It’s Wednesday, and that means ‘Chef Lauren’ is loading boxes of fresh-cooked meals and lunches and breakfast goodies into her truck. Throughout the day, she will stop at the homes of more than 20 families, and hand over that week’s dinners: roasted lemon and herb chicken with Greek-style potatoes and green beans, for example, or barbacoa beef tacos and homemade guacamole.

Her business took off after Enterprize Challenge. Before the end of the night, after taking third place, she already had a handful of clients. And after those clients tried and loved her meals, they told their friends and neighbours, who told their friends and neighbours. Chef Lauren Vincent was on its way. Soon she had more than 20 client families receiving between two and four meals every week.

There was just one hitch: the capital to get everything off the ground. Start-up expenses such as foam coolers, meal containers, ice packs, utensils and ingredients began stacking up. Fortunately, thanks to her experience with Community Futures North Okanagan, Lauren knew where to turn for a business loan.

“I was hoping for a lending solution with a lower interest rate so that I could afford to pay off debt faster,” says Lauren. “Scot took me through the process as well as different options I could take. He was friendly and helpful and responsive. If I had questions, he was on top of it right away.”

With the loan amount and lending option she pursued, Lauren was able to secure the funding faster.

“I’m at a really exciting point in my business where I’m beginning to scale, bring on team members, and even considering a larger commercial space so that I can serve more people in our community. Securing the loan meant all those things were possible and closer on the horizon than anticipated.”

That said, staying small has come with some tremendous and unexpected bright spots.

“One of the things I really value about where I’m at is that I know all of my clients well and I get to chat with them on delivery day,” she says, recalling two teens in a client family who do a dance on ‘Chef Lauren Day.’ “I know all about their kids’ activities and I get these updates. I get to be a part of some special moments in families’ lives.”

In her travels delivering meals, conversations sometimes turn to business opportunities, and that’s where Lauren is quick to suggest CF North Okanagan.

“I’m always referring other small business owners that I meet to Community Futures because of the range of subject matter experts that are available to consult with. For new business owners especially, having another resource besides the big banks could mean the difference between continuing to grow and thrive, and not.”

Do you have a business idea? We believe in you! Learn about all the ways Community Futures North Okanagan supports entrepreneurs at every stage of business. Click here to make an appointment with one of our Business Advisors.