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For more than 26 years, Zakia Gaston-Hobbs has dedicated her career to helping families through some of life's most difficult moments. As owner of Agape Funeral Services Inc., she has built a business founded on compassion, professionalism, and service while mentoring future funeral service professionals. When the opportunity arose to expand by acquiring and establishing an additional funeral home in Chicago's East Garfield Park neighborhood, Zakia recognized both the opportunity and the challenges that came with such a significant investment.
Although she had decades of experience in the funeral industry, expanding her business required specialized guidance in financial planning, business strategy, and long-term growth. A trusted colleague recommended the Illinois Small Business Development Center at Harper College, where Zakia was connected with Business Advisor Marge Johnsson.
From their first meeting, Marge became a trusted advisor throughout the expansion process. Together, they worked through financial forecasting, capital planning, operational strategy, and the many decisions involved in acquiring and opening a second location. Breaking the project into manageable steps gave Zakia the confidence to move forward while ensuring the business remained positioned for long-term success.
"At first, it was a challenge to find a mentor who truly understood the unique nuances, compliance requirements, and deeply personal nature of the funeral service industry," Zakia says. "I couldn't find the right fit until I met Ms. Marge Johnsson."
Beyond business strategy, Zakia says the partnership provided something equally valuable—encouragement during a demanding process.
"When the process became overwhelming and I got weary, Marge believed in me," she says. "She encouraged me to keep going, kept pushing me forward, and refused to let me quit."
With guidance from the Illinois SBDC, Zakia successfully navigated the financial, operational, and regulatory complexities of expanding her business. The project resulted in the successful acquisition and establishment of an additional funeral home, strengthened financial planning, and operational systems designed to support sustainable growth. Today, Agape Funeral Services is positioned to serve more Illinois families while continuing the compassionate care that has been the foundation of the business for more than two decades.
As the business continues to grow, Zakia plans to invest in facility improvements, technology modernization, and expanded services for the families she serves. She is pursuing community development funding to rehabilitate the new property while incorporating digital planning tools and enhanced hybrid memorial services that will improve accessibility and the client experience.
Reflecting on her experience, Zakia says partnering with the Illinois SBDC gave her both the strategic expertise and confidence needed to move the project forward.
"The Illinois SBDC at Harper College completely transformed how I approached our expansion. Beyond brilliant financial forecasting and strategic expertise, Marge's unwavering belief kept me moving forward when the workload got heavy. To me, she was like a godsend assigned specifically to the success of this project."
For Zakia, expanding Agape Funeral Services is about more than growing a business. It is about serving more families, strengthening her community, and creating opportunities for future generations of funeral service professionals. Through its partnership with entrepreneurs like Zakia, the Illinois SBDC at Harper College helps Illinois small businesses navigate complex challenges, make informed decisions, and build a strong foundation for long-term success.