Automotive Business is Revving Up Success in St. Pete

Rainbow Muffler of Pinellas County

After being in the automotive space for about two decades Robert Fann thought it was time to own his own auto business. That’s when he decided to acquire a new business, Rainbow Muffler, a St. Petersburg-based automotive business, specializing in muffler repairs, general automotive services, and custom exhaust work.

“I’ve been in the diesel or automotive space for the better part of two decades. I went to school for automotive and had my degree. It seemed like the next logical step for me. I was previously a diesel technician and had been in my current role for about 10 years,” Fann expressed while speaking about why he chose to acquire this type of business.

The journey to ownership and growth has been fueled by guidance and determination. With the help of the Florida SBDC at USF and business consultant Bill Burnham, the new business owner successfully acquired the business and set it on the path to continued success.

To bring his vision to life, Fann turned to the Florida SBDC at USF for assistance with crafting a detailed business plan, financial projections, and securing a 7a Small Business Administration (SBA) loan for the acquisition.

“Bill has been really helpful and instrumental. He has helped us through the Florida SBDC at USF to do business plans, help us with acquiring our business, he’s also helped us to pick an industry that suits our experience and our backgrounds as well,” Robert Fann said.

Since acquiring the business, the results have been impressive. Customer demand has grown. “I’d say our biggest success so far is just acquiring the business because this is our first acquisition. Since taking over we’ve just been incredibly blessed with the type of success that the previous owners had. So we’re very blessed and happy to be here and we again, thank the SBDC at USF for helping us out with that,” Fann said.

The Florida SBDC at USF continues to be a trusted partner as the business looks toward the future. “Moving forward, our business will utilize the Florida SBDC at USF to help us with projections, marketing, as well as future acquisitions we might find worth while pursuing,” the business owner mentioned.

To other entrepreneurs considering assistance, Fann offers this advice: “One thing I could say about using the Florida SBDC at USF for other small business owners is they’re a great asset. They don’t charge you anything, they are very helpful and responsive, and they can help you grow your business,” Fann said

With expert support and a drive to succeed, this St. Petersburg automotive business is not just repairing vehicles—it’s building a legacy.