Each year SCORE Chester and Delaware Counties recognizes owners and entrepreneurs that have demonstrated unique vision, innovation, and achievement in support of our local economy and small business community.

Congratulations to the six small businesses and nonprofits honored on June 6 at the annual Small Business Achievements Awards event at Penn Oaks Golf Club in West Chester.

Meet Award-Winner Alicia Goldy, Founder and CEO

Alicia Goldy and SCORE worked together to improve her business processes and website experience to be more engaging.

For many families, finding reliable, consistent, quality childcare that meets the needs of the family is extremely difficult. 

Trying to hire and retain a nanny can be a daunting experience. 

Alicia Goldy, having worked as a nanny, preschool teacher and executive administrator, realized that by creating a boutique nanny referral service, she could provide a comprehensive and personal approach to finding the right nanny for a family.  

In addition to identifying nannies, she handles the background screening, interviews and also provides support to the families with regards to them going through the hiring process, including workload expectations, pay, benefits and legal requirements.

The business started in 2019 as a part-time endeavor and Alicia decided to name it “Balia” which means nanny in Italian, in honor of Alicia’s family background. 

In 2021, Alicia saw an opportunity with the pandemic to take the business to the next level and went to work in it full time.  During this time, there was a major shift to employees working from home who still needed childcare.   Simultaneously, daycares where closing.  In Alicia’s words, she “had an idea and went for it.” As others did during this time, she pivoted and took her business virtual.

How SCORE helped

The market for nannies ebbs and flows with the economy.  As a referral agency, Balia Nanny Referral Agency LLC needs to gain new clients constantly.

Alicia originally contacted SCORE in April 2023 to improve the marketing of her company and met with Lisa Bussom, a SCORE mentor. 

Although Alicia had completed a strategic analysis and business plan when she first launched Balia Nanny Referral Agency LLC, things had changed since COVID.

SCORE Subject Matter Expert Dave Gerhardt was brought in to discuss her marketing strategy and web presence.

Dave helped to provide an objective view of her website. While traffic was getting to the site, which indicated that her external marketing was somewhat effective at driving traffic to the website, visitors were not spending much time browsing the content.  

To increase attention and interest on the site, Dave helped provide a view for Alicia to see her site from a prospective client’s perspective, focusing on what the business could do for the client…

Read the full story.

Find a SCORE mentor today.

SCORE, the nation’s largest network of volunteer business experts, is dedicated to helping small businesses get off the ground, grow and achieve their goals.

Since 1964, SCORE has provided education and mentorship to more than 11 million entrepreneurs nationwide.

SCORE Chester and Delaware Counties has been operating since 1985, with 100 dedicated volunteers today who provide confidential mentoring at no charge and offer business seminars, workshops and webinars to benefit the local community. 

SCORE is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and a resource partner of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).