The funding has been used to purchase and furnish a specialised vehicle, which is all it requires to bring the dream business to life.
Best Friend Voyager delivers pets from the entry point directly to the adopters. For over 10 years, Marinela Maracine, the business owner, has continuously been volunteering to rescue and rehome dogs in the UK and all over Europe using her family’s own cars. With her endless love for dogs, Marinela decided to take her volunteering a step further by officially setting up a pet transport company, which combines her passion and career into one.
The only obstacle in her path was a lack of capital to invest in a qualified transport van furnished with air conditioning and safety racks and cages. Complete passion for dogs, experience in veterinary care, long-term relationships with other transporters – she had everything but her own capital to invest.
That is where First Enterprise – Enterprise Loans stepped in to assist. Marinela can now realise her long-standing dream with just enough funding. As this is her first time starting a business, the loan application process was an eye-opening experience – it brought so much more than she expected. With guidance from our business adviser, she had a chance to sharpen Best Friend Voyager’s target customer profile and thoroughly plan out the sales & marketing strategies, the operational approaches and the cashflow forecast.
Now that Best Friend Voyager has come to life, we believe Marinela will be able to help more and more homeless pets find their new homes. It is heartwarming to assist and witness the growth of such an adorable family business – her husband and son are also on board.
Lovely pets being handled by a lovely family who adores them wholeheartedly – this is the essence of why businesses exist.
Marinela Maracine, Founder of Best Friend Voyager, said:
”The Start-Up Loan was my last hope to achieve my goal: buying and furnishing a pet transport van. The advice and support received from Stefan from First Enterprise was very professional and friendly. We can now combine our passion for saving the lives of homeless dogs with the pet transport business to also make a living.”
Stefan Nycz, Investment Manager at First Enterprise – Enterprise Loans, commented:
“The passion that Marinela has towards her business is amazing. It’s been a pleasure to assist her in achieving her business dreams, and even better knowing that there will be many dogs who now have found forever homes from her efforts.”
Richard Bearman, Managing Director of Small Business Lending, British Business Bank commented:
“Stories like Marinela’s are truly inspirational, and what the Start Up Loans programme is all about. It is great to see the programme’s funding and mentoring enabling such businesses to pursue their ambitions while tackling worthwhile causes.”
