Delivers Top Quality Editing Within Hours - Papercheck

Team Subkit -

Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Darren Shafae, Founder of Papercheck, LLC, located in Santa Barbara, CA, USA.

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

Papercheck is a Santa Barbara-based company that offers document editing and proofreading services via its website, primarily to academic users. The firm's global network of editing and proofreading professionals delivers top-quality services at reasonable prices and with fast turnaround times.

Tell us about yourself

I started Papercheck in 2003 while studying at the University of Miami and working toward an MBA. I saw there was a demand for undergraduate essay editing and thought most graduate students have spare time and could use part-time work. I thought a simple marketplace would be a great way to solve this problem, but it has evolved into a professional organization with a full-time staff of professional editors. My favorite part of the day is helping our clients and my co-workers. It's very rewarding to create a working environment where our team likes to go to work. I like fostering an environment where everyone is following their passion and being compensated for what they love to do.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Surviving a pandemic, two economic downturns, and now working through inflation and rising costs while competing against AI.

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

There is no time off. It doesn't matter if it's your birthday, Christmas, or a natural disaster in your hometown. You always need to be available and fix whatever challenge arises that day.

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

  1. Success takes time; give yourself at least 2-3 years to succeed.
  2. Success is fleeting; just because you are successful today does not guarantee you will succeed tomorrow.
  3. Set up a retirement plan (SEP or solo 401(k)) on day 1. Don't wait to save for retirement, the years go by quickly, and you want to step away at one point. Start an exit plan on day one, keep that in mind, or be doomed to grind for decades.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.papercheck.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/papercheck
Twitter: https://twitter.com/papercheck
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/papercheck-llc/

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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