From Hobby to High Earnings: How Brenda Built a Profitable Business and Secured $50K in Funding

When Brenda came to us, she wasn't even thinking about starting a business. She was a single mother, working hard to make ends meet; in her free time, she enjoyed creating waist beads and trinkets as a creative outlet.

She never imagined that her hobby could turn into a business that could support her family—

That changed when a friend suggested she start selling her work: excited but unsure of where to start, Brenda began researching and quickly felt overwhelmed.

What kind of business should she register?
How would she handle taxes?
Where would she sell her products?
Was this even possible, or was she wasting her time?

She told us, "I was stuck before I even started; I had no idea where to begin."

The Challenges Brenda Faced:

- No business structure; She had no idea how to register a business or what legal steps were needed.
- No financial system; Everything was mixed with personal finances, making it impossible to track expenses or plan for growth.
- No business plan; She didn’t know how to price her products, who her customers were, or how to market her work.

Brenda needed a clear roadmap to turn her craft into a real business without the confusion and frustration of figuring it out on her own.

The Solution: A Step-by-Step Business Transformation

We introduced Brenda to the A.S.C.E.N.D.™ Framework and helped her go from an unsure hobbyist to a confident business owner:

1. We Structured Her Business—She registered her business as an LLC, got an EIN, and opened a business bank account so she could separate business and personal finances.
2. We Created a Simple Business Plan—She defined her products, set clear pricing, and identified her ideal customers.
3. We Built Her Online Presence—She set up a website and created an online store so she could start selling beyond just word-of-mouth.
4. We Set Up Business Credit—Instead of using personal funds, Brenda built a strong business credit profile that positioned her for future funding.
5. We Helped Her Secure $50K in Grant Funding—By structuring her business properly and creating a compelling business plan, Brenda applied for and received $50,000 in grants to help scale her business.

The Results: A Thriving Business With Room to Grow

✅ A Fully Registered Business—No more uncertainty; Brenda now operates a legally structured company with financial protection.
✅ A Profitable Pricing Strategy—She knows exactly how to price her products to ensure a profit while staying competitive.
✅ A Business Bank Account & Financial System—Clear financial records, no more mixing personal and business funds.
✅ A Growing Customer Base—With an online store and a solid marketing plan, Brenda’s products are now reaching customers beyond her local community.
✅ $50K in Grant Funding—With a structured business and a real plan, Brenda secured the funding she needed to scale, which allowed her to produce enough inventory for tradeshows and Etsy.

Brenda’s Take on the Start. Build. Grow. Challenge:

"I never thought I could have a real business, but this challenge showed me exactly how to make it happen. Now, I don’t just have a hobby—I have a business that’s making money and setting up a better future for my kids. I would have never done this without the Start. Build. Grow. Challenge."