Meet Bellisa
Bellisa co-owns an auto-body shop in Los Angeles, CA with her husband and dreams of passing down the business to their children one day. Since joining Grameen America, Bellisa has been able to grow the family business and purchase a home, all while raising her son.
“Having a family business gives me more time to spend with my family. When my son was young, I was worried about childcare, but since I’ve become my own boss, I get to manage my own time.”
Bellisa started her career as a medical assistant while her husband worked for a body shop alongside his uncle, who gave him the idea of starting his own business. In 2010, Bellisa’s husband needed a new job and decided to open his own body shop with his brother. When Bellisa’s brother-in-law left the business, Bellisa stepped up, took over, and put the business in her name with her husband.
“Little by little, we learned more information about how to run our business. In the beginning, business could be slow and there were times we thought we’d have to close. Now, with Grameen America, we don’t have to struggle.”
In 2016, Bellisa’s neighbor introduced her to Grameen America and joined the program with a friend. Over the years, Bellisa has used the additional loan capital to purchase equipment, build emergency savings for slow periods, and cover the costs of licenses and taxes. Through Grameen America’s program, Bellisa has also opened business bank accounts and credit cards to strengthen her business. This has helped her build credit history and savings, helping Bellisa and her husband to buy a house. Now, they’re saving for her son’s education.
“At the time, I didn’t know anything about finances, but my husband supported me joining Grameen America. Even though I started with a $500 loan from Grameen America, we started to see an increase in our budget and business growth.”
Bellisa’s first $500 loan from Grameen America has now grown to a $15,000 loan. To date, Grameen America has invested $130,000 into Bellisa’s business while helping her to establish financial stability and savings.
Bellisa and her husband work with insurance companies on collision repairs. Bellisa’s husband is the primary mechanic and sources car parts while Bellisa manages the paperwork, bills, and communication with clients. Since starting the business in 2010, Bellisa and her husband have hired three additional employees.
“Our goal is to look for another location with more space and hire another employee, which would give my husband more flexibility and time back to spend with our family.”
Entrepreneurship runs in the family. Bellisa and her husband have a twelve-year-old son together, who they want to take over the business one day. Her husband also dreams of opening a second location to pass down to his oldest son. Bellisa’s 23-year-old daughter was inspired to start her own nail salon business, which she opened with the support from a Grameen America loan.
