Small business, big success – Austin Daily Herald

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Jose Carrazco and his wife, Cecilia Cefuentes Rodriguez, stood with SBA District Director Brian McDonald Tuesday morning at a small ceremony honoring Carrasco as the 2023 SBA Minnesota Minority-Owned Small Business of the Year. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com

Jose Carrazco, owner of West Oakland Auto Repair, right, spoke with SBA District Director Brian McDonald during a tour of the facility Tuesday morning. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com

Earlier this spring, West Oakland auto repair owner Jose Carrazco was named the 2023 SBA Minnesota Small-Owned Small Business of the Year. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com

Jose Carrazco, owner of West Oakland Auto Repair, explains the drawing process to local leaders and visitors from the Small Business Association Tuesday morning. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com

Workers at West Oakland Auto Repair pose for a photo Tuesday morning. Owner Jose Carrazco, 2023, was named SBA Minnesota Minority-Owned Small Business of the Year and was recognized locally Tuesday. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com

An Austin man was awarded Minority-Owned Business of the Year

by Amanda Lilly

When Jose Carrazco first opened his West Oakland auto repair shop, all he wanted was to keep himself busy doing what he loved. Now, 11 years later, the US Small Business Administration has named the 2023 SBA Minnesota Minority-Owned Small Business of the Year.

“They were a couple trying to stay busy and create their own business,” says Karazko. “As time went on, we continued to grow. When we talked to other business owners and friends and saw their reactions, it was like, ‘Wow, this has got to be big.’

Carazco first immigrated to the United States from Mexico in the 1990s. He lived in Iowa for the first three years in the country and moved to Austin in 1999 where he worked construction jobs, spent time at a quality pork processing plant and worked in a body shop. time.

As his knowledge base grew, so did his desire to become a mechanic.

“Once I start working, I will decide for him,” he said. “Here we are now. If you want to do what you want to do and be successful, it takes hard work.

In the year In 2012, Carraraco went out on his own and leased a facility to open a West Oakland auto repair shop. His father and nephew were the only employees at the time. His father still works for the store, as does Karazko’s wife, and they eventually add eight part-time and full-time employees.

Carraraco credits the store’s success to the team’s hard work and openness to their customers.

When a customer brings their car in for work, Carrazocco and his team take the time to explain what repairs are needed and why, along with any potential negative consequences if the car isn’t repaired.

“Once we know what the vehicle is, we take videos and pictures and show them what’s inside the car. Or in the middle (of the repair), we bring them and show them what we replace. This way we can build trust with everyone, he said. “Having the right team makes all the difference.”

With no business experience when he first opened, Karazko wasn’t sure how he was going to pay the rent for his shop. But the customers are so impressed with the work, they keep coming back.

In the year In 2016, he was already looking to buy a building for his shop. In the purchase process, he bought a loan but came up a little short. That’s when he contacted the Austin Development Center (DCA) for support.

“Finally in 2017 we were able to move to our new location, and with that we added a professional paint booth, which we received funding from the Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF),” he said.

Finally, SMIF is the organization that nominated Carrazco’s business for the SBA Minority-Owned Small Business of the Year Award.

As for the shop’s business side, Cararaco said he’s always willing to ask questions, especially after learning about the business resources available to him through organizations like DCA, SMIF and SBA.

“We always go and ask questions about finances,” he said. We got help from these foundations, and it’s probably the biggest thing we’ve ever had.

Karazko is not afraid to ask questions of other business owners, even if they are considered competitors.

“Help is always there. That doesn’t stop me if I need to ask or stop at another store, I’ll go in and talk to someone,” he said. “This has opened many doors for me. I don’t see others as competition. If I don’t know something, I have to ask.