Should you start a business from scratch, buy an existing one, or invest in a franchise? In this episode of the Score Houston Podcast, host and SCORE mentor PV Bala talks to Jeffrey Jones — President of Advanced Business Brokers, certified business appraiser, and a SCORE mentor with over 35 years of experience helping entrepreneurs buy and sell businesses in the Houston metro area.

Jeff shares insider knowledge on:

· Why buying a business is statistically safer than starting one (90% of startups fail vs. 70% success rate for acquisitions)

· How business valuation works — from tangible assets to discretionary earnings and EBITDA multiples

· SBA loan requirements, seller financing structures, and how deals actually get funded

· The role of confidentiality in business transactions and why brokers are essential

· What corporate professionals transitioning to entrepreneurship should consider

· The Houston business landscape — from restaurants to B2B service companies

· Red flags to watch for in financial statements during due diligence

Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur, a corporate executive exploring business ownership, or a SCORE client looking for guidance on your next move, this conversation delivers decades of real-world brokerage experience in one episode.

Let us know what you think of this episode. What subjects you would like us to cover in next episodes.

Give your comments at https://scorehoustonpodcast.blogspot.com or write to pv.bala@scorevolunteer.org. Let us know what you like of this episode and suggest subjects on which you wish to know more.

Join SCORE Houston host and mentor PV Bala in an inspiring conversation with Marcia Faschingbauer, CEO of Excargo Services, as she shares her remarkable 45-year journey building a logistics powerhouse in Houston's male-dominated trucking industry.

From starting as a transportation manager in her family's food business to becoming a trailblazer at the Port of Houston, Marcia reveals the strategic decisions, leadership principles, and innovative technology adoption that transformed a struggling startup into one of Houston's premier container carriers.

In this episode, discover:

✓ How to transition from a small family business to a 100-employee logistics company ✓ The secret to achieving exceptional driver retention in a high-turnover industry ✓ Why early technology adoption became Marcia's competitive advantage ✓ Essential funding strategies for small business owners—from navigating multiple banks to building creditworthiness ✓ Leadership lessons learned from 45 years in supply chain management ✓ How to survive freight recessions and industry disruption ✓ The importance of focusing on information and people over equipment ✓ Practical advice for entrepreneurs considering the logistics industry

Key Highlights:

• Winner of SBA District Small Business of the Year Award (2025)
• Texas Trucking Association Leadership Award recipient (2024)
• Building an inclusive workplace culture in a traditionally male industry
• Navigating the complexities of Port of Houston operations

Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur, small business owner, or logistics professional, Marcia's story offers invaluable insights on perseverance, strategic growth, and building a legacy business in Houston's dynamic industrial landscape.

About SCORE Houston: SCORE is America's largest network of volunteer business mentors, supported by the U.S. Small Business Administration. We provide free, confidential mentoring and education to help entrepreneurs start, grow, and succeed.

📍 Visit us: 8701 South Gessner, Suite 1200, Houston, TX 77074 📞 Call: 713-487-6565 🌐 Learn more: www.score.org/houston

Let us know what you think of this episode. What subjects you would like us to cover in next episodes.

Give your comments at https://scorehoustonpodcast.blogspot.com

What does it take to walk away from a stable career, open a one-room office with borrowed rent money, and build a thriving multi-location business? Dr. Dedra Frazier did exactly that — and the results speak for themselves.

In this episode of Small Business Success Stories at SCORE Houston, host and SCORE Mentor Dr. Jeffrey Ricken sits down with Dr. Dedra Frazier, licensed psychologist and founder of Psychology Works, a multi-location mental health practice serving the Pearland and Lake Jackson communities with over 15 providers.

Dr. Frazier shares her journey from small-town Sweeney, Texas, to earning her PhD at Texas A&M, working in public school systems, and launching Psychology Works in 2012 during maternity leave. She opens up about the hard lessons of hiring with her heart instead of her bottom line, how free mentoring from SCORE and the Small Business Development Center accelerated her growth, and how faith carried her through fear at every stage.

Entrepreneurs and small business owners will gain practical insights on scaling a service business, building a specialized team, and navigating the emotional weight of leadership.

SCORE provides free, confidential mentoring to entrepreneurs across the U.S. Visit score.org/houston to connect with a mentor today.

Let us know what you think of this episode. What subjects you would like us to cover in next episodes.

Give your comments at https://scorehoustonpodcast.blogspot.com