SCORE Helps Mobile Beverage Catering Entrepreneur Scale Biz

If you think starting a business is challenging, try launching one while a college student. That’s what Abby Miller did in spring 2023 when she established her mobile beverage catering business, Pat on Tap.

But, before her 1957 Chevy – dubbed Pat, after her grandmother, Patsy, – could hit the road, she, along with friends and a welder, had to restore it. Restoration began in September 2021 and wrapped up in May 2023. While Pat was being readied, Miller purchased Dot, named for her grandmother, Dorothy, and that truck underwent the same restoration process, concluding about the same time as Pat.

“I was starting to get nervous that Pat wasn't going to get done fast enough,” Miller recalled of the nearly 2-year process. “How do you think I had money to redo the pickup? I had to work.”

In addition to running educational programs at the Leadership Center, a nonprofit organization, the 2024 animal science graduate put her entrepreneurship minor to work as a student business owner.

“I see my unique strengths and talents and abilities will be highlighted with the work that I do in the business world,” she said. “This is truly what I'm passionate about.”

Her business idea grew from an unfulfilled wish to have a horse trailer photo booth for her high school graduation. Then, during college, she saw a photo of a classic truck outfitted with taps and converted to a mobile drink service. Instantly the idea for Pat on Tap was born.

“I found a pickup truck and got to rebuilding it,” she said. “I did sand the exterior of that pickup at least five times. I was the CSO: The Chief Sanding Officer.”

Pat on Tap provided alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks at 10 events the first season throughout eastern and central Nebraska, growing to 30 last year with a goal of 70 events for 2025. In addition to alcoholic drinks, the trucks can whip up root beer floats, as well as hot chocolate and apple cider during fall, and specialty drinks such as iced coffee and “Husker Punch,” or cranberry citrus punch.

As she began contemplating scaling her business, Miller sought guidance from SCORE, a national nonprofit organization that supports small businesses through free mentoring. She was paired with SCORE Greater Omaha mentor Blake Martin, who has two decades of franchising and small business ownership expertise. Martin provided her with resources on franchising and replication, as well as a timeline.

“My challenge to you is to review all this material together, take good notes on three things that surprise you (good, bad, or neutral) and three things that excite you to want to explore this further,” Martin suggested.

Martin also helped Miller strengthen her pitch for SCORE’s 60th Anniversary Pitch Competition. She was one of 45 finalists.

“Whether I won or lost, what has always been important is the relationship. You can't always pay a sum of money to meet somebody you didn't know you were supposed to meet,” Miller said of networking with fellow entrepreneurs during the live event. “Those connections are so important.”

In Martin, Miller found a trusted advisor to help identify the qualifications needed to expand her business.

“I think we always know we need to get ‘better,’ but he helped define what ‘better’ is which can only be rooted in experience,” Miller said. “I probably couldn't have Googled that information, and even if I could, it wouldn't hold the same weight as a local expert.”

Looking ahead, Miller expects to finish restoring her third truck, Inez, this spring. With three trucks in the lineup, she will be able to provide drink service at more corporate events, weddings and large festivals, including Junkstock in 2025. The College World Series and the Country Drive Music Festival, she hopes, are on the horizon.

At a recent three-hour event she served 1,500 drinks.

“That would take at least seven or eight bartenders. I did that with a truck,” Miller said. “Waiting in line is probably one of the worst things you can do at an event.”

To learn more about SCORE, request a mentor or volunteer to be one, visit score.org.

About SCORE

Since 1964, SCORE has helped more than 17 million entrepreneurs start, grow, or successfully exit a business. SCORE's 10,000 volunteers provide free, expert mentoring, resources and education in all 50 U.S. states and territories. Visit SCORE at score.org.