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In this episode of Small Business Success Stories at SCORE Houston, host and SCORE Mentor PV Bala sits down with Sarah Lieberman, founder of Dandelion Cafe — Houston's beloved breakfast and brunch destination with three locations across the city. Sarah shares how she left a career in oil and gas to follow her passion for hospitality, launched her first cafe with just $40,000, no collateral, and a lot of grit, and grew it into a thriving small business that survived two hurricanes and a global pandemic.

You'll hear the real story behind securing startup funding with no bank loan, the pivot that took her from coffee shop to restaurant, how SCORE mentorship shaped her business plan, and what it takes to reach break even, scale to multiple locations, and land a spot on Good Morning America. Sarah is the 2026 SBA Houston District Small Business Person of the Year — and her story is proof that drive, flexibility, and community are the real ingredients for success.

🎙️ Host: PV Bala, SCORE Mentor, SCORE Houston 🍳 Guest: Sarah Lieberman, Founder, Dandelion Cafe Houston

Topics covered: how to start a restaurant, small business funding, SBA loans, micro-lenders, restaurant startup costs, coffee shop vs. restaurant profit, scaling a small business, small business mentorship, SCORE Houston, Houston entrepreneurs, breakfast restaurant business, women in business, small business success stories.

Let us know what you think of this episode. What subjects you would like us to cover in next episodes.

Give your comments at https://scorehoustonpodcast.blogspot.com or write to pv.bala@scorevolunteer.org. Let us know what you like of this episode and suggest subjects on which you wish to know more.

Follow SCORE Houston Podcast on your favorite platform: 🎧 Apple Podcasts: Apple Podcasts tap Follow! 🎵 Spotify: Spotify — tap Follow! 📻 Amazon Music: Amazon Music— tap Follow! ▶️ YouTube: YouTube — Subscribe and hit the bell!

In this episode, Dr. Jeff Rickon sits down with Martin Estill — serial entrepreneur, former Chief Revenue Officer, and SCORE Houston volunteer mentor — for an in-depth conversation about how to start, grow, fund, and scale a small business.

With 30+ years of real-world experience across oil & gas, software, retail, and B2B marketing, Martin breaks down the exact mistakes most entrepreneurs make — and what to do instead.

In this episode you'll learn: ✅ How to write a business plan (and why most people skip it — and fail) ✅ Where to get funding for your startup — from your own pocket to angel investors & venture capital ✅ How to get your first customers using referential sales (without paying for ads) ✅ The #1 mistake new entrepreneurs make going from idea to execution ✅ How to build a sales & marketing strategy that actually works ✅ When and how to scale your business and delegate effectively ✅ How to find a business partner and structure equity deals ✅ How to sell or exit a business for maximum value ✅ Why SCORE mentoring is the best-kept secret for small business owners

🕐 Timestamps: 00:00 – Introduction

03:00 – Martin's background in oil & gas entrepreneurship

07:00 – The 3 biggest mistakes small business owners make

12:00 – How to write a business plan

18:00 – How to fund your business (funding hierarchy explained)

25:00 – How to get your first customers (the bullseye model)

32:00 – How to scale, delegate & sell your business

38:00 – How SCORE mentoring works & how to get free help

Let us know what you think of this episode. What subjects you would like us to cover in next episodes.

Give your comments at https://scorehoustonpodcast.blogspot.com or write to pv.bala@scorevolunteer.org. Let us know what you like of this episode and suggest subjects on which you wish to know more.

Follow SCORE Houston Podcast on your favorite platform: 🎧 Apple Podcasts: Apple Podcasts tap Follow! 🎵 Spotify: Spotify — tap Follow! 📻 Amazon Music: Amazon Music— tap Follow! ▶️ YouTube: YouTube — Subscribe and hit the bell!

How did two passionate educators turn a love of music into a thriving Houston small business? In this episode of the SCORE Houston Podcast, host Dr. Jeffrey Ricken sits down with Tamara Richter and Fernando Cervantes, co-founders of The Band Room — a music school and community space in Houston, TX.

Special thanks to SCORE Mentor Art O'Connor for guiding The Band Room on their entrepreneurial journey through free, confidential business mentoring.

Learn how they:

Started a small business from the ground up

Leveraged free business mentoring through SCORE with mentor Art O'Connor

Combined education + music to build a creative community

Grew their business with the help of the SBA (Small Business Administration)

Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur, a small business owner, or just love Houston's creative scene — this episode is packed with inspiration and real-world advice.

Get FREE small business mentoring at: www.score.org/houston

Topics Covered:

• How to start a small business in Houston
• Free small business resources & mentorship
• Music school business model
• Entrepreneurship tips for beginners
• SCORE mentoring success stories
• Small Business Administration (SBA) programs

Subscribe/ Follow for weekly small business success stories, entrepreneur interviews, and free business advice from SCORE Houston mentors.

Let us know what you think of this episode. What subjects you would like us to cover in next episodes.

Give your comments at https://scorehoustonpodcast.blogspot.com or write to pv.bala@scorevolunteer.org. Let us know what you like of this episode and suggest subjects on which you wish to know more.