Success Story - Truly Nails, LLC
Gaoyee Moua, a Stanly Community College cosmetology graduate and mother of four, turned her passion for nails into a career by launching Truly Nails, LLC in Locust, NC. Coming from a Hmong refugee family with no history of entrepreneurship, she had to navigate business ownership without a roadmap. While balancing motherhood and her studies, Gaoyee leaned on the Stanly Community College Small Business Center (SBC) for support, gaining guidance in LLC formation, financial planning, and compliance. “Even from the first day I met you [Cassidy], you were informative and patient and sat next to me as you walked me through the LLC process,” she shared.
With no prior experience in registration, budgeting, or customer strategy, Gaoyee overcame these challenges through SBC seminars like “Taking the Leap” and more than five hours of one-on-one counseling. The SBC helped her develop a detailed business plan, secure an EIN, understand BOI requirements, and build financial projections. She also gained customer discovery skills, marketing insights, and referrals to essential local resources. This hands-on support transformed daunting paperwork and technical details into manageable steps while building her confidence as a first-time business owner.
In 2025, Gaoyee successfully opened Truly Nails, hiring another SCC graduate and creating local workforce impact. Her story reflects resilience and growth—shaped by her parents’ example of perseverance, her own determination, and the guidance of the SBC. Today, she continues to use SBC resources as she grows her salon, proud to be a first-generation entrepreneur who not only built a business but also set an example for her children and community.
With no prior experience in registration, budgeting, or customer strategy, Gaoyee overcame these challenges through SBC seminars like “Taking the Leap” and more than five hours of one-on-one counseling. The SBC helped her develop a detailed business plan, secure an EIN, understand BOI requirements, and build financial projections. She also gained customer discovery skills, marketing insights, and referrals to essential local resources. This hands-on support transformed daunting paperwork and technical details into manageable steps while building her confidence as a first-time business owner.
In 2025, Gaoyee successfully opened Truly Nails, hiring another SCC graduate and creating local workforce impact. Her story reflects resilience and growth—shaped by her parents’ example of perseverance, her own determination, and the guidance of the SBC. Today, she continues to use SBC resources as she grows her salon, proud to be a first-generation entrepreneur who not only built a business but also set an example for her children and community.
"I don’t have anyone in my immediate family who are business owners, so to have the SBC offer services like this helped me open my business and be confident I was doing it the right way."
Gaoyee Moua
Owner, Truly Nails, LLC