James

James has worked as a butcher and a cook for 16 years. People often told him that his cooking was so good he should make a business out of it. Last year, James started his own catering business in a church kitchen. He makes and sells tamales and smoked meats, including ribs, links, lamb, duck, and goat.

One of James’ main challenges is the high cost of cooking and catering equipment. He can only afford to purchase a little at a time. He is proud to have purchased his smoker, his biggest purchase so far, with his own savings.

James needs a loan to help him purchase a mobile food cart. He plans to sell his tamales and meats in California parks, so people will know where to find him and his products. In the future, James hopes to have his own kitchen so that he can expand his business to its full potential, including a staff of two employees.

James is excited about working wtih Opportunity Fund, not only for the chance of getting a loan to buy the cart, but also for teaching him important business skills to help him run and expand his business effectively. He feels good about his future and about finally taking the risk to become an entrepreneur.



Important Information About This Loan
Kiva realizes that access to credit is a challenge for entrepreneurs everywhere. Kiva started out as a website focused on developing-world entrepreneurs. In June 2009, Kiva began experimenting with allowing entrepreneurs in the United States to raise money on its website. If this is something you support, please feel free to fund this loan. If you have questions, including how an entrepreneur in your neighborhood might get a loan, please visit our Help Center and click on "Loans in the United States."

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