SBA Success Stories

Rasberry Animal Clinic

Rasberry Animal Clinic is a family-owned and operated veterinary practice that has been providing full-service care to animals in Pembroke Pines, Florida, since 1989. From routine wellness to advanced surgery and emergency care, Rasberry Animal Clinic is the trusted vet in Broward County, Florida.

Roberto Soto, the new owner of Rasberry Animal Clinic, had been in relief veterinary work across various clinics since 2017 and even acquired his own practice a few years ago. In the past year, he was approached by the previous owner of Rasberry Animal Clinic about taking over in his place. While the owner was getting older, he did want to remain an active provider, which made the doctor-to-doctor sale a smooth transition.

To fund the ownership transition, Roberto initially shopped conventional loans through a few different financial institutions. He quickly found, however, that none of them were the right fit, and it was recommended he explore SBA options. Roberto was then introduced to Julia Robertson at Fidelity Bank and, almost immediately, was set on moving forward.

Roberto recalls his experience with Fidelity Bank, “From the very beginning, Julia was understanding about my situation and was determined to get the job done. She laid out the process and delivered exactly what she said she was going to do, holding my hand through every step along the way.” Roberto says, “That sort of attitude and behavior was very hard to find anywhere else. If you’re a business owner in need of a loan, don’t talk to anyone else. Go straight to Julia and Fidelity Bank, and you won’t be disappointed.”

For Roberto, finding someone that was on his side, like Julia and Fidelity Bank, truly made the SBA financing process a “slam dunk,” as he said.

Since the acquisition, Roberto has grown Rasberry Animal Clinic both operationally and in revenue. The clinic has expanded staff, extended hours, and began accepting walk-ins. The transaction also enabled stronger marketing and advertising efforts, which has not only increased patient volume but has also helped the clinic reach a broader Spanish-speaking audience through the owner’s bilingual capabilities.

Are you or your clients interested in the SBA loan program? The SBA lending team at Fidelity Bank would welcome the opportunity to speak with you.

Since the acquisition, Roberto has grown Rasberry Animal Clinic both operationally and in revenue. The clinic has expanded staff, extended hours, and begun accepting walk-ins. The transaction also enabled stronger marketing and advertising efforts, which has not only increased patient volume but has also helped the clinic reach a broader Spanish-speaking audience through the owner’s bilingual capabilities.

Are you or your client’s interested in the SBA loan program? The SBA lending team at Fidelity Bank would welcome the opportunity to discuss more.

Potbelly Sandwich Shop

Potbelly Sandwich Shop is a trusted brand in casual dining with over four hundred locations nationwide. Mohit Kishore is a franchisee based in North Carolina, who sought an SBA Loan in pursuit of opening his fourth Potbelly Sandwich Shop location.

Mohit has been in the restaurant business his entire life, starting with flipping burgers as a teenager. In the process of opening his fourth Potbelly Sandwich location, Mohit sought funding for expansion through the SBA loan program, after being referred to Fidelity Bank by a connection in the restaurant industry. The main aspect of the SBA loan program that was most appealing to Mohit was the longer term length of the loan. Longer terms mean lower monthly payments – a crucial method of maintaining cash flow for other restaurant expenses.

He was connected with Michael Goddard, Senior Vice President and Business Development Officer at Fidelity Bank SBA Lending. Mohit reflected on working with Michael and the Fidelity Bank team, “I have never seen anybody go the extra mile to the extent they did to help get the loan accomplished. They were not only guiding and helpful, but they also took a lot of ownership in closing the loan and meeting the timeline.”

Mohit continued, “It was a great experience working with Michael and his team. I have closed six loans in my life, and this by far was the best loan experience ever! Michael is always available, he always explained the terms of the loan and answered any questions I had – he really set the tone from the beginning.”

If your business, or a business you know, could benefit from additional capital, now may be the ideal time to explore SBA financing options. Access to the right funding can be a pivotal step toward long-term growth and success, as was the case for Mohit and his new Potbelly Sandwich Shop location. Contact the team at Fidelity Bank SBA Lending to learn more about how SBA financing solutions can support turning goals into reality.