In July 2023, Jasmine Wright opened Livi Facial & Beauty Spa in Conway, Arkansas. A licensed esthetician, Jasmine’s passion for skincare and empowering clients led her to leave her public-sector job and run her business full time.
“I really wanted to work for myself,” she said. “At the time, I didn’t see the benefit in working for someone else — it felt like there was more opportunity in running my own business.”
While Jasmine brought expertise in skincare, she soon realized that managing operations, finances, and long-term planning required new skills.
Referred by Kapriskie Mack from the Housing Team, Jasmine connected with Communities Unlimited’s (CU) Entrepreneurship Team. She began working with Senior Management Consultant Rhett Douglas and Management Consultant Barretta Robinson to strengthen her business.
“They’ve helped me with a lot — starting with making sure I was charging the right amount and collecting the correct sales and retail taxes,” Jasmine said. “They helped me become more cost-efficient and set me up with Wave for accounting. Now I can check my profit and loss, stay organized, and track everything more easily.”
Rhett and Barretta walked her through financial basics — setting up a chart of accounts, reading profit and loss statements, and understanding cash flow. They helped her build projections, calculate product costs, and analyze her cost per customer to improve profitability and reduce waste.
One early concern was product overuse during treatments. By tracking actual usage, Jasmine reduced overhead and improved cost control. With a better grasp of her finances and operations, she gained confidence as an owner.
“There was a meeting where I told them, ‘I feel like I’m falling apart,’” Jasmine recalled.
“They helped me slow down, focus on what was really going wrong, and get back on track. They bring me back to reality when things feel overwhelming.”
The results have been significant. In March 2025, Jasmine doubled her income from the previous month. She is now exploring long-term strategies, including retirement planning, and recently contracted another esthetician on a 90-day trial — offering a chance to someone who couldn’t afford booth rent elsewhere.
“It feels amazing,” she said. “Even with more revenue, it doesn’t always feel like it — because the responsibilities grow, too. Still, it’s a blessing not to worry about every little thing.”
“I want to support other women,” she said. “When I started, I had to learn everything on my own. Now I want to be that person for someone else.”
CU continues to support Jasmine’s vision, helping her plan for smart, sustainable growth.
“Barretta and Rhett have helped me think through long-term goals and ask if it’s the right time to grow,” Jasmine said. “They’ve shown me I can expand smartly — by saving and planning instead of jumping in too fast. I’m really thankful I found Communities Unlimited.”
