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Own a Business, Not Just a Job

Fountainhead Taproom, Burt Casey

Title / Role: Owner
Location: Chattanooga, Tennessee
Formed in: 2019
www.fountainheadtaproom.com
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What do you do?

60 Self-Pour Taps allow you to create your own flight from craft beers, ciders, wines, meads, cold brew coffee & kombucha.

What inspired you to start your business?

I was looking for a way to better support our family and wanted to be my own boss.

What's special about your business?

We are a self-pour taproom that puts you in control of 60 taps. No splitting checks, no drinking beer you don't like. You only pay for what you pour.

What have been the high and low points of being a business owner?

We have worked through incredible challenges after opening 2 months before lockdowns due to Covid-19. It has been a very difficult year, but we are grateful to be here. We have made some incredible friends and meet new, great people every day. It has been wonderful having more freedom and flexibility owning our own business.

What is your relationship with SCORE? SCORE client What influenced you to seek help from SCORE?

Chatting with my co-worker in the next cubicle about my business idea, she said, "Have you ever heard of SCORE?" I signed up that very day, and I am convinced I would not be where I am today if not for that connection.

How SCORE helped.

Having someone who has been down the road before me to offer guidance has been absolutely critical to the success of this business. If anyone tells me they are considering starting a business, I immediately point them to SCORE. It seems too good to be true that someone would give this much without expecting anything in return, but SCORE mentors are literally that amazing. My mentor helped me navigate every stage of my business startup, from the point that it was just an idea in my head and I had no idea how to begin, until the current day when I have questions about improving operations or increasing profits.

What's great about my mentor?

At every stage of this startup, from conception to grand opening and beyond, my mentor has been critical to my success. You don't know what you don't know; my mentor has helped me avoid countless pitfalls, navigate unprecedented circumstances with global pandemics, and more, and keep my head in the game when faced with challenges and discouragement. Not only have we survived, but we are beginning to see success, and my mentor has been a friend and advisor through every step. I am truly grateful.

What advice would you give to someone thinking of starting a small business?

Contact SCORE now and find a mentor. This is literally what I have told several people who asked me about starting a business. There is just no way to quantify how important it is to have someone in your corner who has been down the road before you.

What have you learned from your experiences as a business owner?

I am capable of much more than I believed. This experience has been the most challenging of my entire life, and I believe the rewards are only just beginning. I have learned I prefer freedom to security. I have learned that there are good people everywhere. I have learned to ignore negativity and focus on what matters.

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5726 Marlin Rd,
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Chattanooga, TN 37411
(423) 553-1722

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Funded, in part, through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. All opinions, and/or recommendations expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the SBA.

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