Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Ryan Crownholm, President of Crown Capital Adventures Inc., located in Los Angeles, CA, USA.

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

Crown Capital Adventures is my investment and holding company. The two main companies I manage under that brand are My Site Plan and DirtMatch. Both are construction tech related and streamline construction processes.

Tell us about yourself

After getting out of the US Army and enrolling in College, I started my first business, "Hauling Pros," where we cleaned up construction sites and hauled debris to the landfill. I eventually grew this into a larger Demolition and General Engineering Company and sold it in 2014. During my ownership of that business, I also owned recycling centers around the Bay Area. After selling my company, I started two new online businesses related to my former business. I essentially took processes from my former business and created new businesses out of them. They've both been very successful. I'm completely customer-focused. I know that if all of my customers are happy, they will come back and refer friends. Happy customers are the cheapest form of marketing.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

My biggest accomplishment has been providing well-paying jobs to people so that they can support their families and accomplish their goals. I love empowering those who work for me to continue their education and thrive in life, with or without me. I'm happy to be a part of someone's journey.

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

Letting people go. No matter how much time you put into hiring the right people, eventually, the time will come where you have to let people go. It's the hardest thing for me. I feel obligated to my employees once I hire them, so letting them go is really painful. It's the reason I spend SO much time hiring the RIGHT people.

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

Get out there and start today. Don't waste too much time on the nitty gritty. If you build your company exactly the way YOU want it, then YOU may be your only customer. By going to market now, you build your company for your customer. Your customer is the one that will make you successful.

When the time comes to hire your first employees, take it very seriously. Your employees can make or break your company. One bad employee can destroy your company culture, customer experience, and more. The costs associated with a bad employee are far greater than you might think. Spending 20 hours and $1000 to find one good employee is a cheap price to pay. Don't skimp.

If you are considering starting a business with a partner, make sure they fill your knowledge gaps and are not just there for support. I often see two friends start a business, but they were friends in the first place because they had so much in common. The only thing you need in common is work ethic; you don't need two marketers, two engineers, or two salespeople. Although the moral support is nice in the beginning, it will come back to haunt you as the company matures. If your partnership consists of one person who is strong in marketing and the other is a hard-core operations person, that might be a great fit.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.ryancrownholm.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ryancrownholm/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ryancrownholm/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RyanCrownholm
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryancrownholm/

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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