Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in business development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Rebecca LeClaire, Owner of Startup to Success Media, Marketing and Consulting Agency, located in Fennville, MI, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

Startup to Success Media, Marketing, & Consulting Agency ​is dedicated to small to medium-sized businesses in the U.S. and Canada that want to grow. ​We offer a full array of strategic services to bring a business from conception to recognition and startup to success!

Tell us about yourself

I started my business when the economy crashed in 2008. I knew I needed to start my own business to have something to fall back on to provide for my children. My future was uncertain, and I had two young children with life-long health conditions.

From a business perspective, I could see that this was the time for people getting laid off to start their own businesses, as they had nothing to lose. The few brave that would see this as an opportunity were the ones who would succeed, and I had the skills to help them. So, it was an opportunity for me as well.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

I measure my accomplishments by the successes I nurture for my clients. I am still in business after 14 years and still help small businesses grow. Therefore, I am helping people achieve their dreams, feed their families, and pay their employees. That is all I need to be fulfilled professionally.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

The stress of responsibility is one of the hardest things about being a business owner. From balancing the demands of time from the business and your family to ensure the finances are in order to pay your staff and yourself enough without bankrupting the company.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. Just start! The only way to get it off the ground is to take action.
  2. Follow the money. You need to determine what it costs to run the business (record EVERY expense), how much you want to make based on your needs, and how much time you invest. Then and only then can you equate how much to charge for your products or services.
  3. Consistent marketing is essential to starting a business.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

I believe strongly in mentorship. If you can help younger entrepreneurs become successful and provide for themselves and their families, that is the right thing to do. Taking the extra step to reach out and share something you learned on your journey that they could avoid is how we pave the way.

If you see a young woman with much promise who hasn’t been given a chance to show what she can do based on forces beyond her control, give her a chance, and find a fit for her. As the women who have gone before, we can open windows to new worlds and doors that have been closed for her. We can change a life and lives to come.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.startuptosuccessmc.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StartuptoSuccessMC
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startuptosuccessmc/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RLMarketConsult
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/startuptosuccess/


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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