Name: Shiloh Baker, 26Why now: Affordable rent how do I start a business made the decision easyI was...

1. I started my business in 2013 - Unsuccessful job hunt spurs
new business (1)
Name: Shiloh Baker, 26
Why now: Affordable rent how do I start a business made the decision easy
I was laid off from my job as a research assistant at West Texas A&M last year. I had been looking
for how do you start a business work without much success, but what I really wanted to do was open
a business. I just needed a good idea.
I think this year was the perfect timing for opening the store. It was a kind of a sweet spot. The rents
were still low, but the economy is getting better, and people are more willing to spend their money.
I had been kicking around the idea of opening a local brewing supply company. My fiancé got me
into brewing and we'd been buying all of our supplies online. In February, I still hadn't found a job
and just decided to go for it.
My fiancé and I found a building in a steps to starting a business nice location and made what we
thought was a low offer for the lease, and the landlord accepted. We set up Amarillo Brewing Supply
one day in March, and then I opened the next. In all it took about $10,000 for the initial rent and
inventory, which includes hops, grains, malt extracts and home brew kits. We serve mainly home
brewers, but we also have a couple customers who own or work at breweries.
That first day was nerve wracking. It was a couple hours before customers started coming and I was
how do I start a business so worried that we'd made a big mistake. But since then we've been
blowing through our inventory. I thought our first order would last for months, but now I'm having to
order that same amount of inventory at least two times per month.
NEXT: Finally - pharmacist finds perfect location
http://money.cnn.com/gallery/smallbusiness/2013/05/13/new-business/