SOAR Magazine Volume 2 Issue 2

JOSE SAUCEDO

The Everyday Entrepreneur Venture Fund (EEVF) offers students and small business owners the opportunity of a lifetime: a generous start-up grant that supplements their business endeavors.

Run through CVCC’s Small Business Center and funded by generous donations to the CVCC Foundation, EEVF guides local entrepreneurs through short-term training courses and business counseling. Topics like creating a profitable business plan, budgeting, profit and loss, and perfecting the business pitch are woven into the program curriculum. At the end of the program, students are tasked with developing their small business plan and pitching their ideas to a funding committee for the chance to receive a start-up grant.

The generosity of the EEVF and Small Business Center has impacted the lives of many businessowners, including Hickory native Jose Saucedo, who recieved the EEVF grant in 2023.

Saucedo is the founder and owner of JS Auto Detailing, LLC, a fully-mobile auto detailing company which serves the residents of Burke County, Catawba County, Lincolnton, Charlotte, and surrounding areas. Services consist of luxury detailing: paint correction, ceramic coding, deep cleaning, and other special requests. To make their services more affordable, the company offers maintenance packages which provide select amenities at a lower price.

But the most impressive aspect of JS Auto Detailing is that the company brings its services to their clients’ neighborhood—so customers can relax and access auto servicing that is most convenient to them.

“We don’t want to just stick to our niche,” Saucedo says. “We want to stand out from competitors who don’t provide mobile cleaning services straight to our clients’ homes.”

Saucedo recognized the value of interpersonal networking from his high school years, participating in the school’s TEEN-UP program. As an active member of TEEN-UP, he took the role of the committee’s student representative, networking with leadership among educational systems and youth outreach organizations to streamline community resources for those in need.

Outside of his high school commitments, Saucedo also developed a passion for the automotive industry and auto detailing. He played with the idea of opening his own detailing business—and after a few years, as he continued his education at Catawba Valley Community College, he found a moment where his ambitions took flight. It all started when Saucedo enrolled in the college’s Entrepreneurship program. As a budding entrepreneur, it was important that he made strong professional connections; through the program, Saucedo experienced just that. One day, he and his classmates received an email from the CVCC Small Business Center about the opportunity to attend the trainings and apply for the Everyday Entrepreneur Venture Fund. This was a blessing—and risk—which set his sights on exciting “what-if’s”.

“You have to work very hard just to be considered [for EEVF],” he shares. “It’s a risk to put yourself out there. You’re giving strangers the option to critique the ideas you hold close to your heart.”

He decided to make the most of his experience no matter the outcome. He accepted the invitation, enrolled in the program, and arrived at the first EEVF meeting full of anticipation.

But the moment he stepped into the meeting, he realized that the competition would be intense. The EEVF cohort was full of talented nominees, all of whom shared his grit and ambitious spark.

“Sometimes, risks can shake you or break you,” he says. “Sometimes, you come out of the experience with more confidence and direction than ever before.”

Competition aside, the program inspired Saucedo. He found himself once again exploring the idea of an auto detailing company.

His next step? Finding mentors who could guide him down the path to success and help him define the perimeters of a strong business plan. Though the mobile, directto-home philosophy of JS Auto Detailing appealed to his audience, he also knew there was much to learn regarding company policies and the day-to-day operations which would make it function.

“Organizations such the Chamber of Catawba County, Business International, and the Small Business Center were amazing supporters,” he says. “Everyone I met walked me through new areas about business that I did not know about. The experience changed how I handled [JS Auto Detailing] and impacted my view of entrepreneurship.” But his core philosophy remained the same— Saucedo understood the value of personal relationships. Without a deep understanding of its audience, a brand can only reach so far.

In just two years, JS Auto Detailing has managed to develop its brand reputation, increase profitability, and continue to connect with clientele. Saucedo is excited about the company’s accomplishments. He plans for JS Auto Detailing to expand their services: tinting, car wraps, PPF (paint protection film), and additional high-end services.

“Winning this award put me on the map of Catawba County,” says Saucedo. “Those eyes are now on me, and it’s making me push myself harder to make a change. I believe that a collection of years led to this moment, and I express my gratitude to my EEVF mentors. The EEVF—their support, their network, and their resources—needs to be placed in the spotlight.”