Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in financial service but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Mark Kane, CEO of Sunwise Capital, located in Boca Raton, FL, USA.

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

To address a key problem faced by small businesses, we began in 2010 by providing business loans instead of personal loans. Our customers are the close to 30M small business owners who make up 99% of all U.S. businesses. We fund over 750 industries.

Tell us about yourself

I've spent the last 17 years lending money to business owners. I began my career as a psychologist, and at 23, I became the youngest Hospital Admin running a 100+ bed facility. I built two businesses with over 500 employees and a business from scratch to over $18M in revenue in 18 months before selling. This experience led me to begin Sunwise Capital.

After spending 17 years in the investment banking industry, I learned the challenges of building a business through equity, debt, and off-balance-sheet financing, building a business asset, maintaining cash flow, making payroll, business expansion, and management.

The motivation is to help other business owners achieve their dreams of being successful entrepreneurs. I'm also motivated to compete against industry giants as a niche player in a highly competitive space.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

I self-funded all my startup companies, and I did it all. Owner, employee, marketing officer, financial officer, customer service, and sales rep simultaneously. Wearing all the hats gets you to understand the potential customer quickly, and you soon find out if you have a minimally viable product.

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

When to close down your business? When do you call it quits?

You must be highly disciplined to accomplish this. Unfortunately, most people lack the mental fortitude to follow through on their decisions.

Most people have a problem with becoming emotionally invested in their businesses. Your desire to be “right” and make money becomes inextricably linked. Your willingness to be “right” becomes more important than your desire to make a profit.

It’s game over.

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

  1. Decide whether you're jumping in with both feet or taking it slow and steady.
  2. Once all in, only work half days - I like 8 AM to 8 PM 6 days a week.
  3. Go big or go home!

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

You need to know your numbers and how long you can last with your current churn rate. Lost money is acceptable. Losing all of it and not being able to try again is not.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://sunwisecapital.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sunwisecapital
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sunwisecapital/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SunWiseCapital
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markjkane/


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.

Turn your craft into recurring revenue with Subkit. Start your subscription offering in minutes and supercharge it with growth levers. Get early access here.