A year and a half after launching his business, Scott Anthony is already bumping up against the limits of what one person can handle. His mobile mechanic shop, Anthony Truck Bus and Auto, hit the ground running on Jan. 1, 2024, and hasn’t slowed since.

Specializing in RVs, buses, and other large vehicles often turned away by traditional repair shops, Anthony quickly filled a critical gap in the greater Texarkana area. But now, steady demand has pushed him to a crossroads.

“In my first year, I reached my maximum capacity for a single technician,” he said. “I run out of time every day.”

Anthony says raising prices doesn’t feel like the right move, but hiring a second technician could increase revenue and free him up to focus on operations. Still, he’s cautious — covering payroll during slower periods remains a concern.

The business, based just outside Texarkana in Nash, Texas, began with a loan from the Lending Team at Communities Unlimited (CU), made possible by the T.L.L. Temple Foundation. That initial funding helped Anthony secure the equipment and software to launch his operation — and connected him with CU’s Entrepreneurship Team and Management Consultant Trent Thomason.

Thomason has worked with Anthony since day one.

By June 2024, they were focused on cleaning up the books, getting Scott set up with an accountant, and addressing one of the year’s biggest surprises: Anthony had fallen behind on sales tax payments. CU moved quickly to help him catch up and build a reliable system to set the money aside moving forward. Thomason said they made it their top priority — not just to resolve the issue, but to implement systems that would prevent it from happening again.

By the sixth month of being a business, Anthony and Thomason used industry benchmarks to evaluate performance and identify areas to boost profit margins — from raising parts prices to cutting supplier costs.

At year’s end, they reviewed both business and personal finances to set new goals. Despite being in his first year, Anthony’s business achieved results well above typical startup expectations.

That success gave way to more future-focused conversations in 2025 — including how to build systems that support sustainable growth. Together, they explored better calendar tools to manage repair priorities, a more streamlined way to receive customer calls, and checklists new employees could eventually use to ensure quality control.

Most recently, CU invited Anthony to speak as a featured panelist at the Texarkana Business Success Summit on May 31. He shared his journey with other local entrepreneurs — from his leap into self-employment to the importance of surrounding yourself with the right support network.

Now, Anthony is exploring the possibility of a second service truck and technician. He’s also considering launching an online parts store — a move that could expand his reach without overextending his time on the road.

“I’m taking it slow,” he said. “I don’t want to grow too fast or take on too much debt.”