UGA SBDC helps South Georgia couple turn coffee passion into growing franchise business

The Bell’s decision to franchise with Ellianos wasn’t made on a whim.

“We’ve had Ellianos in Douglas for 15 years, and we fell in love with the taste and quality of its espresso,” said Allison Bell. “We met with the corporate office, and they wanted us to come on board.”

Seeking guidance from the UGA SBDC was their next step. Bell had a personal connection to the Valdosta office. Not only had she grown up with the husband of UGA SBDC Area Director Alyssa Foskey, but she had also followed the success of her close friend Rebecca Swain and her husband Jared as they launched their own business, Swain’s Pharmacy, with UGA SBDC help. Bell began working with Foskey in November 2021 and came to rely on her as a sounding board throughout the process.

“I wanted a checklist of what to do. I like to know exactly what needs to be done and not miss anything,” Bell said. “Alyssa sent me the step-by-step process for starting a new business.”

Foskey assisted the Bells in understanding what questions to ask before agreeing to the terms of the franchise. She advised them on nationwide industry-specific information, the traffic count for their first location in Vidalia, and income and demographic information on their target market. Foskey also helped them build a business plan and five-year projections for their lender. The Bells received the six-figure U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) loan they needed within three months.

“Knowing what questions to ask can be overwhelming,” Foskey said. “They were buying into an opportunity that came as a package, with established vendor and buyer relationships, branding, and marketing. However, Allison knew they also had to consider things like financials and profit margins.”

Foskey also helped the Bells build human resources documents, including how to write job descriptions and hire employees, and how to work with the corporate office on local marketing efforts.

After the successful launch of their Vidalia location under Bell LLC, the Bells partnered with Allison Bell’s sister and brother-in-law, Abigail and Scott DaRoja, to open a second location in Fitzgerald. Together, they formed a new company, BOLAR LLC—named after the initials of their children—as a way to grow the business while involving extended family.

“We’ve locked down territories for Swainsboro and a two-store agreement in Milledgeville, our next locations,” Bell said. “We’re about to have to apply for another SBA loan and will use the SBDC to help. That’s our next step.”

The Bells have good reason to expand. In just their second year of business, sales at their Vidalia location grew 28%, and company-wide growth is expected to be 20% annually. Each new shop brings about 20 new jobs to the community, increasing the Bell’s employment impact as they expand.

Foskey credits much of Allison Bell’s success to her background in health care.

“Being a caretaker, Allison’s naturally going to focus on the people aspect of the business,” Foskey said. “‘When we take care of our people, our people take care of our business’ is Allison’s approach. She duplicates this effort in every shop, which ensures those she hires run them effectively and efficiently.”

Bell, in turn, credits her faith, her family and the UGA SBDC for providing the support needed to make her and her husband’s entrepreneurial vision into a successful reality.