A family business grew from Gilberto Laines’ pandemic job layoff after the Troy Small Business Development Center provided small business assistance to formalize the work. Laines and Jocabet Cortes turned customer requests into L & C Garden and Home Care.
Laines began painting houses with a friend after losing a factory job. Homeowners also needed garden cleanup, weed removal and other projects, according to Troy University’s account.
Family Business Develops From Customer Requests
Evening and weekend jobs generated requests for pressure washing, painting, repairs and other home-care services. The couple’s two daughters helped communicate with customers and take photographs and videos.
The family saw an opportunity but did not know how to register a company. Questions included licenses, taxes, recordkeeping and the order of the required steps.
Although Laines and Cortes could communicate in English, they preferred discussing legal and tax requirements in Spanish. They wanted to understand precisely what business ownership required.
They had not heard of the Alabama Small Business Development Center, or SBDC. A Spanish-language workshop in Daleville introduced Cortes to its university-based assistance.
Workshop Begins An Ongoing Advisory Relationship
Juliana Bolivar, director of the Alabama SBDC at Troy University, led the workshop. Cortes subsequently contacted the center, beginning support that continued beyond the company’s formation.
Advisors discussed LLC formation, taxes, employer identification number requirements, local licenses and recordkeeping. Other topics included insurance, banking and setting money aside for taxes.
The initial business idea focused on landscaping, but customers were already requesting additional services. Pressure washing, painting and repairs could provide work during colder months when garden jobs slowed.
Advisors encouraged a name broad enough to accommodate that work. L & C Garden and Home Care represented garden maintenance while leaving room for other requested services.
Related coverage examines support for federal contracting. The family business received practical assistance with registration before pursuing larger customer opportunities.
Licenses And Insurance Help Establish Credibility
Business advisor Yadira Colon-Lopez helped Cortes develop the company’s professional identity. Work included logos, business cards, social graphics, Facebook materials and promotional campaigns.
Bolivar later helped with estimating costs and presenting professional proposals for larger projects. Further conversations covered taxes, bookkeeping and the differences between employees and independent contractors.
According to the university’s account, formalizing the family business gave prospective customers tangible evidence of its preparation. Licenses and insurance helped address hesitation that the owners had previously encountered.
“We would go offer our services somewhere, and many times people would not trust us. Now we can show them our licenses, our insurance, and everything we have in place. People trust us, and they refer us to other people.”
For broader context, related reporting covers insurance and financial preparedness and small-business tax pressures.
Larger Customers Bring New Paperwork
A property management company accepted an L & C proposal. Bolivar then used screen sharing to help Cortes complete a professional vendor package, including a W-9 and other documentation.
Some members of the Troy SBDC team spoke Spanish, while others did not. Cortes says staff coordinated to answer questions regardless of language. The family business owners sought guidance on following regulations, paying taxes correctly and protecting the company with appropriate insurance. Their questions developed from how to start into how to manage the company and work with larger customers.
The SBDC’s assistance was available at no cost, according to the account. Cortes also valued being able to ask questions and receive patient, respectful guidance.
The family business gave the daughters experience in customer communication and problem solving. Cortes says that participation increased their confidence in customer service and themselves.
The oldest daughter later left to begin U.S. Army basic training. The owners continue approaching the SBDC with questions about managing the family business, maintaining records and preparing for future opportunities.