Last Touch LandScaping & Tortilla Inn Success Story

SMALL BUSINESS OWNER CRISTOBAL LINARES SEEKING $40,000 LOAN TO EXPAND LAST TOUCH LANDSCAPING & TORTILLA INN BAR & GRILL

The South Valley BusinessSource Center met Cristobal, the owner of Last Touch Landscaping & Tortilla Inn Bar & Grill in the Fall of 2014. Cristobal was referred to the South Valley BusinessSource Center by his local Congressman's office Tony Cardenas for business assistance.

Cristobal began his landscaping business in 2009 with the help of his brother when they both experienced a period of unemployment and what he explains to be a very tough time in his life. He was unable to secure employment and as a result, was close to becoming homeless. He and his brother decided to create their own company and jobs since they were not able to secure it anywhere else. He stated that the entrepreneurial life was not any easier but at least it provided an opportunity to work. He said that at the beginning getting jobs was hard due to language barriers and they practically gave away the services, but within time people and property management companies began to see their work and began contacting them with more job opportunities.  Since then the business has grown from 2 employees to 7 employees, adding 5 new jobs.

In the Fall of 2014, they grew enough and actually began to see some profit in their business but not enough to purchase new equipment and invest in other ventures. That is when he reached out for help and found out about the South Valley BusinessSource Center. He was seeking assistance with access to capital for working capital and financial structuring. He met with our financial coach who reviewed his financials and helped him package the loan documents of which he was approved for a $15,000 dollars which he used for working capital.

In mid-2015, Cristobal came across an opportunity to purchase an existing restaurant in the Northridge area called Tortilla Inn Bar and Grill, which has been operating since 1959,  and he came back to the South Valley BusinessSource Center for assistance in lease negotiation, financing for his 2nd loan of $30,000, permits, liquor license application, and HR assistance. He closed escrow on Tortilla Inn Bar & Grill on February 26, 2016, and since has hired 4 full-time employees and is currently looking to fill a part-time server position.

Cristobal shares that owning two businesses has been overwhelming since both businesses are very different from one another. He is glad he has the support and guidance from the South Valley BusinessSource Center who is helping him with the rebranding, marketing and structuring assistance for the restaurant.  He is receiving ongoing support for both businesses and is in the process of applying for his 3rd loan for $40,000, which he hopes to use for marketing and to expand his restaurant. Cristobal advises anyone who is going through a rough patch in business to stay focused and not give up. A business he says is not a 9 to 5 job, it’s your life and it will be your life until it begins to succeed. You will not have a personal life, your life is the business. Now he is ready to establish a marketing plan and expansion plan to grow his business.  “You have to be ready and willing to lose it all and when you do have the passion to work through it.”