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For 14 years, Brittany Lupo was a teacher at Puddle Duck Day School and loved every minute of it. Then the current owner decided to retire and offered her the option to buy the business. Brittany had never thought about owning a business, but then she realized that this might be the perfect opportunity to combine her business degree with her love of teaching. It was a big leap, but Brittany decided to jump in.
“While I had a degree in business, I didn't have much business or administrative experience at the time,”
Brittany explained. "But, if I wanted to stay in this field and advance, buying the business would be the next logical step and I felt I was ready. All I needed to do was figure out how I was going to finance the purchase."
"I did my homework and started reaching out to different banks to inquire about a loan,"
she said, “but honestly, I didn’t get a good feeling from any bank I talked to. Then the previous Puddle Duck owner got in touch with Northern Bank on my behalf, because she had been banking there for years and knew they offered SBA loans.
Once I talked to Northern Bank, I knew it was going to be the bank for me. I could tell they were going to work hard to get me what I needed, and they did. I started the loan process in June and got the loan in August. Everything went through very quickly and smoothly."
"I'm so grateful that I got the opportunity to run a business that's been so important to me,"
Brittany continued. “Since I took ownership, I’ve brought in new enrichment programs and fun family activities and parents have been very supportive. We often hear from parents inquiring about our services, that Puddle Duck comes highly recommended. That’s a really good feeling knowing the excellent care we provide to the children here is recognized and appreciated.”
“Getting the SBA loan through Northern Bank is something I’ll always be grateful for too. Now I do all my banking with Northern Bank. The people there are super personable and will get on the phone immediately and answer all my questions. As a small business owner, it’s a huge help knowing Northern Bank is there to support me along the way and help me succeed and grow. They truly are my partner for growth.”
Brittany Lupo is the owner of Puddle Duck Day School. She is a career teacher, turned business owner, who loves teaching and the opportunity it provides to, “act like a kid again.” Since she’s owned the Day School, she’s added new staff and programs but has no plans to expand. She wants to keep the business size small, so it remains an intimate homey environment for the kids, which she believes makes all the difference.
After 14 years of teaching at Puddle Duck Day School, Brittany Lupo had the opportunity to take over as owner. With her business degree and deep passion for education, she just needed a partner who understands small businesses and the best financing options available to make ownership a reality.
When a 25-year-old entrepreneur walked across the street from his auto repair shop to make daily deposits, he had no idea he was beginning a partnership that would span four decades. Jim Welch's journey from accounting student to successful automotive business owner illustrates how the right banking relationship becomes more than financial support. It becomes the foundation for sustained growth, unwavering trust, and generational success.
When his town's independent bookstore closed, Paul Swydan connected his entrepreneurial roots with his media background to create something new. Within just ten months, The Silver Unicorn Bookstore opened its doors—transforming both Paul's career path and his community's access to literature.
Contact us now to learn more about how Northern Bank can help you realize your goals and dreams.