Marin
Auto Works
From technician to owner—navigating complex SBA financing to acquire a beloved community auto shop.
“I thought getting a loan would be easy—like in the movies, where you walk into a bank and pitch your idea and boom, you get a loan. After being rejected by the big banks, I was referred to the SBDC.”
Rejected by banks. One week to transition.
Chris Aguirre’s biggest hurdle was securing financing after being turned down by traditional commercial banks. The shop’s inconsistent financial performance raised doubts—and the previous owner’s tangled income streams made it hard to isolate the business’s true revenue.
Beyond financing, Chris faced a leadership transition with one week’s notice after six years as a technician. He had to step into the owner’s role while simultaneously closing the deal.
Expert navigation through SBA complexity.
Marin SBDC advisor Richard Strezo reviewed the business’s P&L statements, tax returns, and cash flow—confirming the business could support the loan and shaping materials into a compelling package.
Richard connected Chris with Ready Capital, an SBA-only lender accustomed to complex deals. When the lender tried to place a lien on Chris’s deed-restricted property, Richard researched the BMR rules and prevented the deal from collapsing. He assembled the complete loan package—financials, projections, contracts—and coordinated escrow and insurance to meet collateral requirements.
