Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Jim Roberts, Founder of Reliable Resources, located in Powell, TN, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Reliable Resources, based in Knoxville, Tennessee, provides a full range of accounting, bookkeeping, consulting, outsourcing, payroll, and business services, either in your facility or at our location. We can provide qualified accounting professionals who can ensure that your financial records are maintained correctly and accurately.
Our customers tend to be business owners who recognize the importance of getting things done timely and correctly. They understand that their time is best spent in the areas of their business they have the greatest impact and have the ability to drive healthy growth.
Tell us about yourself
I have spent over 20 years working for larger corporations and medium size businesses in the international logistics arena. The impact I was making in people's lives was minimal. I was just another vendor. My wife encouraged me to take the consulting skills I learned and do something more impactful with them shortly after Reliable Resources was born.
When I am feeling unmotivated to get going, I remember that I am not working for myself. The business owners that hire us have put their faith and trust in us to get things done and get them done right. Once you remove yourself from the equation and focus on the client's needs, staying on track with gratitude becomes pretty easy. I have to remember that they had many options out there and picked me.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
This is a great question. Oddly enough, it wasn't meeting and exceeding revenue goals or having more freedom. I believe that as a small business owner, you have the ability to create a legacy in your community. I feel that will be my greatest accomplishment. Giving business owners the peace of mind that someone, who cares as much about their business as they do, is keeping an eye on the back office engine.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
Realizing that it's all on you.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
First, find out what you love to do and see if you can turn that into a business. Second, just because it is all on you doesn't mean you have to go it alone. Find someone who can help you understand your business's financial necessities and nuances. This will be invaluable. Third, prepare a 90-day, 180-day, and 360-day cash flow forecast. It is imperative that you have enough money to pay yourself as the business is starting up.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
Yes, running a business is a wonderful experience. It is full of peaks and valleys just like everything else. What, or more importantly Who, you hold on to during the ride matters most of all.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.jtreliableresources.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reliable_resources/
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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