Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Mark Rogers, Owner of Frame Destination, located in Garland, TX, USA.

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

Frame Destination sells picture frames and supplies. Our customers are people looking for quality picture frames or people with special framing needs such as custom sizes or archival quality. Many of our customers are professional photographers and artists.

Tell us about yourself

As an amateur photographer, I realized the need for frames in the new digital sizes and realized I could solve this problem. I started Frame Destination in my garage. A little over a year later, I quit my job and have been continuing to grow Frame Destination ever since. A couple of years ago, we were proud to move into a new 24,000 sq ft production facility. It is fun continuing to offer more frames and getting to know some of our artists, photographers, and other customers all over the country.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

I am not sure if it is the biggest accomplishment, but learning how to build a team and let go of control was the most critical. Continuing to scale a business requires people, and the business quality is always just a reflection of the people on the team and their ability to work together cohesively. The team I have now is the best ever and a real joy to work with.

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

Letting employees go. No one likes to be terminated; regardless of how clear the policies are and how justified the action is, it is never fun. Your actions in this regard have a major impact on someone else's life, so it is huge responsibility never to be taken lightly.

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

  1. Create a business plan. This will help you get prepared for the expected business issues so you are better prepared to handle the unexpected.
  2. Learn to manage cash. It is the lifeblood of your business, and high growth in the early months and years can create negative cash flow.
  3. Look at lists such as the top 10 reasons business fail...and don't do those things.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.framedestination.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FrameDestination
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/framedestination/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FrameDstnation
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/frame-destination-inc-/

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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