For Arkansas Entrepreneur Araceli Ochoa, launching NWA Rolling Video Games in December 2022 was a leap of faith—one driven by the desire for a flexible career and more time with her daughter, Victoria. Her mobile gaming business quickly gained popularity across Northwest Arkansas, but behind the scenes, financial strain threatened its future.

A high-interest trailer lease from a predatory out-of-state lender drained her working capital, forcing her to juggle multiple side jobs—waitressing, DoorDash, and anything else she could find—just to stay afloat.

That began to change when Communities Unlimited (CU) stepped in.

Ochoa first connected with CU’s Lending Team in January 2024, securing a Small Business Administration (SBA) loan to improve her digital marketing strategy. While the funds helped, the burden of her trailer lease remained.

“CU’s first loan helped cover emergencies and some repairs, but I was still struggling,” Ochoa said.

Determined to turn things around, she began meeting twice a month with Management Consultant Sierra Polk from CU’s Entrepreneurship Team. These sessions became a turning point. Sierra helped Ochoa strengthen her QuickBooks and financial management skills, but more importantly, she encouraged her to think beyond her current business model.

Sierra’s patience and expertise made a big difference. If Ochoa struggled with a concept, Sierra would revisit it until everything clicked. That hands-on support transformed how Ochoa approached her business, making her feel more in control of her finances and future.

With her business on more stable ground, Ochoa was finally in a position to take the next big step — refinancing her trailer lease.

For years, getting a traditional loan had been nearly impossible.

“I had been a server for a long time, and banks wouldn’t take a chance on me,” she said. “They’d say, ‘You’re a server—how do we know you’ll be good for it?’ No one wanted to give me a shot.”

With no other options, she turned to a predatory lender who offered easy approval at a steep cost. The high-interest rate drained her finances, making it nearly impossible to cover both business and personal expenses.

“I wanted to give up,” Ochoa admitted.

Determined to find a lasting solution, she returned to CU in December 2024. After reviewing her finances, Area Director of Lending Debra Williams went to work—and before long, Ochoa’s loan was approved.

With her cash flow improved and the refinancing of her loan, Ochoa was no longer in survival mode.

“For the first time, I can pay myself when I do events—something I couldn’t do before,” she said. “I still have my serving job, but I’m not constantly stressed about finances anymore.”

Now, she’s focused on growth. She plans to hire an employee to manage events while she focuses on securing more bookings.

With her trailer lease under control, Ochoa is already planning her next move—a new revenue stream.

“I found someone selling their archery business equipment at a great price, so I bought everything and only had to add a few things,” she said. “Now I have another way to generate income.”

The archery business will have its own booking system but remain under the NWA Rolling Video Games umbrella. She hopes to hire someone to operate it while she focuses on growing both ventures.

“I’m looking into insurance and other details, and I hope to launch it by summer,” she said.

Looking back, Ochoa is grateful for CU’s support.

Now, she’s paying it forward, encouraging other small business owners to reach out.

“If you’re struggling, give them a call and see what they can do for you,” she said. “They believed in me when no one else would.”