Success Stories

Buffy Hanson is a former preschool director who had a dream of owning a bakery. She was referred to the Grayson College Small Business Development Center (SBDC) to learn what she needed to do to start a business. In June 2011, she contacted the SBDC and began working toward her dream of opening a bakery.

Experience in the industry provided her with the baking skills she needed to create an excellent product. However, she also needed to know how to legally start and operate a retail business. With the help of Counselor Karina Alvarez, Ms. Hanson learned about market research, business structures, registrations, licensing, tax issues, developing a business plan, projecting startup and operating costs and securing financing. As with most startup businesses, securing financing was the most difficult challenge in opening the business. Using personal savings along with lots of “sweat equity” and volunteer help from family and friends Ms. Hanson completed the needed renovations to the retail store in Denison, TX and opened “Buffy’s Cupcakes on Main” to a packed house on September 30th!

After fifteen years in the food service industry, Aaron Vogel wanted to open his own restaurant. The Sherman Economic Development Corporation referred him to the Grayson SBDC in May 2004. Aaron, his wife Andrea and Andrea’s parents, Jerry and Dixie Thurman worked together to make the dream a reality.

The SBDC counselor provided information on business startup procedures in Grayson County, and provided information about existing loan programs, application requirements and procedures. They also received assistance preparing their business plan and developing financial projections necessary to obtain financing.

Securing the start up loan was a long and tedious task but a combination of lenders provided the start up funds needed.

Owner Patsy Stengel summed up her experience in starting a business, “I really have been very successful with only a few problems. I firmly believe this (SBDC counseling) helped prepare me and helped me to avoid a lot of problems.” Twenty-one years as an instructor at a college cosmetology program and 12 years of beauty salon ownership undoubtedly equipped Ms. Stengel with valuable knowledge and experience she used to establish Diamond Cosmetology College in Sherman, TX.

Ms. Stengel was planning retirement options when she visited the Grayson SBDC in February 2005. “Ms. Stidham (SBDC Director) encouraged me to pursue something I knew well. I have been an educator for 21 years and love teaching. It just seemed logical…that this was what I should pursue,” stated Ms. Stengel. Counseling regarding start up requirements, financing, marketing as well as the use of SBDC library resources were provided. Soon after visiting the SBDC a loan was secured and Diamond Cosmetology College opened for business…