Bob Deese has spent most of his career in the collision repair industry. But even while he was managing and working in businesses other than his own, he had always searched for innovative means to improve the businesses, as well as to find a possible business opportunity for himself and his wife, Cindy.

However, not just any business opportunity would do. Bob and Cindy were searching for a business prospect that would allow them to achieve specific goals, the first being to establish a business where daily supervision was unnecessary, as the caliber and the professionalism of the employees would make micro-management unnecessary.

Thinking far ahead, they also wanted a business with a true exit strategy, one with a value of its own not tied to management. In addition, they dreamt of owning a business that would employ high-level employees and have limited turnover.

Their dream was realized when Bob and Cindy opened Any Lab Test Now in 2008.

Starting the business came with many challenges. The first obstacle was overcoming the reluctance of the established, traditional medical community toward their business model — they advise all those that use their services to seek proper medical attention.

The second challenge Bob and Cindy had to face was building awareness about the existence of Any Lab Test Now in Bob and Cindy’s community. Another ongoing challenge has been to obtain a working capital loan for the business. They had applied to a number of banks, but had been turned down by them.

Any Lab Test Now provides direct access to a medical testing lab by supplying a doctor’s order in the case when a patient doesn’t have a doctor’s referral. With over 110 facilities around the United States, the company offers various confidential medical lab tests that a patient can receive at hospitals and other labs, but with more convenience and at a lower cost.

Another service offered by Any Lab Test Now is company drug testing. Small employers find a service they can afford with Any Lab Test Now, as the larger labs concentrate on the bigger companies and AnyLab Test Now takes the time to educate companies on the finer points of drug testing.

At present the most difficult financial obstacle facing Any Lab Test Now is the need for operating capital. But Bob says that they are on the path to success and that with continued effort, the business will indeed thrive.

Bob believes that his company serves his community by providing many people the opportunity to have the diagnostic lab testing they need, but as of now have not been able to afford.

In addition, Any Lab Test Now will be partnering with a community clinic that will be opening soon in Wyomissing which will allow many people to come to Any Lab Test Now just for that specific reason.

Bob was first introduced to the Kutztown Small Business Development Center (SBDC) by Michael Rivera of the Greater Reading Chamber of Commerce. Bob as introduced to consultant Lisa Clark, who led him through the maze of information and the process of how to register with the various government agencies that typically purchase his services. Lisa explained how to establish relationships with contacts within the different government sectors – federal, state and local. She also reviewed all of is applications in order to assure that he applied his efforts correctly and accurately.

Any Lab Test Now won a contract to service NASA’s Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base in California as a result of the assistance from the Kutztown University SBDC government procurement consultant. The contract is worth $90,000.00 yearly and has the potential to last 5 years. Bob and his company have also submitted bids to several other venues and have learned an incredible amount regarding how bids are submitted and how to position themselves in order to be in contention to win those bids.

Bob says that he received the highest level of personal and direct attention from the SBDC at Kutztown University than from other institutions he had previously contacted. He pointed out that often as an entrepreneur, you may not be aware of what resources are available for small businesses: “By meeting with the SBDC you get an opportunity to find information that you will have no other means of finding.”