I started The Nitro Bar with $1,500 and wood from my basement. Here's how I grew it to a 7-figure business.

Audrey Finocchiaro, a 33-year-old co-founder of The Nitro Bar in Rhode Island, began her journey by turning a coffee cart into a thriving business that has since expanded to five locations. Finocchiaro and her boyfriend Sam started the venture with a $1,500 credit card balance and wood from her basement, creating a three-sided cart that they used to sell coffee from various locations.

The pair taught themselves about the coffee industry through YouTube tutorials, and their dedication paid off as they began to see substantial growth.

Finocchiaro's social media presence played a significant role in the company's growth, leading to more in-person business opportunities. The duo's unique approach of pretending to be customers at their own cart to encourage customer interaction proved successful. They sold their coffee alongside Allie's Donuts, often making around $400 on days when they sold coffee to hospital staff members.

In 2018, a local family invested $100,000 in the business, which was a game-changer for Finocchiaro and Sam. They used this investment to purchase a production facility and expand their wholesale accounts, growing from fifteen to over sixty. After running the coffee cart for about eight months, they were able to quit their restaurant jobs. The investment allowed them to open two storefronts, funded through four loans during the construction phase.

Finocchiaro emphasizes that an investment doesn't guarantee financial success, as costs continue to rise as the business scales. Today, The Nitro Bar has a strong social media following, with 227,000 Instagram followers and 648,000 TikTok followers, reaching millions of viewers. Finocchiaro aims to open her fourth store in Providence and her fifth location in New York City, with a focus on creating a welcoming environment and promoting mental health awareness.