Client Success Story

Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming SBA Loan Case Study

First Bank of the Lake Helps Kasia Anderson get a $345,000 SBA Loan to Follow Her Dream of Opening a Dog Grooming Business

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The Challenge

Kasia Anderson has always had a passion for animals. From a young age, she was the kid who would pet every dog she saw and even brought home strays. As an adult, she helped build a large pet rescue organization in Florida and now cares for four dogs—two French poodles and two pit bulls, one of which has a whopping 70,000 followers on Instagram!

But Kasia had another dream. After years as a senior HR executive, she wanted to step into something she truly loved—working with animals while running her own business. She teamed up with a franchise broker, who provided expert guidance on selecting a business that aligned with her goals.

Her “aha” moment came when she visited a Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming franchise in Boca Raton, Florida and instantly, knew this was the business for her. After meeting with and learning more about Woof Gang franchise, Kasia started researching the dog grooming industry in her area. She personally visited every competitor within a 7-mile radius to learn how they operated and what services they offered. Armed with her personal insights, research and recommendations from the Woof Gang team, she was ready to launch her own dog grooming facility in Bradenton, Florida.

But there were a few hurdles standing in her way:

Finding the right location was tough. She ended up renting a space that was 2,300 sq. ft., even though she only needed 1,400 sq. ft.
She was still juggling a full-time job in HR while planning her new business.
She needed to secure $400,000 to bring her dream to life.

The Solution with First Bank of the Lake

Kasia’s franchise consultant recommended she talk to several banks, and that’s when she met Erik Feeney from First Bank of the Lake. The connection was immediate. “I knew right away she was very well-prepared,” Erik recalls. “She runs dog rescues, was a great businessperson, and came to us through a well-known franchise broker.” He was also impressed by her detailed 20-page business plan, which included two years of financial projections.

Kasia felt confident working with First Bank of the Lake, especially knowing they had a senior team that specialized in franchises. Together with Erik, she prepared the SBA loan application for a $345,000 SBA 7a loan. Reflecting on the process, Kasia shared, “It happened so fast with First Bank of the Lake. I met Erik on October 11th; the loan application went to underwriting on October 23rd, and by November 9th, I was approved.” Expecting the process to take months, the speed and efficiency surprised her, allowing her to get her business started much sooner than she expected.

The Results

With her $345,000 SBA 7a loan secured, Kasia was able to move her project forward. Most of the loan proceeds went toward the construction buildout of her dog grooming facility. Erik was particularly impressed by her ability to negotiate $80,000 in Tenant Improvements (TIs) from her landlord, even before the loan was finalized. The remaining funds were invested in equipment, grooming tables, inventory, guerrilla marketing, and other startup essentials. With $100,000 left over, they received bank approval to allocate the funds toward operating expenses.

Erik praised Kasia’s drive and organization, saying, “She was one of the most well-put-together borrowers ever. She really knew her stuff and was always punctual. We would get documents for the SBA loan constantly, and she worked weekends to get them to us on time. We grew to trust her quickly.”

Today, Kasia’s Woof Gang Bakery franchise is already nearing breakeven after just a few months in business. She was able to successfully sublet the extra space she had and is currently considering opening a second location. Kasia couldn’t be happier with her experience, saying, “Erik was absolutely amazing. The First Bank of the Lake financial person was awesome, and I have already recommended other people to First Bank of the Lake.”

Kasia’s journey is a testament to her determination, preparation, and partnership with a bank that truly understood her vision.

The Numbers

7a Loan – Not all at the same time, it was drawn down periodically

Days for SBA loan approval time

Negotiated tenant improvements

I got my $345,000 SBA loan approved from First Bank of the Lake in 35 days!

Kasia Anderson
President, Woof Gang Bakery - Bradenton, FL

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