Customer Story

Joe St. John: Joe's All American Tap Cafe

Joe's All American Tap Cafe by the numbers

$225,000

Bank loan received using LivePlan

Weeks from loan application submission to approval

Months from idea to opening day

Background

Joe's All American Tap Cafe is a family-owned restaurant and bar located in Vero Beach, Florida. The business was started by Joe St. John, a retired army helicopter pilot, along with his wife Jonna. Joe wanted to create a business that would allow him to build community and provide a legacy for his family, one that he could pass down to his children one day. He settled on the idea of purchasing an existing restaurant and transforming it into a family-friendly establishment that would serve as a hometown bar for locals and visitors alike.

"We got approved pretty quickly. I was kind of shocked"

Joe St. John

Owner, Joe's All American Tap Cafe

Problem

As Joe transitioned from military life to entrepreneurship, he needed to create a comprehensive business plan to secure funding for his restaurant and bar concept. With only basic business planning experience, Joe found himself struggling to validate his business idea and articulate the details he needed to apply for a loan. He needed a way to thoroughly research his market, project financials, and present a professional plan to potential lenders. Joe worried about overlooking crucial aspects of his business proposal or failing to convince banks that his plan was viable.

Joe St. John in front of his business, Joe's All American Tap Cafe in Vero Beach, Florida.

Solution

LivePlan provided Joe with a robust platform to create a detailed business plan. The software offered step-by-step prompts, guiding Joe through every aspect of his business proposal. It allowed him to input market research, compile information about competitors, and create financial projections. LivePlan's features enabled Joe to run various scenarios, create monthly sales and expense reports, and project how the business would perform over time. The tool's formatting capabilities also allowed Joe to add personal touches like his logo, creating a polished, professional document.

Outcome

Using LivePlan, Joe was able to create a business plan that impressed lenders. The quality of his plan led to a remarkably quick approval process for an SBA-backed loan. Within just a few weeks of submitting his LivePlan-created business plan, Joe secured a $225,000 business loan. This funding allowed him to purchase an existing restaurant location and open Joe's All American Tap Cafe in February 2024. Joe credits LivePlan as instrumental in helping him achieve his goal of creating a family-run business that could serve as a legacy for his children, bridging his transition from military service to civilian entrepreneurship.