Pear Boba Tea

“The SBDC provided us with local resources to help identify funding opportunities. Theywalked us through a comprehensive cost and budgeting exercise to help us plan for thefiscal year and growth.”–Asia Caluori, Owner

Pearl Boba Tea is an Asian dessert cafe in Missoula, Montana. The cafe started as a projectbetween Asia Caluori and Dustin Anglen. They started selling bubble tea at the local farmer'smarket and discovered a void in the market. Asia and Dustin had the desire to expand andopened one retail location. After their initial expansion, they contacted the Missoula SBDC forguidance regarding a second location.

Regional Director Jennifer Stephens worked with Asia and Dustin in May of 2022 to completecash flow analysis to plan for a second brick-and-mortar location. Jennifer walked them througha monthly cost sheet exercise to help forecast sales and expenses for their first year runningmultiple locations. Asia and Dustin were also given resources to help them obtain a loan for theirsecond location.

With the help from Jennifer and the Missoula SBDC, Asia and Dustin obtained a $35,000 loanand an $8,000 grant to successfully launch the second location in downtown Missoula at the endof June 2022.

In 2022, Pearl Boba Tea hired 20 new employees, served over 53,000 drinks, donated $2,500 tolocal nonprofits, and provided sponsorships to local sports teams. Additionally, Asia and Dustinsource $98,000 in local ingredients from over a half-dozen local vendors providing tea, milk,alternative milks, and other items.

Jennifer said, "Asia and Dustin at Pearl Boba Tea are making a significant positive impact on theMissoula economy through their focus on sourcing local ingredients, paying employees abovemarket rate, donating proceeds from a monthly drink special to a local nonprofit, and creativelypartnering to support space for local artisans."