Ink Factory Uses SBA 504 Loan to Make Their Business Vision a Reality

Company Profile

In 2011, Dusty Folwarczny, Lindsay Roffe, and Ryan Robinson co-founded Ink Factory with the mission of creating visual experiences that inspire and engage. Since then, Ink Factory has helped organizations – from Fortune 100 companies to non-profits – bring their ideas to life with the help of visual note-taking.

Visual notes are drawings created in real-time using simple words and pictures, virtually or in-person. The result is a visual summarization of the key takeaways of a discussion or presentation. Especially in a time of predominantly virtual interaction, visual notes engage attendees, boost productivity, and leave a lasting brand impression.

SBA 504 Loan with SomerCor

Ink Factory’s top line revenue increased 63% between FY15-18. As a result, in 2019, the decision was made to purchase a new commercial space to accommodate their considerable expansion, hire new staff, and lay the groundwork for future growth.

The founders learned about SomerCor and the SBA 504 loan program from Randy Kravitz , the executive director of Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Chicago. 10KSB is a nationally recognized initiative to help entrepreneurs create jobs and economic opportunity by providing them with greater access to education, financial capital, and business support services. SomerCor is proud to partner with 10KSB and glad our team could team up with Ink Factory on their project.

SomerCor originated the SBA 504 loan to finance the purchase and renovation of Ink Factory’s new headquarters in Chicago’s Avondale neighborhood. The new business location occupies 3,568 SF, which is 2.5 times larger than their previous space.

“Working with SomerCor was the easiest part of our entire project! This project was a first for us and the SomerCor team answered all of our questions promptly (we had A LOT). We were thrilled to have Eric [Bacon] as part of our team to make our new studio a reality. We are so thankful for their professional service!”

During the renovation process, the Ink Factory team relied on other local small businesses to make the project come to fruition, including Blender Architecture and Integrus Construction.

Photo Credit: © Darris Lee Harris Photography

Ink Factory is Open for Business!

The Ink Factory team is open for business and serving clients through their original content creation and training workshops. They have also stepped up during the pandemic in providing resources for engaging presentations during virtual events and video calls. Visit www.inkfactorystudio.com or call 312-972-0305 to learn more about their services.

Download the program flyer and connect with a member of SomerCor’s loan origination team to learn more about how the SBA 504 loan program supports improved cash flow for small businesses.

Margaret Griffin
EVP, Chief Lending Officer
mgriffin@somercor.com
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