Karla and Eduardo grew up in the restaurant industry, as their parents owned a full-service restaurant when they were younger. Two years ago, they started TNT's Tacos N Tortas, a completely different fast-casual concept. They were inspired to continue their parents' legacy and saw a lack of authentic Mexican street food experiences in their area, wanting to bring something new and different to the people there.
How it's going
The business has grown to three locations within two years. Their biggest challenge is staffing and maintaining consistent service and food quality across all locations. They strive to be the best in service, food, and employees, and are motivated by the desire to grow their brand to be recognized nationally and eventually expand to different states, such as Minneapolis, Omaha, and Kansas City. Social media has played a significant role in their growth, with a viral TikTok video and a popular post in a local Facebook food group generating a lot of new customers.
Why Revenued
They looked for a solution like Revenued when opening their first location to cover areas like custom packaging and ensure a smooth opening with branded items ready. Eduardo's father had used Revenued before and reached out again, leading to their approval for a credit line. They used this working capital to purchase necessary branded items like cups, bags, and catering boxes, which were important for their opening. They mainly use Revenued for large business purchases and view it as a helpful backup for cash flow when things get tight, rather than for daily expenses. They like that they only pay for it when they use it. They would recommend Revenued to other small business owners, noting it's easy to work with, flexible, and quick to get approved.
About the Industry
The restaurant industry is highly competitive, with fast-casual concepts like TnT’s Tacos and Tortas thriving by offering authentic, high-quality dining experiences at accessible price points. Growth in this sector requires significant investment in staffing, branded packaging, equipment, and marketing to ensure consistency across multiple locations. Restaurants also face challenges with cash flow due to seasonality, rising food costs, and labor shortages, making flexible funding a crucial resource. By leveraging business credit and working capital, restaurant owners can expand strategically, maintain quality, and build strong brand recognition in their communities and beyond.
