We were lucky to catch up with Francesca Alvarado recently and have shared our conversation below.

Francesca , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear how you think where to draw the line in terms of asking friends and family to support your business – what’s okay and what’s over the line?

I feel incredibly fortunate to have the support system I do when it comes to my friends and family helping with my business. Whether it’s offering motivational feedback or sharing my business with others to spread the word, their encouragement means the world to me.

I also understand that not everyone is in the market for my services, and I would never pressure anyone to book me if they don’t want or need to. There’s a fine line when seeking support, and I truly respect that. I’m grateful for whatever level of support they feel comfortable offering.

Francesca , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Hi, I’m Francesca! I’m a 32-year-old Denver native who started bartending seven years ago to help support myself and my children. What began as a side hustle to earn extra cash quickly turned into a long-term passion.

It all started when an old friend called me in a panic—her bartender for her daughter’s quinceañera had canceled last minute, and she asked if I could step in. Of course, I said yes, happy to help a friend. We talked through drink options, what supplies she needed, and all the details.

That night, I bartended the event and had an absolute blast. When I got home, I couldn’t stop thinking about how much I enjoyed the experience.

Fast forward to today, and I’ve been running my own bartending business for nine months, all thanks to that one unforgettable night!

I love being able to do what I enjoy while creating memorable experiences for my clients. My service is designed to make things easy—clients provide the alcohol, and I take care of everything else. It’s been such a fulfilling journey, and I’m excited to see where it goes from here!

How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?

To be honest, I didn’t have much money saved to start or fund my business.

When I decided to move forward, I created a list of everything I’d need to get started and began slowly purchasing the equipment and supplies one piece at a time.

As for my bars, my husband built them right in our basement! I couldn’t be more thrilled with how they turned out. They hold so much meaning for me because they were made with love in our home to help bring my bartending services to life.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

When I first started my bartending business, I didn’t have much money to invest upfront. Buying or renting a professional bar was completely out of my budget, but instead of letting that stop me, I decided to get creative. My husband and I built the bars ourselves right in our basement. It wasn’t easy, but we poured our time, effort, and love into making them a reality.

At first, I doubted myself. I thought that without spending a lot of money on something extravagant, I wouldn’t succeed. But I quickly realized that success isn’t about flashy setups—it’s about the heart and dedication you put into what you do.

Now, every time I set up those bars at an event, I feel so proud of how far I’ve come. They’re not just tools for my business—they’re a symbol of perseverance and proof that you can achieve amazing things, even when starting with limited resources.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Www.behindthebarco.com
• Instagram: @behindthebar.co
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1GBkNENSZc/?mibextid=JRoKGi