In 1996, while a student at University of Mary Washington, Heidi Bass took a trolley ride that changed her life.

As the Trolley Tours of Fredericksburg’s trek around the city came to the end, Heidi heard her tour guide, Butch Wimmer, mention to his passengers that he was hiring drivers. A full-time student in need of income, Heidi approached Butch, who was also the founder and owner of the company, and asked if he was serious. Several months later, she earned her commercial driver’s license and started working as a part-time driver and tour guide.

“It was a fun job, a fun way to make money,” Heidi says.

It was so much fun that 25 years after she drove her first trolley route, Heidi bought the business with the help of the University of Mary Washington SBDC (UMW SBDC).

Even though Heidi had first-hand experience with all aspects of the company during more than two decades as driver, guide and general manager, she still sought out guidance for her entrepreneurial journey. UMW SBDC Director Susan Ball, who previously helped Trolley Tours with the SWaM certification process, stood ready and willing to lead the way.

“I felt confident in my understanding of the business. I felt confident in my abilities to own and operate it,” Heidi says. “But I needed guidance on, you know, getting the state corporation commission, getting established as an independent business, getting the loan paperwork, and working with the bank and getting all my ducks in a row.”

Along with helping Heidi navigate legal and procedural hurdles, Susan also put her in touch with the Bank of Charles Town in Fredericksburg. By June of 2023, Heidi had secured a loan and purchased the business, carrying forward what Butch Wimmer started nearly 30 years earlier.

Since taking over, Heidi has reinvested to upgrade her fleet of trolleys. She has continued to reach new audiences by hosting preschool classes, wedding parties, and trips to Fredericksburg’s many breweries, wineries and cideries.

Today, Trolley Tours of Fredericksburg offers the original Fredericksburg route as well as a holiday light tour, Santa trolley, and more. It appeals to people in all stages of life — in Heidi’s words, “from cradle to grave” — and has even received a request from one patron to someday transport her ashes to her funeral.

“I know how lucky I am to have purchased a thriving business,” Heidi says. “That doesn’t happen every day.”

But for all the strides Heidi made in the company, her transition to owner couldn’t have happened without the SBDC.

“Their help was essential,” Heidi says. “I am grateful for their support. I didn’t know where to start as far as buying the business. But I knew — having already met Susan and worked with her on other things — I knew that’s where I could go to find the answers I needed.”