Lifting Spirits with Chocolate
Brandon Busch started Lift Chocolate in 2017. The name comes from his time as a helicopter pilot in the Marines, flying a helicopter designed to lift heavy loads. The Corps was important to him, but he also had other interests he aspired to do.
When active duty ended, Brandon went to pastry school, having always wanted to work in a kitchen. He had a fairly easy time making almost everything…except chocolate, oddly enough.
While most people would simply decide to avoid making anything that involved chocolate, Brandon did just the opposite. He developed an obsession for getting it right and worked tirelessly at it. After some ups and downs, making chocolate ultimately became a passion and that’s how the idea for Lift Chocolate was born.
As the business grew, something else began to weigh on his mind. Brandon believes that asset ownership is a big deal. Owning a business is not just about living your dream with the work you are passionate about. His advice to other small business owners is that if you plan on being somewhere for a while, figure out how to own the real estate. Paying a mortgage and gaining equity versus paying rent is not just good for him, but also good for his business and for his employees.
For Brandon, Longmont was home so that’s where he decided to set up shop. Brandon found the perfect property: 2 units with a kitchen in front and storage and office room in back.
However, post COVID brought substantial impacts on the business and affected the financials. Working with FirstBank and B:Side Capital, he was approved for a SBA 504 loan, allowing him to fulfill his dream of owning a permanent locale.
His hopes for the future are to grow organically at their current location. With the business performing well and being a regular supplier to stores like Whole Foods, Williams Sonoma, and Sur La Table, he finds it likely they will need an additional space.
In the meantime, Brandon has found a rare thing: balance for the two favorite pieces of his life. He runs a successful business while remaining a Reservist in the Marine Corps. As he puts it, he gets to live his best life both ways. He admits some days are difficult. Yet, as he says, “How can you be angry when you work with chocolate and there’s Van Halen on the radio?”