Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Alena Russo, owner of Russo Family Chiropractic, located in Brampton, ON, Canada.

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

Russo Family Chiropractic is a multidisciplinary clinic in the heart of downtown Brampton. Our goal is to help your health grow with our services of chiropractic, registered massage therapy, acupuncture, orthotics, and more! We have a passion for treating pregnant mamas, pediatrics, and families, no matter how young or old they may be. We want taking care of yourself to be a family affair and get that life can be busy, so we are your one-stop-shop for all things health care. So bring your little one with you to your appointment (we even have a toy box for them to have a little treat), have back to back appointments with your partner, or carve out some time for a mama pause appointment where you get a little break and focus on you.

Tell us about yourself

My name is Dr. Alena Russo; I'm a chiropractor, coffee lover, and owner of Russo Family Chiropractic. Opening my own business has been a dream that was sparked in my last year at chiropractic college. I did a mission trip providing free care in the Dominican Republic and had my first pregnant patient. After her treatment, she sat up and was in disbelief that she no longer had pain! She was so grateful she took the bracelet off her wrist to give to me as a token of appreciation. At that moment, I knew my career was going to be dedicated to helping pregnant people and mothers feel their best at every point of their journey.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

My biggest accomplishment as a business owner is creating the Russo Family Chiropractic team, which has grown to have three practitioners in under two years! I started my business with one room, one table, and one on one appointments. I have now hired another chiropractor and a registered massage therapist and grown to 3 treatment rooms, as well as widened our patient demographic and help more people in the community. It's been incredible to have a great group of like-minded, evidence-based individuals who all have the common goal to help the Russo Family Chiropractic community and expand my own role from health care provider to now include being a business owner and entrepreneur.

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

Starting a business during a pandemic has come with its own set of challenges, one of which being that it has been difficult to grow a patient base and promote the clinic. A lot of the conventional methods that would previously be used for marketing, such as going into other local businesses, and speaking with other community members, were difficult to implement given the restriction. This definitely resulted in thinking outside of the box and trying new things to promote that there is a new clinic in the area. We've utilized social media, reaching out to businesses through Instagram and connecting with people in the community.

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

  1. Pick your people (i.e., your target demographic) - refining who I was marketing my business to have helped so much in how I did it. It also helps when people think of your business and refer patients or customers your way that fits that niche. I also encourage making a business plan and really refining what you are doing and who you are doing it for.
  2. Create your community - my business name Russo Family Chiropractic has two meanings, one, that I love to treat families, and two, that my family has helped me tremendously with starting and growing my business. There is no way that I could do it alone, between renovating the space, figuring out the finances, making a website, and so much more. Your network determines your net worth, which means connecting with people and putting yourself out there. Customers come from the most unique situations, whether that be a conversation with a stranger, handing out your business card, reaching out to colleagues, etc.
  3. Invest in yourself and give it your all - I know this goes without saying, but when you have a backup plan, it's so easy to put your business on the back burner. When I opened the clinic, I quit my other jobs to give it my all. This really takes you out of your comfort zone, but also means that you have no other choice but to do everything in your power to make it work. There will be good days and not-so-good days, but at the end of it all, you know that you are doing your absolute best, and creating something amazing will make it all worth it.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: http://russofamilychiropractic.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/russofamchiropractic
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/russofamchiropractic/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-alena-russo-63058a168/

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.