One Way To Help Latina Entrepreneurs

Brenda Carrera cannot put her finger exactly on what it was that inspired her to become a business owner, but she does say it’s something she’s wanted to do for a long time. To that end, the 40 year-old Latina entrepreneur sought out the help of Austin’s Economic Growth Business Incubator (EGBI) to work on economic planning, making a business plan and other important choices.

“I felt that something was missing, that something wasn’t complete. I felt that if I went ahead and owned my own business I could make those changes,” Carrera, the owner of Hair Central, told us. “The classes [at EGBI] really helped me understand what I was doing, what I was getting myself into. I wouldn’t even know where to start if I hadn’t taken the class.”

Latinas are opening businesses faster than any other group of small business owners, most recently reported to be six times that of the national average. But when Carrera talks about her own trajectory towards being a business owner, after working as a cosmetologist since 1990, it’s not that complicated. It’s more about making sure that her own life, her own work experience was comfortable and fit with the life she wanted for herself, her husband and five children.

Now, as the owner of Hair Central she works with four other women and employs one of her daughters as her receptionist. Since purchasing the business, she’s changed the name and is working on marketing to bring in more business. As far as how she feels about her future as a businesswoman, she’s glad that she can provide an example for her children.

“I know it feels good for them, I think they are more willing to expand their options,” she told NewsTaco. “I think and I hope that I do set a good example for them.”

As part of EGBI’s ongoing work the agency is hosting an event in Austin on November 15. Click here for more information.

[Photo By chipgriffin]

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