Jackie Perkins already had a busy life as a pediatric occupational therapist and mother of three young boys when she and her husband and business partner, Chris, opened The Little Lounge in January 2024. This play-and-event space in Horseheads, NY, offers a safe and fun place where kids can gather and play, as well as space for their caretakers to relax while watching them.
Here’s how they’re achieving their goals with two SBA loans from Pursuit.
Real-life experiences help identify a community need
When she had kids, Jackie soon came to realize that there was a need for a business that catered to young children and their parents – a space designed for play, for birthday parties and events, and for adult engagement and relaxation, too.
“We frequently had to drive our kids an hour away for birthday parties, which is challenging when you’re trying to balance work and family schedules,” Jackie says. Knowing that she wanted more schedule flexibility while continuing to work as an occupational therapist, she began to research indoor playground-and-event businesses in other areas.
“I found the Play Café Academy, which is an online program tailored to launching a profitable business like the one I envisioned,” Jackie explains. “When you complete the program, you become part of a national cohort to share information, ideas, and resources.”
In addition to spaces for children, they envisioned amenities that included kid and adult menus with a coffee bar and hot and cold beverages; baked goods from a local bakery; special snacks for kids; and spaces for families to bring their own food and relax together. Combined with Jackie’s professional knowledge of age-appropriate and engaging play equipment and developmental activities, she and Chris felt confident in their concept for The Little Lounge.
As they developed their business plan, they also knew that leasing and renovating a space, getting equipment, hiring staff, and marketing would take financing.
A bank recommendation leads to a connection with Pursuit
Jackie and Chris learned about SBA loans through family members and meetings with their local Small Business Development Center. When they approached their bank about financing, they were referred to Pursuit Vice President Nicole Deyo.
In late 2023, they secured two SBA loans – an SBA 7(a) loan for leasehold improvements to their 4,000-square-foot space and the purchase of equipment, furniture and fixtures, as well as working capital, and an SBA Microloan for additional working capital.
“Our business was new and so was the business loan process, so at times, the experience was a bit daunting,” Jackie admits. “Our Pursuit loan officer, Nicole, and our Pursuit team were really helpful and responsive, though, and that made it easier.”
They opened in January 2024 and now have a team of six part-time staff members. The Little Lounge is already a cherished community asset, too, fulfilling the vision that Jackie and Chris had for the business and exceeding financial projections.
As children grow, opportunities do, too
“We’ve got a steady roster of birthday parties every weekend,” Jackie says, “and we’ve added special events throughout the summer. It keeps us busy even when the warmer weather and summer travel would normally slow things down for an indoor play-and-event space. On average, we serve about 100 kids each week, as well as their parents and caregivers. Business has been great and with it up and running, this has also given me more time with my kids while continuing my OT practice on a contract basis.”
Looking ahead, Jackie says they’ve already identified a need in their community for a similar business tailored to kids who are older – about 8-11 years old – and they see opportunities for The Little Lounge in other locations.
If you’ve got a vision, Pursuit has the financing to bring it to fruition
“To succeed, it’s important to have a strong plan and stay true to what you want to do, but also to be flexible and adjust as you learn,” Jackie says. “By doing that, we’re meeting a community need while helping kids have fun and grow. It’s exciting and fulfilling and we couldn’t have done this without our SBA loans.”
Pursuit is a leading small business lender throughout New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Illinois, and Nevada. We have a line of credit and loan options that can help you finance business needs and support growth. Contact us to learn more.
