ACCION USA business loan comes at just the right time
Marco Maciel's wife inspired him to start a Brazilian café and store in Miami to celebrate his culture. Now he sells a wide range of Brazilian products—from magazines to shampoo to canned goods—in addition to sandwiches, pizza, feijoda, baked items and authentic Brazilian coffee. This storefront café took a lot of work to get going, according to Marco.
Starting a restaurant requires capital
"Miami has a lot of regulations," he says. "I didn't know you needed a separate sink for handwashing in the kitchen. But I did know that I had to meet all the requirements or I wouldn't be able to open." Having already spent more than $35,000 on renovating the space and establishing his store, Marco found himself in a difficult position. "I ran out of money," he says. "I didn't know how I could possibly make it all happen."
Looking for a financial lifeline
He considered using his credit cards to charge the new expenses, but the company wouldn't increase his credit limit. Then Marco heard about ACCION USA from the laundry next door. He called, applied for a business loan, and received $9,400—which let him buy vital equipment. "I bought the oven, the kitchen equipment, the freezer, the coffee machine," recalls Marco. "It let me get all of the little things that I didn't have the money for, but that I desperately needed."
Funding that makes a real difference
"ACCION stepped in at just the right time," says Marco. "Without the loan, I'd definitely be doing less than what I am now. My business would have moved much more slowly." Now Marco is looking into expanding out onto the sidewalk to take advantage of the increased pedestrian traffic in his area. He's hoping to increase his menu. And he's looking into getting a liquor license so he can sell beer and wine.
Helping small businesses grow
It's clear that without the ACCION small business loan, Basil in the Grove wouldn't be where it is today. "I'll always remember the help I got from ACCION USA," says Marco. "And I would recommend it to anybody." If a timely infusion of capital would help your business move ahead, apply for a small business loanfrom ACCION USA today.
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