08/09/2026
I wasn’t sure if I wanted to share this, but as a small business owner, I believe it’s important to share both the good and the difficult moments.
I have a regular customer who comes almost every week. A few weeks ago, they said they wouldn’t get paid until the following week and asked if they could pay then. I understood because I know what it’s like when money is tight, so I agreed.
The next week came, and instead of paying the previous balance, they picked up their usual order and said they’d pay the following week. I should have said no, but that’s not who I am. I know what it feels like to go without, and I never want to take away something that brings someone joy. I agreed, but told them it would be the last time.
Last week we were on vacation. This weekend, I arrived at the market around 7:30 AM to set up, and the customer was already waiting. I thought, “Wow, they came this early to pay me back. I knew they were good for it.”
Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case.
After I set up, they tried to take another order without paying the $20 they already owed. I had to stand my ground and say no. They tried to give me $12, but I wouldn’t accept it. I’m not going to take someone’s last dollar.
It was disappointing, but it taught me an important lesson:
Being kind doesn’t mean allowing your kindness to be taken advantage of.
As a small business, every drink represents ingredients, supplies, time, preparation, transportation, and hard work. We want to help when we can, but we also have to protect the business we’ve worked so hard to build.
Some may wonder why I did it in the first place. The answer is simple: joy.
I’m too shy to ask customers for photos or review videos, but I love hearing their stories—where our Agua Fresca goes, who they share it with, and how happy it makes them. I bring those stories home and share them with the Garcia Familia.
Lesson learned. We’ll set better boundaries moving forward, but the reason we started hasn’t changed.
The Agua Fresca will continue. ❤️
Thank you to everyone who genuinely supports our small business. You are the reason we keep going.
