Painting curb numbers in the summer heat may sound like a brutal way to make a buck, but for young entrepreneurs, Bailey and Reese Kirkland, it’s the perfect summer job. The twin sisters started their business in mid-May. They had little input and a lot of support from their family. Think of it as a summer gig to make a little pocket money. So far, these young ladies surpassed their goal of a couple of hundred dollars by a long shot, with earnings of a couple of thousand. “The idea

Carrie Turner has always had an affinity for raising plants, but it turns out she’s also got a green thumb when it comes to growing a business. Turner owns The Plant House in Martinez, a mecca for those who love house plants, and the business is thriving as much as the plants she sells. But Turner, who is a hairstylist by trade, is an “accidental entrepreneur.” It started with her love for plants. “I’ve always loved working in the yard,” she said. “Any place we’ve lived, I always tore out

What do you do when the business you started, the one that brought you success, begins to sink? For Onnie Sanford, it meant reinventing her business. Sanford began and operated Paleo Num Yums five years ago in The Centre at Furys Ferry Road in Martinez with paleo diet meal plans. For four years, she rode a wave of success. Then things changed. The normal August and fall boost her business usually experienced didn’t materialize, despite tweaks to advertising and scrutiny of P&L statements. Then, the anticipated January spike in business