Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Mark Bentz, owner, and director of Electra Health, located in Vancouver, BC, Canada.

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

I am an RMT and the CEO of a multidisciplinary health and wellness clinic. Our clients come from all walks of life - dealing with injuries from motor vehicle accidents, acute and chronic conditions, professional athletes, etc. We offer a multidisciplinary approach to rehabilitation and wellness (physiotherapy, RMT, chiropractic, acupuncture, counseling, naturopathy) which gives our clients the best possible outcome for their health goals - no matter what they are.

Tell us about yourself

I lost my vision at nine years old. Becoming an RMT provided me with a great avenue for a career because I could rely on more than just my eyesight. But, I always knew deep down that I wanted to do more than that because I knew that losing my eyesight was only going to get more challenging the further along I went. So, in 2001, I opened my first clinic. By 2007, I stopped practicing and became the clinic owner full-time.

My motivation is two-fold: my blindsight taught me resiliency and motivates me constantly to build and create a thriving business. I also love problem-solving, which is something that, as a business owner, you do every day.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

I have two! One is that I have successfully built and operated one of the largest multidisciplinary clinics in North America. The second is knowing that when someone comes through our doors, we are doing absolutely everything we can to give them the best possible outcome for their health goals!

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

This one is tough. I would say that as a business owner, maintaining your focus is the hardest thing. You are constantly being pulled in so many different directions, and you can get very caught up in small things that don't impact your business in the long run. I try to make an overall focus for each day to remind me about what my goals are when things get too crazy.

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

You may have heard this before, but this is the most important lesson I have learned when it comes to running a successful business:

  1. Understand your client base and their problems and how your services or products are serving them.
  2. Focus on your clients' experience and how you can make it unique and exceptional. This will make you stand out from your competition and will be the #1 thing your clients remember. All successful businesses have exceptional customer experiences (think about when you walk into an Apple store or visit your favorite restaurant etc.). Focusing on your clients' experiences ensures that they will remember you and their friends. And personal referrals are how you build a resilient business.
  3. Understand and watch your numbers. Your numbers are your best metrics to determine the profitability and success of your business. Then, you can tweak as needed and see what's working.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

Being a successful business owner is a journey, not a destination. So go slowly. You can build successful businesses, but to make them last, you need to re-evaluate and consistently work on your business constantly. Because this journey comes with a lot of sacrifices (financial, personal, time, etc.), constant change, and hard times, you need to dig deep and find the reasons why you are doing this!

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.electrahealth.ca/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markbentzrmt/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-bentz-139b0718/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

Feel inspired to start, run or grow your own subscription business? Check out subkit.com and learn how you can turn "one day" into day one.