The United States is a top destination for immigrants looking to fulfill their dreams; the prosperity and strength of the U.S. economy have nurtured numerous opportunities for aspiring entrepreneurs.

The numbers illustrate the reality as immigrants are 80 percent more likely to start a business than native-born citizens, with small businesses accounting for 99.9 percent of all American businesses. 

Frisco prides itself on being a good starting place for successful entrepreneurs and businesses, and the city is one of the most desirable places in the U.S. for businesses.

But along with the big names such as Dr. Pepper, the Dallas Cowboys, and the PGA calling Frisco home, the city is also the site of countless small businesses. According to Gaebler Ventures, there are more than 7,000 businesses in Frisco with less than 10 employees. 

“I think it’s vital to support small businesses because supporting small businesses means supporting the community and people around you,” senior Arshia Narula said. “There are so many small businesses around us, and everything we do to help them ultimately allows us to give back to and directly invest in the success of our community.”

Part of this small business community is Karmic Grounds, a coffee shop launched by four entrepreneurs, including Ravi Narula, the father of Arshia. 

“With the growing population in the area, one of the missing links has been a local coffee shop that brought in a lounge experience for the customers,” Ravi said. “That’s what Karmic Grounds is aiming to be.” 

Of all the fields in the food industry, Ravi chose to pursue a business in coffee to bring communities together.

“A cup of good gourmet coffee brings joy, togetherness, warmth, and a flow of ideas,” Ravi Narula said. “If one cup of coffee can have these positive flows of emotions, then it is the right business to be in.”

For Arshia, Karmic Grounds represents the hard work her parents put into creating a business.

“Since we opened Karmic Grounds, it’s not only been a family business for me but also my favorite coffee shop,” Narula said. “It’s special to me because it represents all of the hard work my parents have put in to establish a business and make an impact in the community.”

Narula has already implemented what she’s learned from Karmic Grounds to create Groundify, a business that provides services and products to repurpose coffee grounds into eco-friendly products.

“Karmic Grounds and my parents’ entrepreneurial goals have definitely inspired me to pursue entrepreneurial ambitions,” Narula said. “I see how much you can create to make an impact, whether at a small or large scale.”