“With the funding from CEF, I was able to obtain a lease, work with contractors, and buy equipment for the space. A storefront would not be possible without the funding from CEF and I would have had to make a decision on whether to continue or not.”
– Laura Clark, Owner

Q&A with Owner, Laura Clark

Give a high level overview of your business. What products or services you offer, where you're located, etc.
I offer custom cakes, cupcakes, and other baked goods with organic ingredients and natural food coloring. I also have high altitude baking tips and recipes on my blog. My products include a high altitude adjustment magnet and my cookbook that has my baking tips, frosting recipes, and cake recipes that are calculated for altitudes from sea level to 10,000 ft!

How did your journey lead you to Colorado Enterprise Fund?
My journey to open a storefront is what lead me to Colorado Enterprise Fund. I really wanted to open a storefront, and I was looking at a few funding options to make that happen. A few people recommended Colorado Enterprise Fund so I decided to check them out.

Describe your difficulties in obtaining funding for your small business and how that impacted you and your business.
It was difficult to find funding for my business, a lot of places do not cover tenant improvements. It took me a long time to get through the application process and I also had to get creative with my funding options. It definitely takes a lot of patience and will power to get through the process.

What ultimately made you decide to go with CEF as your lender?
I ended up going with CEF in the end because I had received some recommendations, and they were willing to work with tenant improvements.

What were you able to do with the funding you received from CEF?
With the funding from CEF I am able to open a storefront in Evergreen, CO. I was able to obtain a lease, work with contractors, and buy equipment for the space. A storefront would not be possible without the funding from CEF and I would have had to make a decision on whether to continue or not.

What advice would you give to another small business owner going through the loan process?
There is a lot to figure out, and keep in mind that things can take a lot longer than you think, especially the permitting process. It took over 4 1/2 months for me, so keep that in mind and try to negotiate for a decent grace period with your landlord.

Have you worked with our Business Navigation (coaching) team?
Yes.

What difference has working with them made for your business?
It has been good to get some guidance from someone who has a lot of experience with small businesses and can offer a different perspective.

What is something you're looking forward to in the next 3-6 months in your business?
I am looking forward to opening my storefront location! I can wait to see the final result and share it with the community!