Q. Kindly give our readers an introduction to your business. Please include what your business is all about, in which city you are located and if you have offices in multiple locations/ cities.
A. In the process of going through several major life changes I began toying with the idea of starting my own business, back in mid 2017. As I started down that path I realized that I would need to outsource quite a bit of jobs in order to be successful and not try to do everything myself. While processing with a business coach one day, he suggested that I consider being the sources of other’s outsourcing, and that is basically how Oostas began. I saw the need for small business owners to delegate a lot of different tasks to a lot of different places, and that there should be a one-stop-shop for everything a small business needs.
Q. Kindly give us a brief description about yourself (it should include your brief educational or entrepreneurial background and list some of your major achievements).
A. I’ve been working with graphic design and websites basically since high-school. I’ve co-founded a US based non-profit organization that works internationally, started several small businesses on the side, and helped others get their small business up and running. I’ve designed quite a few websites, worked in accounting and helped to lead several organizations.
Q. What inspired you to (start a new business venture) or (to make significant changes in an existing business)? How did the idea for your business come about?
A. Seeing the need for a single place where small businesses could come and fine everything they need to get their business up and running, and keep moving towards success. Everything from business insurance to complete website and marketing packages.
Q. What three pieces of advice would you give to budding entrepreneurs?
A. Get advice. Get more advice, and then get more advice. Keep asking people to go over your business plan, do marketing research, even if it’s simple. You’ll find tons of golden nuggets by asking lots of people for their thoughts; things you’ll never come up with by yourself. There is safety in counselors.
Q. What would you say are the top three skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur?
A. Humility. Flexibility. Frugality.
Q. How many hours do you work a day on average?
A. Currently, while starting up, around 10/day
Q. To what do you most attribute your success?
A. I ask lots of people for their advice, pray often and try to make decisions that will benefit my customers, not just my business.
Q. How do you go about marketing your business? What has been your most successful form of marketing?
A. We’re still in the beginning stages, but Search Engine Optimization is definitely a HUGE part of our marketing. Without a solid online presence we would never be able to get our business out there. We’re also doing a strong grass-roots campaign and hitting tons of local business owners via email marketing, phone calls and direct contact.
Q. Where did your organizations funding/capital come from and how did you go about getting it? How did you obtain investors for your venture?
A. We had recently sold some property so that was a big part of our initial capital. We applied for several grants, but did a very lean startup.
Q. What is the best way to achieve long-term success?
A. Again, humility, asking for advice, and keeping your customer’s happy. It is 7 times more expensive to gain a new customer than it is to keep an old one.
Q. Where you see yourself and your business in 5 – 10 years?
A. I’d love to have worked out all of the kinks by then, and be able to have kept our business relevant to small businesses; adapting to the needs change around us and offering small businesses everything they need, in one spot.
Q. Excluding yours, what company or business do you admire the most?
A. I have gained a lot of wisdom creativity from both Deluxe and Score.
Recommended Questions –
Q. How important have good employees been to your success?
A. Top of the chart. The few employees that I do have were gold mines, and without them I wouldn’t be where I am today.
Q. How long do you stick with an idea before giving up?
A. Pretty long. I usually wrestle with a new idea in my head for several days, and if it passes that test, I’ll start processing it with others around me to get their feedback.
Q. What motivates you?
A. My family.
Q. What are your ideals?
A. I want to serve others. My business goals are to be a solid asset to other small businesses and truly serve them, not just be another place where they come to spend their hard earned money. I want to honestly provide them with the products and services they need in order to be successful.
Q. How do you define success?
A. I’m successful when my employees are cared for and happy, when my customers are satisfied and have what they need, when I’m able to provide for and love my family and when I’m taking care of myself physically, emotionally and spiritually.
Q. How do you build a successful customer base?
A. Word of mouth. Customer reviews. Customers tell an average of 9 people about good experiences, and tell 16 people about poor experiences.
Q. What is your favorite aspect of being an entrepreneur?
A. The flexibility and ability to use my gifts and talents.
Q. What has been your most satisfying moment in business?
A. Hiring my first employee.