Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in business development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Marie Torossian, founder and CEO of Marie Torossian CPA, PLLC & The Profit Lab, LLC., located in Miami, FL, USA.

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

I am passionate about inspiring and helping my clients achieve their personal, professional, and financial goals. I started my entrepreneurial journey at the young age of 11, allowing my dad to run his business. Little did I know then that my experiences would serve as a basis for my entrepreneurial mindset and love for finance.

I left my country, Lebanon, searching for better opportunities in the west. I settled in Canada for three years, then moved to the US, specifically Miami, to join my then-fiancee, now my husband, in January 2004. I graduated from Florida International University with a Bachelor's and Master's in Accounting and became a licensed CPA in July 2014. I started my career as an auditor in 2010 and transitioned into corporate accounting in 2012.

By the end of 2016, I started consulting as a side-gig, and in January 2020, I founded my CPA firm to help business owners with strategic and customized accounting and advisory solutions. I wanted to bring my experience as an auditor and a CFO to small businesses to set them up for success. Just like any entrepreneur, I experienced the difficulty in understanding sales processes and marketing my firm. I realized quickly that I needed a mentor and coach to help me. So, I invested time and money in learning everything about sales and marketing to grow and scale not only my business but also my clients.

In 2022 I partnered with Grant Cardone as a licensee, the biggest name in sales and marketing. My newfound confidence and knowledge inspired me to start my second company, The Profit Lab, to educate, inspire and guide business owners to grow their businesses to their 10X levels. While my CPA firm can provide accounting, tax, and advisory solutions, The Profit Lab focuses on business education, coaching, and when needed, complete management consulting focused on sales, marketing, operations, and finance.

Tell us about yourself

There were many reasons for starting my business. As an individual, a wife, and a mom, I needed more freedom and time for the family. I never took a vacation for more than four days, primarily including the weekend. I would work throughout my vacation checking my emails, and I recall many times when I submitted payroll while on vacation. I was not present while with family, and that was not right.

As a professional, I realized that being in the same company, I had reached my full potential and was not experiencing anything new. I felt capped in many ways, and I needed new experiences. I needed to meet people and businesses, just like in the public sector.

Financially, I knew there were better opportunities as a business owner. The United States is the land of opportunities. From a young age, I wanted to have my business just like my dad. So, in 2017 I started consulting, and in 2018 with my second child being born, I said to myself, "If I want to find financial freedom, I need to take the risk. Win or lose, I will give it my all". I'm grateful to my husband for his support.

Entrepreneurship is tough not only on the entrepreneur but their family as well. We are all taking the risk in reality.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

As a business owner, I feel accomplished when my clients are happy and satisfied. My first client is still with me; we built a great relationship. They know that I am the number one resource for them and that they can call me with any issue. Every business gains and loses customers at different cycles, but both sides have a long-term commitment when gratefulness and appreciation are at the core.

Having a supportive team that believes in my vision is also an accomplishment. At my employer, I experienced firsthand the revolving door. Try doing payroll when every payroll has someone leaving and someone starting... In my business, I have two staff members, and we meet daily for 15-20 minutes to catch up on tasks and support and inspire each other for the rest of the day.

Of course, I feel accomplished when I get referrals from people I've met or clients I've served. There is no better compliment to a business owner than when someone refers to their business.

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

Any business owner may face a slew of problems and hardships: economic downturn, pandemic, misinformation, exhaustion, self-sabotage, lack of knowledge in certain areas of business, managing multiple tasks, etc. I was self-sabotaging for the first few years as I would try to do it all by myself, get exhausted, then feel bad about it and be down on myself for a day or two. When I got my mentor, I learned to see the pattern and changed how I work. I delegated more, focused on the big picture, and found my purpose. Now, I have no time for self-sabotage as my purpose is clear.

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

Here's what I learned from my experience as a business owner.

  1. Find your purpose, the reason you wake up in the morning, and tie that to your business.
  2. Figure out what you are good at and what you are not as early as possible. Once you've done this, delegate tasks that you don't want to or are not good at to experienced individuals. Doing it yourself can cost you more than you think.
  3. Get yourself a mentor, coach, or advisor that can give you a complete view of your business and help you take a massive amount of action.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

We are doing free webinars at The Profit Lab every week. I would love to invite readers to check them out here.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website:
https://www.marietorossiancpa.com/
https://www.theprofitlab.biz/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marie.torossian.your10xcpa/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marietorossiancpa/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CpaTorossian
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marietorossiancpacgma/

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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