Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Nisreen Hasib, founder and CEO of Basil, located in New York City, NY, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Basil creates a protective paper trail for general contracts and tradespeople at the click of a button.
Tell us about yourself
During the pandemic, I bought a house and renovated it. I was routinely frustrated because there were multiple times when I met with my contractor, we would discuss changes to the scope of work, and we would both walk away with very different understandings of the changes that I had authorized. Sometimes he would take a voice memo, but oftentimes, he would not. The misalignment adversely impacted my budget but also impacted his bottom line when he absorbed some of the costs of those changes.
Basil makes it super easy for contractors and tradespeople to generate the contracts and change orders that they need on their phones or laptop. Most general contractors and tradespeople have fewer than five employees, and they are, more often than not, solopreneurs. So even though they need to make sure they create these documents, the creation of the documents battles for priority in a never-ending list of "must-do" items. Basil makes it a lot easier to execute this must-do item.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Launching the MVP of Basil in less than three weeks to a phenomenal group of remodelers, builders, and tradespeople.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
There are a lot of people that will give you advice. Sometimes, the advice works well for the giver, but it may not contain the best course of action for you. Sometimes it will. Your job is to take in all of the information you can and distill those magical parts that make sense for you, your business, and your people.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
First, establish daily rituals that get you in the headspace. You need to be open to absorbing new information and taking the appropriate course of action.
Second, people matter. When you hire, bring people onto your team that raises the bar, and inspire you to be the best leader and strategist you can be.
Third, people matter. Treat your team well. Treat yourself well. Establish trust within your team. Be a model for cultivating leaders.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.hellobasil.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/get.basil
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/basil_hello/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hello-basil/
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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