Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in web design but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Adam Satkunananthan, Founder of Ankit Designs Inc., located in Mississauga, ON, Canada.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Ankit Designs Inc. is a leading website design and development firm specializing in WordPress websites with a heavy focus on UI & UX. We create beautifully designed and functional websites for organizations locally and around the world. Founded in 2010, Ankit Designs has grown to be recognized as Mississauga's Best-Rated Website Design Company and one of Canada's Top 50 Website Design and Development firms.
Tell us about yourself
I had been in the industry for a few years prior to starting my business in 2010. I began by helping friends and family build small websites for their small businesses and started to notice that more and more people could benefit from my services. I was working at the time at a full-time job and at the same time was running my business part-time. I had an opportunity after surgery when I got time off from my full-time job to spend one month working on my business without interruption. In that one month, I was able to gain sales that were equal to my entire annual salary, and I knew I was onto something. The following month, I gave my employer a month's notice that I was moving on, and I went full-time with my business. I've always had the philosophy to do good work, work that you find to be meaningful, and something that you can be proud of. I simply try to help people achieve their goals, and seeing what my team and I are able to accomplish is what keeps me motivated every day. We are lucky enough to design and build cool things for cool organizations, and our work doesn't feel like work, so that's always amazing.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
My biggest accomplishment is to go from a one-man show to hiring a team and starting to scale. My business has been around now for 12 years (this past August), and that, to me, is a big accomplishment.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
The time, effort, and energy. I don't think I've met a business owner that has said, "oh, business is easy." Being a business owner is hard, and I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. You really have to love what you do because that's what carries you through the really hard times.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Don't do it, lol - jk jk.
Real #1: if you're in that early stage, go work for someone that is doing what you do or something similar to what you've been doing for a year. The longer, the better. Gain that valuable experience to apply to your own business. - Go get a sale. Whatever it is that you're doing, sell it to someone. We get stuck in the "planning" phase for a bit too long; I suggest you test the market, listen to what a customer says, improve, and do it all over again.
- Offer immense value. Whatever you're doing, make sure your customer gets an immense amount of value from your product/service. Try and be the best at it. If you're not the best yet, go learn, get educated (lots of free options out there), and keep at your craft.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://ankitdesigns.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/viewankitdesigns/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ankitdesigns/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ankitdesigns
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ankit-designs/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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