As Obama Signs JOBS Act, Prosper Inc. Supports Startups and Small Businesses with One-to-One Mentoring Programs

A personalized e-commerce mentoring program helps new small business owners prosper with big revenue increases

SALT LAKE CITY--(BUSINESS WIRE)--President Barack Obama signed bipartisan jobs legislation last week that will be a “potential game changer” for startups and small businesses.

“We have been growing ever since, and recently hired a few people part-time to help us out with the added business.”

The JOBS Act—the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act—aims to ease access to money for entrepreneurs, including facilitating the practice of online “crowd-funding”—allowing all Americans to invest in new companies—and reducing the red tape involved in publicly selling stock.

Among those entrepreneurs applauding the JOBS Act are Justin and Ann Swank, a married couple from Plains, Kansas, and e-commerce students at Utah-based Prosper Inc., a leading one-to-one distance education company specializing in entrepreneurship and e-commerce, among other business disciplines.

“We started with Prosper in hopes of developing a part-time business,” said Justin Swank, a full-time paramedic. “Our Prosper coach began by guiding us through the basics of developing and marketing a website.”

“With Prosper’s help, we were able to launch our site pretty quickly,” affirmed Ann Swank, an elementary school teacher. “We have been growing ever since, and recently hired a few people part-time to help us out with the added business.”

The Swanks’ website, www.Fire-Gear.net, sells firefighting and EMS products. Last year, the site generated more than $45,000 in revenue. Today, Fire-Gear.net is on pace to achieve a 300 percent increase in revenue in 2012, having already grossed more than $50,000 in sales this year.

“At Prosper, we’ve helped thousands of working couples such as Justin and Ann Swank realize their dreams of growing a business or diversifying their income,” said Ethan Willis, Prosper co-founder and CEO and co-author with Randy Garn of the New York Times best seller Prosper: Create the Life You Really Want (Berrett-Koehler). “The economy may have its ups and downs but the success of our many of our students remains constant.”

Prosper Inc. is a global one-to-one distance education company for students seeking greater personal and financial prosperity. Founded in 1999, Prosper offers fully customized mentoring programs in real estate and stock market investing, entrepreneurship, e-commerce, personal finance, and personal development. For more information about Prosper programs, visit www.prospering.com.