While the number of women- and minority-owned small businesses continues to grow nationwide, other groups of small business owners quickly catching up are law enforcement officers and firefighters. In response to this rapid growth of public servant-owned businesses, Cops and Firefighters in Business has become the fastest growing network of law enforcement officers and firefighters who own their own business.
Founded in 2000 by retired Miami Beach police officer Dean Adler, CFB Network provides affordable marketing support for the business owners, and a comprehensive resource of businesses owned or operated by public servants nationwide.
CFB Network originally focused on providing a one-stop web site for businesses owned by law enforcement officers and firefighters in Florida. Totally funded through the growth of Adler's mortgage business, CFB Network enabled police officers and firefighter entrepreneurs to advertise their businesses for free.
"Today's business world continues to see the rise of the small business entrepreneur. And the fastest growing group of entrepreneurs is made up of retired law enforcement officers and firefighters, or public safety professionals who are also hard-working entrepreneurs working to grow their business when they're off duty," said Adler.
"Not only do the business owners enjoy being able to work with other businesses owned by people they respect and can work with, but CFB Network also provides a resource for the general public to locate businesses in their towns or states owned by law enforcement officers or firefighters whom they already trust."
At the beginning of 2008, Adler relocated CFB Network to a new location in Plantation, Florida to house CFB Network's growing in-house services. Those services include a title insurance company; a real estate referral network; a full-service insurance agency providing life, health and dental coverage; and a reverse mortgage division to supplement the already successful mortgage business. In addition, CFB Network has established relationships with retirement planners specializing in the Drop Plan and retirement for police officers and firefighters.
CFB Network originates mortgage loans through the national mortgage company Envision Lending Group. Envision currently services over 40 states, with over 200 lenders including 90 who provide FHA or VA loans, and ten who provide reverse mortgages.
Soon CFB Network's electronic shopping mall will also allow members access to travel services, homeowners and auto insurance, identity theft coverage, and other services. "The CFB Network's website makes it easy for users to quickly locate the businesses owned or operated by law enforcement officers, and firefighters, as well as their family members," said Adler.
Business owners can choose to sign up for three membership programs: Bronze, Silver, or Gold Memberships. The Bronze Membership is free, and allows business owners to list their services or products, link to their web site and promote their business or service. The Silver or Gold memberships provide additional value-added services for marketing their business, plus CFB-sponsored services available only to those level members.
For more information about CFB Network, visit: http://www.cfbnetwork.com/
