Q 1. Give our readers an introduction to your business. Include what your business is all about, in which city you are located and if you have offices in multiple locations/ cities.
Ans: In business since 1990. Family owners: Michael Tulp – certified entomologist and sanitarian Anne Marie Tulp – president 2017 President of the Florida Pest Management Association
Q 2. Give us a brief description about yourself (it should include your brief educational or entrepreneurial background and list some of your major achievements).
Ans: Michael – has a degree in Entomology. He grew up in the family business. Anne Marie – former bank manager and loan officer. She has been a multi-platinum winner several times for best pest control on the Treasure Coast.
Q 3. 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?
Ans: Michael was into the family business since 1990. Afterwards, he decided to move to Florida to start his own company. The idea of starting such a business came when Michael tried to get rid of doves and offered other free services just to break into the area.
Q 4. What three pieces of advice would you give to budding entrepreneurs?
Ans: 1. Have enough money in your savings account that can sustain you for a year – Don’t expect to draw an initial paycheck.
2. Try not to borrow money when starting a business.
3. It’s not easy putting up your own business because if it is, everyone should be doing it.
Q 5. What would you say are the top three skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur?
Ans: 1. Throw your ego out of the window because you must be willing and able to perform any required task.
2. Give back to your community.
3. Always plan for the worst case scenario.
Q 6. How many hours do you work a day on average?
Ans: When you live with your business partner, you work 24/7 even on vacation.
Q 7. To what do you most attribute your success?
Ans: 1. Staff dedication
2. Attention to detail
3. Sharing the same goals with your partner
Q 8. How do you go about marketing your business? What has been your most
successful form of marketing?
Ans: 1. Referrals – our biggest growth comes from here
2. Social media (website)
3. Word of mouth
Q 9. Where did your organizations funding/capital come from and how did you go about getting it? How did you obtain investors for your venture?
Ans: We were both employees in New York in 1990 before we moved to our current location. We never borrowed funds to start our business and we lived roughly for the first couple of years.
Q 10. What is the best way to achieve long-term success?
Ans: Think outside of the box. Plan ahead for downturns. Who could have predicted that there will be a recession? But those companies that are financially stable have made it through. Just look for ways in which things can be done easier and more efficiently.
Q 11. Where you see yourself and your business in 5 – 10 years?
Ans: Taking advantage of the major advances in technology by becoming paperless. Continuing to provide the best customer care possible, by providing them with services that they need.
Q 12. Excluding yours, what company or business do you admire the most?
Ans: Uber – what a concept. Why have not previous taxi owners thought of that? As a result, Uber has become the worst enemy of other taxi companies today.
Q 13. How important have good employees been to your success?
Ans: Very essential. Without them, you might as well close your business.
Q 14. How long do you stick with an idea before giving up?
Ans: Not long. I follow a certain concept, then find a different approach to execute it according to my customers’ needs.
Q 15. What motivates you?
Ans: New concepts and employees who make the business goals possible.
Q 16. How do you generate new ideas?
Ans: Attending conferences Networking with other small business owners
Q 17. How do you define success?
Ans: Success happens when you turn every problem into a motivation to do better in life. After all, a new learning experience would not have been possible if a problem has never existed in the first place.
Q 18. How do you build a successful customer base?
Ans: By providing great service to your target market then, grow from their referrals and from the social media.
Q 19. What do you feel is the major difference between entrepreneurs and those who work for someone else?
Ans: As an entrepreneur, you are not only responsible for yourself but also for your employees and customers.
Q 20. What kind of culture exists in your organization? How did you establish this tone and why did you institute this particular type of culture?
Ans: We give importance to family time. It might not be applicable to other pest control companies, but we don’t work at night on weekends.
Q 21. In one word, characterize your life as an entrepreneur.
Ans: I’m an entrepreneur who likes multitasking.
Q 22. If you had the chance to start your career over again, what would you do differently?
Ans: Nothing. Our business gave us the opportunity to raise our son and be with him during his important activities. It was never about the money.
Q 23. What is your greatest fear, and how do you manage fear?
Ans: Back in New York, in 1990, when we were building a stadium for spring training. From there, we saw the potential.
Q 24. How can you prevent mistakes or do damage control?
Ans: Quality control – but mistakes are inevitable because we are all human. As long as nobody gets hurt, we can live with that.
Q 25. What are your hobbies? What do you do in your non-work time?
Ans: 1. Do yoga.
2. Read good books.
3. Watch movies.
4. Go to the beach.
Q 26. What sacrifices have you had to make to be a successful entrepreneur?
Ans: Probably never being able to completely shutdown, getaway, and recharge. But we still need to be happy every once in a while.
Company Detail:
Company : Adam’s Pest Control
Contact : Anne-Marie Tulp
Address : 601 Heritage Drive
City : Jupiter
State : FL
Zip : 33458
Phone : 561-743-7283
Email : customercare@adamspest.biz
Office Hours : Monday To Friday : 9:00 AM To 4:00 PM
Payment Option : AMEX, Visa, Mastercard, Discover
Url : http://www.adamspest.biz
Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/adamspest
Twitter : https://twitter.com/adamspest
