Aesthetics Practice Unlocks Capital and Growth
FSBDC at UCF Guides MC Aesthetics Through Planning, Lending Connections, and Expansion
February 9, 2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Hal Thayer, Communications Director, FSBDC at UCF, 407.420.4850 or HThayer@ucf.edu
Jairo Batista, Consultant/Marketing Director, FSBDC at UCF, 407.420.4853 or Jairo.Batista@ucf.edu
Orlando, FL – Regardless of a company’s size or industry, growth requires capital. Milestones such as expanding facilities, adding equipment, and increasing staff demand funding, and cash flow from operations often falls short in financing such new developments. This was the case for Melissa Castro, founder and owner of MC Aesthetics Laser & Wellness Center (formerly MC Elite Aesthetics). In seeking additional capital to expand her business, she turned to the Florida Small Business Development Center at the University of Central Florida (FSBDC at UCF) and found the guidance and support she needed.
MC Aesthetics Laser & Wellness Center specializes in anti-aging services and offers high-quality skincare products, aesthetic injectables, medical weight loss programs, vitamin IV drips, and FDA‑approved PDO threads. As an experienced medical provider committed to helping clients meet all their aesthetic and wellness goals, Castro prioritizes medical-grade care in a modern, cutting-edge environment. “Our patients love coming to us because we provide a wide range of services,” she explains. “We’re able to combine science with a mixture of beauty and strive to provide high quality patient care with great results.”
When Castro decided to expand her practice, she connected with the FSBDC at UCF and began working closely with consultant Jairo Batista through the center’s no-cost, expert business consulting services. Together, they mapped out the steps needed to elevate her business. “I was able to see local resources that were able to assist me in obtaining a Small Business Administration (SBA) guaranteed loan for small business growth,” she recalls. “Some of the resources provided to me by the FSBDC was assisting with my business plan, future growth plans, and connections with lenders.”
Working with the FSBDC proved invaluable to Castro. “My experience with the FSBDC was amazing,” Castro shares. “Jairo was very attentive to my needs. If I had any questions, he was always very knowledgeable and always available for me. I would say to future entrepreneurs to definitely look into the FSBDC as a resource. You would have an incredible team that’s able to guide you through the process. It is an amazing opportunity.”
With the SBA-guaranteed loan she secured—assisted by the FSBDC—Castro achieved the expansion she envisioned. “The changes I have seen since working with the FSBDC has been significant growth within my practice, especially by obtaining a new building – a commercial property where we are able to expand our services for patients and add new devices. I just want to say ‘thank you’ to everyone that assisted in the process of helping me grow my business,” she concludes.
For information about MC Aesthetics Laser & Wellness Center, please visit https://mceliteaesthetics.com/ .
— FSBDC —
About the FSBDC at UCF
Hosted by the University of Central Florida (UCF), and with its main office in the National Entrepreneur Center located at the Fashion Square Mall in Orlando, the Florida Small Business Development Center at the University of Central Florida (FSBDC at UCF) is part of part of UCF’s Office of the President and the Florida SBDC Network.
The Florida SBDC at UCF provides aspiring and existing small businesses with no-cost consulting, low-cost training, and access to business data and research resources. In addition to its core service offering, the Florida SBDC at UCF also offers specialized services to qualifying companies, including capital access, market growth, government contracting, international trade, business continuation, cybersecurity, disaster planning and recovery, and more. The FSBDC at UCF serves an eight-county area that includes Brevard, Flagler, Lake, Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Sumter, and Volusia counties and maintains 9 service centers across Central Florida.
In 2024, the FSBDC at UCF served 2,277 entrepreneurs in Central Florida with consulting services, resulting in more than 2,855 jobs impacted; $564.3 million in sales growth; $57.2 million in capital formation; $161.1 million in government contract awards; and 142 new businesses started. For more information, please visit www.sbdcorlando.com.
About the Florida SBDC Network
For nearly 50 years, the Florida SBDC Network, the state’s principal provider of business assistance [Fl. Stat. 288.001], has nourished a statewide partnership between higher education and economic development to provide existing and emerging small and medium-sized business owners with management and knowledge resources that enable overall growth, increased profitability, and economic prosperity for Florida’s economy.
In 2024, the Florida SBDC Network delivered 107,812 hours of consulting to 15,474 small business clients – resulting in business owners securing $304 million in capital, $732 million in government contracting, impacting 19,800 jobs, increasing sales by over $3.8 billion, and creating 1,019 businesses.
With over 40 offices statewide, the Florida SBDC is funded in part by the U.S. Small Business Administration, Department of Defense, State of Florida and other private and public partners. Full funding disclosure available at www.floridasbdc.org/funding-disclosures/.
The Florida SBDC Network, headquartered at the University of West Florida, is nationally accredited by the Association of SBDCs and is a recipient of the President’s E Award for Export Service. Florida SBDC services are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis. Language assistance services are available for individuals with limited English proficiency. For more information, please visit www.FloridaSBDC.org.
FSBDC at UCF | 3201 E. Colonial Drive | Orlando, FL 32801 | p 407.420.4850 | f 407.420.4862
sbdc@ucf.edu | www.sbdcorlando.com
