Now is a great time to share small business stories of strength and resilience. Especially one like Top Gun Orlando, which was able to both expand and continue operating with Small Business Administration (SBA) and Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans from The Bancorp.

The Bancorp Small Business Lending team works with current and future small business owners in many different industries to develop applications for Small Business Administration (SBA) loans. One of them is Anni McClellan, owner of the Top Gun Orlando competitive cheerleading business.

Anni connected with The Small Business Lending team with a plan to build a new $5 million training facility with upscale amenities and state-of-the-art equipment. After meeting Anni, the team quickly realized that her in-depth knowledge of the competitive cheerleading business — both as a former competitive cheerleader and having owned a cheerleading business prior to becoming a Top Gun franchisee in 2014 — would be valuable when developing her SBA loan application.

Anni McClellan, Owner, Top Gun Orlando

To understand Anni’s need for more space and client amenities, the team made several visits to her existing Top Gun facility and recognized that students and their parents spent several hours per day at Top Gun. With that in mind, Anni’s plans for a larger, more comfortable space for parents and spectators, and concessions for families to grab a quick bite seemed right on track with her clients’ growing needs. During the evaluation phase, Anni realized that cheerleading and tumbling training only occupied the facility for about six hours per day. When figuring out ways to maximize facility use, she realized that she could bring in additional revenue by hosting birthday parties, offering after-school care and starting a summer camp.

With Anni’s business acumen and industry expertise, and the team’s knowledge of SBA loan requirements, Anni received an SBA 504 loan. The new Top Gun facility opened in December 2019 to great fanfare in the community and from the Top Gun franchise owners. Since then, Anni has increased enrollment for tumbling classes. She is also receiving email from parents around the world, planning to bring their children for Top Gun cheerleading instruction when visiting the Orlando area. She also continues to receive glowing feedback on the high quality of the facility from both parents and visitors.

With a Paycheck Protection Program loan from The Bancorp, Top Gun Orlando recently reopened and continues to thrive.

Congratulations to Anni and The Bancorp Small Business Lending team for turning business vision into reality!

Founded in 1994 by Victor and Kristen Rosario, the Top Gun franchise has grown to five U.S. locations. The Top Gun All Stars teams have won 12 Cheerleading World Championships, establishing themselves as a world-renowned brand for competitive cheerleader training.

The opinions, findings, or perspectives expressed in this content are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of The Bancorp, Inc., its affiliates, or its or their employees.