D’Cora’s Custom Cakes in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, is a testament to the resilience and entrepreneurial spirit of D’Cora Dotson who turned her passion into a successful business.

After earning her Associate and Bachelor’s degrees in Business Administration from Central Texas College and the University of Arkansas at Little Rock (UALR) in 2014, D’Cora spent five years gaining corporate experience. But with a Master of Business Administration (MBA) and a growing desire for entrepreneurship, she decided in 2018 to make her side hustle — baking custom cakes — a full-time venture.

D’Cora’s journey into baking wasn’t planned, but it was inspired by family.

What started as baking treats for friends evolved into something bigger after a request from a sister in the Order of Eastern Stars. That first custom cake opened a new door for D’Cora, and she hasn’t looked back.

The creativity behind her business drives her.

“I love the whole process of making something nice for my customers,” D’Cora said. “It’s fun. I do a lot of fondant work, and it reminds me of playing with Play-Doh as a kid.” As her skills grew, so did her client base, and in just a few years, she transitioned her baking hobby into a full-scale custom cake business, complete with a storefront in Pine Bluff.

While D’Cora had the talent and vision, managing the financial and operational aspects of the business proved challenging. She had an extensive menu of offerings, from custom cakes to party supplies, but lacked clarity on her costs and profit margins.

To grow her business, she knew she needed help, which led her to work with the Entrepreneurship Team at Communities Unlimited (CU). D’Cora connected with CU Management Consultant Sierra Polk, who worked closely with her to address the business’s financial gaps.

Sierra and fellow Management Consultant James Custer discovered that D’Cora wasn’t paying herself and lacked the cash flow management tools essential for her business’s long-term success. CU guided her through financial projections, helped her analyze her business model, and trained her in bookkeeping and accounting processes. Over four months, Sierra and James invested 60 hours into helping D’Cora streamline her accounting system, complete break-even analyses, and better understand her profit margins.

As a result, D’Cora gained insight into her real-world financials and the tools to ensure her business could grow sustainably. With newfound clarity, she evaluated her menu items and identified the most profitable products, giving her the data needed to make smarter business decisions.

“It’s been tremendous,” she said of Sierra and James’ assistance. “I don’t really have anyone in the business world to talk to, so it’s a relief to have someone with business knowledge to provide feedback, resources, and guidance.”

D’Cora’s dedication to “working on the business, and not just working in the business” paid off when she became eligible for a $3,000 grant through the Delta Owned program. She is also considering growth opportunities with CU’s Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) for capital funding.

After over seven years in business and three years in her storefront, D’Cora remains committed to growing her enterprise.