Patricia Tilghman

Tilghman Ultimate Cleaning Service, Chester County
$9,000 loan

NOT MANY PEOPLE CAN SAY THAT THEY LOVE TO CLEAN, WHICH IS WHY PATRICIA TILGHMAN IS IN BUSINESS. Patricia has 45 clients, both individual homeowners and corporate clients, and she employs four part-time workers who know how to make things shine. Patricia and her staff not only surface clean, but for an additional fee will also do more extensive cleaning, of refrigerators and fireplaces, for example. Patricia will even do laundry and “emergency” house cleanings.

Patricia initially worked with the Chester County Economic Development Council, which later partnered with Community First Fund to administer her loan. With this financing, she was able to purchase a second van so that two teams can work simultaneously. As a result of her steady growth during the past four years, Patricia will now be able to move her business from her home to an outside office. Ideally, she would like to be able to service 75 houses per week and have a staff of 12. “Community First Fund is very helpful and friendly and answers any questions I have. I will contact them again for help with my business plan – and a loan – as I work to expand.”