Danelle Weaver came to the SBDC with the idea of opening a private, non-franchise pack and ship store in Aledo, Texas. All the research indicated that this should be a successful venture, so the SBDC helped her create a sound business plan while she networked with and obtained advice from experienced people in this line of business. With the plan in hand, she went out seeking financing but, for one reason or another, was unable to find a local lender that was willing to help her venture. Although this slowed her down, it did not deter her resolve and she soon found a way to boot-strap the business using her own funds. She has now been open and operating for just over two months, during which time she has more than doubled the gross revenue projections in the business plan, while at the same time lowering her operating costs by about $2,000/month below the expected levels. In short, she exceeded all expectations and is on her way to a very successful first year.
