By Prerna Manglani, BEAT reporter
BRUNSWICK, OH- Janice Jokkel grew up in an entrepreneurial family with her parents owning a business together. From a very young age, Janice saw both sides of entrepreneurship—the freedom and opportunity, but also the stress and struggle that come with it.
“I watched them carry so much of the business themselves, and I remember thinking that if I ever owned a business, I wanted to do things differently,” she said. “That curiosity about how business works and how they can work better has really followed me throughout my entire career.”
With more than 28 years of business ownership experience, Jokkel has turned the lessons she's learned into helping other entrepreneurs navigate the challenges of running and growing a business. In February 2026, she released her first book, The Missing Manual, which shares practical insights to help business owners work less, lead smarter, and build businesses that don't depend entirely on them.
Today, Jokkel’s company, The Biz Hive (431 West Liberty St., Medina), focuses on just that—helping entrepreneurs build stronger businesses without having to do everything themselves. From consultation and coaching to hands-on business support services, The Biz Hive provides its clients with strategies, resources, and people to help them operate more efficiently, increase revenue, and reduce the day-to-day demands of business ownership.
Jokkel said that many businesses today face common challenges: managing people, growing revenue, keeping operations running, and maintaining a personal life away from the business. The Biz Hive helps address those challenges through its three core pillars: Strategy. Support. Solutions. Services range from business guidance and operational improvements to hands-on sales, marketing, and administrative support. Whether an owner needs help generating leads, following up with customers, improving internal processes, or simply getting routine tasks off their plate, The Biz Hive can provide the people and resources to help get the work done.
Like every business, The Biz Hive has evolved from when it first started. In the beginning, it provided physical business resources—office space, meeting rooms, and a professional place where entrepreneurs could work. Today, those services remain, but The Biz Hive has expanded to become a more comprehensive business resource. Its approach is flexible, allowing owners to access the specific support they need without the commitment or expense of hiring additional full-time employees.
Jokkel says that what The Biz Hive does is best reflected in its tagline: “We Power Business Growth Together.” The word “Together” is the most important part.
Even though business owners are resourceful, Jokkel says, many try to do far too much themselves. Many business owners may be great at what they do, but suddenly they're also responsible for leading people, creating systems, selling, marketing, managing finances, and solving every problem that comes through the door.
“I wanted The Biz Hive to be the place that says, ‘You don’t have to figure all of this out by yourself,’” said Jokkel. “Growth happens when the right people, strong operations, good ideas, accountability, and support work together.”
For business owners who are stretched too thin, struggling to keep up, or ready to take their company to the next level, The Biz Hive offers a place to start. Sometimes the biggest step toward growth is recognizing that you don't have to do it alone.
To learn more about The Biz Hive and its business support services, visit www.thebiz-hive.com.
Prerna Manglani, Brunswick Middle School, is one of over fifty student “backpack journalists” (grades 6-12) in the award-winning BEAT Video Program. The program, celebrating its 25th year, is sponsored by Donut Land, Plum Creek Assisted Living Community, MODA Gifts, Scripps Howard Foundation and the Brunswick Rotary Club. Go to https://www.bcsoh.org/community/new-beat-site to learn more about the Program, or visit https://thebeat.viebit.com/?folder=ALL to view videos produced by the students.
PHOTOS: Jokkel working with client; Jokkel with BIZ Hive staff; New 2026 Biz Hive logo.