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In 2019 Tandra Jordan was tired of living paycheck to paycheck, and she started a part-time cleaning business Ms. Tan’s OCD Cleaning Service to supplement her income. Today, Ms. Tan’s has 130 contracts across Arkansas, Mississippi, and Louisiana, and a workforce of 110 employees.  Tandra said “I take pride in my work” and her business growth reflects that commitment.

Like many successful entrepreneurs, Tandra combined hard work with a willingness to seek support when needed. When she was declined for a bank loan to support her growing business, Tandra reached out to Communities Unlimited where she was connected with a consultant who helped refine her business model and implement strong financial systems.

With that foundation in place, she received an early-stage loan supported by the Small Business Loan Guarantee Program designed specifically for businesses like this. As the business continued to grow, she later received a second loan utilizing another Arkansas tool designed to expand access to capital.

Tandra continued to engage in opportunities and in 2025 she was accepted into the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business Cohort, an intensive 12-week training course, which helped her think strategically about her business and long-term growth.

At the same time, her CDFI lender introduced her to a bank partner to begin building a traditional banking relationship. This connection will open the door to additional resources that position the business for continued growth.

Few entrepreneurs move from part-time startup to growth and success without a resource team to support them at each level. Ms. Tan’s OCD Cleaning Service sought out and benefitted from a variety of resources including one-on-one technical assistance, training programs, early-stage financing, loan guarantees, risk reduction strategies, and trusted partnerships, all working together as part of Arkansas’ small business ecosystem.

Reflecting on her journey, Tandra shared, “I was tired of living paycheck to paycheck and never imagined being a janitor would turn into a thriving business. I would not be here without the support of the community.”