When Crista Avron joined Washington Window & Glass Services, as an assistant, she never expected to one day own the company. Her path to ownership began early on—shortly after starting, she took on increasing responsibility and became deeply involved in the business’s day-to-day operations. The company installs windows and doors, shower doors, mirrors, and skylights, and as she learned more about the business, the more she loved helping customers and giving them great service.
When the opportunity arose to purchase the company in late 2024, it was a chance to take the reins at a business she already knew inside and out. But like many who dream of buying a business, she and her husband, Andy, weren’t sure if they would be able to get the financing needed to make it happen.
Today, Crista and Andy own Washington Window & Glass Services thanks to financing through Grow America’s SBA 7(a) loan program. They were able to keep the same crew through the transition, retain their customers, and begin building a family legacy by bringing their children into the business—a dream made possible with the right partner.
A promising acquisition hits a roadblock
Crista and Andy had talked about buying the business, but it felt like a big leap they kept putting off. Then one day, Andy came in to help with a project and took a closer look at the company’s finances. At the time, Andy owned his own tire installation business, so he understood what he was looking at. As Crista recalls, “He looked at the numbers and saw what the cost was and what the profit was and said, ‘We could do this.’” With a new sense of possibility, they began exploring financing options through local lenders.
While one lender required a 30% down payment, an amount that simply wasn’t realistic, another offered a path forward with only 10% down, so Crista and Andy moved ahead with the application process.
What followed was more than a year of delays, repeated requests for documentation, and uncertainty about where things stood. “We’d be getting closer and closer and closer, and then we’d have another delay,” Crista says. “They wouldn’t answer me back about what we needed, or we’d have to submit the same documents again and again.”
Ultimately, their loan was denied, with the lender citing economic factors outside of Crista and Andy’s control. It felt like the end of the road. But when that door closed, a window opened: the lender who turned them down pointed them to Grow America.
Grow America offered real communication and a fast timeline
When Crista reached out to us, she felt the difference immediately. “I got an email back within a couple of hours,” she says, “and then I was on the phone with Brian [a Grow America lender] the next day.” After learning about the business, we recommended the SBA 7(a) loan to fund the acquisition and started the process.
Crista says she received a clear checklist of what they needed to do. With that in hand, they began to work through the application process. Crista and Andy followed their progress in Grow America’s application portal, so they knew exactly where they stood at any given moment.
Even as things were moving forward, however, Crista admits she was skeptical. “We spent a year and a half fighting tooth and nail just to submit paperwork and be told no,” she says, “We worked with Brian for three months, and we got everything submitted, and he said it all looked great.”
For Crista, it seemed too good to be true, but as closing approached, she says she realized “this is really real. This is really going to happen.” From initial outreach to approval, the SBA 7(a) process with Grow America took about four months. Just like that, they were small business owners.
A business acquisition loan built for growth
“Everything changed the day that we closed,” says Crista. “When we got that approval, it was the biggest party that we could possibly have.”
For Washington Window & Glass Services, the loan funded more than just the initial acquisition. Since SBA 7(a) loans can also be used for a variety of business expenses, Crista was able to upgrade the crew’s tools and uniforms. She also paid off the loans on two company vehicles, covered payroll, and took care of some unexpected bills along the way.
Everything Crista does is with the customers in mind, and the loan gives her room to be proactive rather than reactive. With the 7(a) funds, she says “We can continue to turn a profit and get customers the help that they need and get things installed and make them happy.”
A family-owned business and a legacy made possible with Grow America
Getting this loan didn’t change things for just Crista and Andy. While they were applying for the loan, Andy had someone lined up to buy his business with the contingency that he was able to buy Washington Window. Once the funding went through, Andy was able to sell his previous business to another entrepreneur.
For Crista and Andy, one of the greatest gifts of owning this business is what it means for their family. Their daughter came on as an assistant and their son as a technician. Crista says proudly, “We’re training them now so they can run this family-owned business, and that will support their families moving forward.”
Grow America helps make business acquisition possible with the SBA 7(a) loan program. If you’re an employee hoping to buy the business you work at, an aspiring entrepreneur, or a partner who supports these types of deals, we’re here to work alongside you to navigate the SBA 7(a) lending process. To discuss funding opportunities or the application process, reach out to us today. We’ll sit down with you, learn about the business, and review your financials to determine the right path forward.
