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Hello QuickBooks Community!!!! We are back again with another small business interview, but this time we will be taking a road trip to Pensacola, Florida. Here we can find the beautiful white sandy Pensacola Beach, a lot of history and adventures but also Harry Stanley III. A local entrepreneur with his marketing company called Spire Marketing. Just a brief history, he started this business in March of 2019 with the aim of helping small business owners from website creations to logos and so much more. I highly encourage you to check out his website and Instagram page @Spire_Marketing for more information about his business and services. Without further ado, here's how the interview went.
What is your business about?
Spire Marketing was created to help small business owners take their business ideas and turn them into a reality. From creating a website and logo to identifying your target market and developing a marketing strategy, Spire Marketing has you covered!
What inspired you to start this business?
I wanted to help others be successful. I love helping others, and I love seeing others succeed. I decided it was time to make more of a difference in other people's lives instead of sitting by the sidelines.
What has been the biggest surprise/challenge of business ownership so far, and how did you overcome it?
Teamwork. You have no idea how important team members are until they are the ones helping you run your business, acquiring clients, and servicing clients. It is extremely important to have good relationships with your team members, invest in them, and treat them well. The better the teamwork and the less employee turnover you have, the better your business will perform. A strong team is key to a successful business. Treat them right and they'll treat your customers right.
What is your most effective means of bringing in new customers?
Referrals. Referrals are key for our business. Having a friend or business acquaintance put in a good word for you to a potential client is invaluable. It makes closing the sale much easier and helps you build a stronger relationship with the client much faster.
What is most important to you in your company?
Growth! We want to help our customers businesses grow, our employees grow, and our business to grow. We never stop growing. Growth is another key to the success of every business.
What stage would you say your business is at? Example start stage, growth stage, expansion, and so forth..
Growth Stage! In the early stages we were just getting on our feet and didn't have confidence. As our confidence and abilities grew, we really began to see how much our services were helping other small business owners. That confidence really helped us be able to more effectively land clients because we truly believe in what we do and the value we provide. Ever since then we are on the fast track for growth! We just hit our first five figure month in sales this past month! We are looking to invest that money into our marketing and advertising strategy and sales team to help next month be even better!
If you could go back in time, what's the one thing you would tell yourself about starting your business?
I should have done this eight years ago! Don't let fear stop you from taking risks. This venture has been one of the best decisions I have ever made in my life! This is the true path to freedom.
How do you manage other responsibilities and interests outside of work?
It's extremely important for me to make time for my family. Time with my wife and son will always be a must in my daily routine. When I used to work a job I hated, I would mentally check out every evening when I came home from work and spend time with my family all evening. Now that I am a business owner and I absolutely love what I do, I find it hard for me to stop working each day. Remembering that my family is the reason I am doing all of this really helps me keep things in perspective.
Do you have a certain daily routine that sets you up for success? If yes, what is it?
Every day I focus on what activities will generate cash flow. There are so many things to do when running a small business, but only a few of those things actually make you money. By prioritizing on the money-making activities each day, I can focus on eliminating wasted time and increasing our cash flow.
What is one of the biggest lessons you've learned as a business owner? - Many hands make light work. Instead of doing everything myself to save money and being mediocre at everything (jack of all trades, master of none), I just hired people who are better than me at those things. Having an incredible team really takes everything to the next level for any business. Adam, Ethan, Allyson, Hunter, Tommy, Aaron, and Anthony, thank you all for being such awesome team members!
Where do you see your business in 5 years?
Spire Marketing will be one of the top leaders in digital marketing services and education for small business owners. Small business owners who Google "how to market a small business" will find Spire Marketing on the web and be able to turn their business from a small idea into a huge reality!
What motivates you to keep going, even if it may be challenging at times?
Success. I want to be able to add substantial value to others, provide jobs for people, give back to society, and take care of my family. All of these factors drive me to keep pushing my business further and further down the road of success each day.
Any additional comments you would like to share to close out this interview?
Shoutout to QuickBooks and QuickBooks Self-Employed! My accounting has been EXTREMELY easy throughout this journey. I simply swipe left or right and categorize each transaction as business or personal to keep my books clean, my accountant happy and the IRS happy!
I hope a story like this shows you that you are not alone and continue to motivate you to keep going on your path. I want to say thank you to Harry Stanley III for taking the time to interact with me. If you would like to share your journey so far, please don't hesitate to comment below. Until then, continue to be safe and be well, my Community comrades.
