie Buff, for the last 10 years. Educational assistance centers on tutoring and remediation services for kindergarten through college-age students, she said. Services include helping students with standardized test taking, working with dyslexic or attention-deficit disorder students, and tutoring in subject areas such as English, math, social studies and the sciences. Hainline paid $41,000 for the business and anticipates 2004 revenues of about $120,000. The deal was brokered by David Hamm of Sunbelt Business Advisors. Hainline has a one-year lease with Glenstone Square for $1,275 per month. Her client base ranges from 30 to 50 students and new clients typically result from referrals. Cost for tutoring is about $25 an hour, and remediation programs cost about $40 an hour. Hainline employs four part-time instructors. Hours of operation are noon-8:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and by appointment.

Monett YMCA opened as a membership-based YMCA in Monett's former Armory Building at 205 Euclid Avenue, said Branch Director Derrick Dohmen, who hopes to bring in about $100,000 by the end of 2004. It has three full-time employees and five part-time employees, he added. Amenities include free weights, strength equipment, a joint basketball and volleyball gym, a fitness area, an aerobic studio, locker rooms, child-watch area and game center. Monett YMCA offers group exercise classes, as well as youth and adult sports programs. Remodeling involved painting, adding mirrors, lighting alterations and flooring changes, Dohmen said. Use of the city-owned building should continue free of charge as long as there is community utilization, he said. If it proves successful, a capital campaign would likely be started to generate money for a new facility. Dohmen expects the site to draw members from about a 10-mile radius. Hours are 5 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 5 a.m.-7 p.m. Friday, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m.-5 p.m. Sunday.

U.S. Lawns of Springfield opened March 1 at 184 Mission Home Road in Marshfield. The full-service lawn and landscaping service is a franchise owned by Carl Rader. He said about 80 percent of his business is the monthly maintenance of commercial property, with a smaller amount dedicated to residential sites. Rader spent $29,000 on the franchise. A 4 percent annual royalty paid back to the company also is part of his franchise contract, he said. Business plans forecast 2004 revenues at about $120,000 with two full-time employees and one part-time employee, Rader said, adding his five-year plan envisions 20 employees with about $800,000 in annual revenues. Hours of operation are 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday.