It is incredibly rewarding to look back at the journeys of the business owners we have had the privilege to help, and Geoff Chudleigh’s story with Tiki Barrel Pool Service is a great example. Our team here at BCL of Texas are so proud to have played a pivotal role in helping Geoff turn his side hustle into a thriving full-time business.

Geoff started Tiki Barrel Pool Service in late 2023 as a side venture while he was still working in healthcare management. The challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic made him realize it was time for a career change, and his passion for his pool service business grew. Early on, Geoff tried to buy another pool business but quickly ran into roadblocks when it came to financing.

Despite these initial hurdles, he continued to pour his energy into growing his own business while actively searching for new expansion opportunities. He spoke with several pool brokers— those specializing in selling pool service routes—and the feedback was always the same: financing a deal of his size was virtually impossible. But we were determined to prove them wrong.

In late 2024, Geoff connected with an SBA consultant who assured him that there were indeed ways to finance deals in the pool service industry. Around the same time, Geoff had the good fortune of being introduced to another pool service owner who was looking to sell off a portion of his accounts. Geoff and the seller agreed to move forward with the purchase.

While his SBA consultant was a great resource, the size of this specific deal was too small to involve traditional SBA lending. Many lenders weren’t interested in a deal of this modest scale. That’s when his consultant introduced him to BCL of Texas. From our very first conversations with Geoff, it was clear that we could help him. We didn’t just tell him it was possible; we laid out a clear, step-by-step path to get the deal done, which he greatly appreciated.

Our team worked closely with Geoff throughout the entire loan process. Shane Wilhelm, his main point of contact, provided clear answers to all of Geoff’s questions during the financing stage. We were thrilled to approve his loan in the first quarter of this year, and the funds were disbursed in March. On April 1st, Geoff officially started with his new accounts, marking a significant milestone for Tiki Barrel Pool Service.

Geoff himself shared with us, “Without BCL, I would not have been able to take my business from a side hustle to its current full-time capacity. I consider my introduction to BCL to be a true blessing! BCL 100% helped me achieve a lifelong dream of owning and working full time in my own business. It’s great to know that there are organizations like BCL willing to help business owners take their next big step!”

Hearing stories like Geoff’s is what fuels our mission at BCL of Texas. It’s incredibly rewarding to know that we can empower entrepreneurs to pursue their dreams, even when traditional avenues seem closed. We’re here to help business owners like Geoff launch, expand, and thrive. If you are a business owner looking to take your next big step, don’t hesitate to reach out. We’re ready to help you write your own success story.