En este episodio, conversamos con Maria Jose (Majo) Castro, fundadora y abogada principal de Castroland Legal, sobre cómo los dueños de pequeños negocios pueden protegerse legalmente y asegurarse de que les paguen por su trabajo—especialmente en industrias como la construcción, el cuidado infantil y los servicios al hogar. Majo nos explica qué son los liens (gravámenes), por qué son importantes, y qué señales de alerta debemos tomar en cuenta al firmar contratos. También nos adelanta lo que compartirá en nuestro próximo Lunch & Learn el 21 de mayo. Si alguna vez has tenido problemas para que te paguen o quieres evitar dolores de cabeza legales, ¡no te pierdas de esta conversación!

Today, we’re joined by Maria Jose (Majo) Castro, founder and principal attorney at Castroland Legal, to talk about how small business owners can protect themselves and ensure they get paid—especially when working in industries like construction, childcare, and home services. Majo breaks down what liens are, why they matter, and what red flags to look for in contracts. We also preview our upcoming Lunch & Learn on May 21st, where Majo will dive deeper into this topic. If you’ve ever worried about chasing payments or protecting your business legally, this is the episode for you.

In our last episode, we explored managing debt for your business, and today, we’ve invited Daniel Bennett from WaFed Bank to see how small business owners can better prepare for business credit lines and loans. Many of our clients often ask about personal credit’s role in business loans, what lenders look for, and, most importantly, how to strengthen their credit to secure funding. We’re excited to have Daniel with us to share his expertise and insights into building a credit-ready business.

At EGBI, one of our core missions is to educate small business owners on the key aspects of running a successful and sustainable business. For many, one of the most daunting challenges is managing debt. But not all debt is bad—when approached responsibly, it can be a powerful tool for growth. We’re excited to speak with Gregory Dickinson from Truist Bank, who will share his perspective on how to take on debt responsibly and explore ways to fund your business.

En EGBI, una de nuestras misiones principales es educar a los dueños de pequeñas empresas sobre los aspectos clave para gestionar un negocio exitoso y sostenible. Para muchos, uno de los mayores desafíos es manejar la deuda. Pero no toda deuda es mala; cuando se maneja de manera responsable, puede ser una herramienta poderosa para el crecimiento. Hoy, estoy emocionado de hablar con Elibeth de Truist Bank, quien compartirá su perspectiva sobre cómo asumir deudas de manera responsable y explorará formas de financiar tu negocio.

Over the years, we have received many clients who are interested in baking, preserving, or creating artisanal foods in their home kitchens, then selling these goods over at markets, to friends, and to their community.

Are you passionate about baking, preserving, or creating artisanal foods in your home kitchen? Curious about turning your culinary hobby into a small business? Join us in this special episode as we dive into the ins and outs of Texas Cottage Food Laws. Our guest, Kelley Masters, President and Founder of Homemade Texas, has been a driving force behind the cottage food movement in Texas since 2009. Kelley will share her expertise on how you can legally and safely start a successful home-based food business.

For the past 20 years, EGBI has worked to make Central Texas a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive community, where economic mobility is an achievable dream for everyone. This year marks two decades of EGBI serving Austin's small business community. What began as a partnership between the Housing Authority of the City of Austin and the Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce has evolved into an independent organization that empowers community members to transform their ideas, talents, and dreams into thriving businesses.

In this special episode, we’re joined by Luis Delgado, an EGBI alumnus and current board member, to discuss the incredible impact EGBI has made over the years.

Durante los últimos 20 años, EGBI ha trabajado para hacer de Central Texas una comunidad más diversa e inclusiva, donde la movilidad económica sea un sueño alcanzable para todos. Este año marca dos décadas de EGBI sirviendo a la comunidad de pequeños negocios de Austin. Lo que comenzó como una asociación entre la Autoridad de Vivienda de la Ciudad de Austin y la Cámara de Comercio Hispana de Austin ha evolucionado en una organización independiente que empodera a los miembros de la comunidad para transformar sus ideas, talentos y sueños en negocios prósperos.

En este episodio especial, contamos con Lucero Archuleta Valle, una exalumna de EGBI, para discutir el increíble impacto que EGBI ha tenido a lo largo de los años. Juntos celebraremos el crecimiento de la organización y exploraremos cómo sigue apoyando y elevando a los emprendedores locales.