Success Story _ Royal Gold

Royal Gold | Durango, CO

Michelle Hill, founder of Royal Gold, isn’t just cleaning homes and preparing venues—she’s rewriting the future for her two daughters. Since launching her business in October 2022, Michelle has built a company rooted in care, commitment, and community. 

Based in Durango, Colorado, and serving the greater San Juan Mountain area, Royal Gold is a cleaning and caretaking service that offers customized packages for residential and vacation homes, as well as both large and small venues and events. Michelle and her team manage it with grace and grit, from setting up weddings and other celebrations.

But behind the growing business lies a deeply personal story. As a single mom to two young girls, Michelle faced challenges that would stop many in their tracks. “Right now, I’m the admin, HR, accountant, and on-site trainer,” she says. “It’s fun and exciting, but I’m learning how to step back and trust that not everything has to be perfect—we’re doing an excellent job.”

Her journey took a major turn in August 2023, when she walked into West Slope Startup Week. “I didn’t even know how I heard about it,” she recalls. “I felt small, scared—but I saw the SBDC there and knew instantly: this would be my lifeline.” That moment sparked a partnership that would become foundational for Michelle and Royal Gold.

Michelle gained access to resources she had never imagined through the Colorado Small Business Development Center (SBDC) serving the Southwest. Her first step was a phone call, soon followed by meetings with several Colorado SBDC advisors who assisted her in defining her niche, understanding her data, and identifying her business’s value. “I needed support, education, and I had minimal access to either,” she says. “The Colorado SBDC planted a seed.”

While juggling a W2 job and raising her two daughters, Michelle devoted every spare moment to learning and growing Royal Gold. She began by enrolling in “The Idea Lab”, a microfinance-focused course through a partner organization. She quickly expanded her efforts by diving into free online training videos offered statewide through the Colorado SBDC. Along the way, she signed up for QuickBooks Online to better understand her finances—a step she now sees as part of her microfinance journey. 

Her commitment to growth eventually led her to the Colorado SBDC’s LEADING EDGE™ program, a business course that changed the game for her. It combines classroom learning, expert advice, and hands-on exercises to help entrepreneurs like Michelle build solid, actionable business plans and set a strong foundation for long-term success. “That course gave me the tools and confidence I didn’t even know I needed,” Michelle says. “By the end, I understood the bones of my business and how to build something sustainable.”

In July 2024, Michelle refinanced her house in her own name, providing herself with greater stability and the opportunity to focus on her business. Since then, Royal Gold has taken off, with Michelle acquiring contracts, new clients, and a deepened sense of purpose. “I have so much support now—and I get to support others, too,” she says.

Today, Michelle exemplifies what can happen when resilience meets resources. Her daughters are watching her build something powerful—not just a business, but a legacy.

“It brings me to tears,” she says, “thinking about how lucky I am to be creating the future of my dreams for my girls. I’m so grateful. I wouldn’t be here without the Colorado SBDC.”