Finding your passion and purpose is often a lifelong journey and once you’ve found it, it can feel like a dream come true. But for an entrepreneur looking to turn that passion into a business, the dream is just the beginning. To make a dream a reality takes a hardworking team working with you to make that vision into reality. That’s exactly what Michelle Zamora discovered.
Michelle found her purpose in the wellness space. As a manual therapist, she uses gentle, light touch techniques and other holistic therapies to provide physical, mental, emotional and spiritual healing to her clients. Her passion turned into a dream of opening her own wellness center in the heart of Las Vegas, NV, but she needed help.
She began knocking on doors, searching for funding options that would allow her to open a brick-and-mortar location. But again and again other banks and financial institutions turned her away – often not getting beyond an initial interview. Still, she did not let that discourage or stop her. One day, she went to a local small business fair with the intention of finding a lender who would work with her – that is when she discovered Prestamos CDFI.
As a mission-driven lender, Prestamos CDFI believes that every business a fair chance to succeed. While many traditional banks and lending institutions require businesses to be fully operational for a minimum of two years, Prestamos CDFI provides funding options for start-ups, allowing business owners the opportunity to turn their dreams into reality.
Michelle worked closely with a Prestamos Business Advisor who was committed to helping her succeed. With their guidance, she secured two loans totaling $100,000 to help her with startup costs, equipment and other expenses. In addition to financial support, Michelle also received business advising and technical assistance, such as bookkeeping, to ensure long-term success.
“Every time I come to Prestamos, I feel more organized. The level of customer service and dedication I received brought hope to my project and helped me see the big picture.” – Michelle Zamora
After many months of hard work and dedication, Michelle Zamor’s dreams were realized when her wellness spa – The Essential Element – was finally opened. Her full-service wellness spa offers a variety of treatments and services designed to bring peace and healing to her clients. On the big day of her grand opening, Prestamos Business Advisor, Noe Gutierrez, was at her side to celebrate her achievements.
Michelle now hopes to inspire other entrepreneurs and give back by sharing her journey. She believes that with support, passion and purpose anyone can turn their dream into a thriving business.
