Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Francis Perdue, Founder of Scooter P. Entertainment, located in Birmingham, AL, USA.

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

Scooter P. Entertainment is a BIPOC TV and Film Distribution company. SPE was created to provide a wider and more humane view of people of color in television and film. We keep the filmmaker in the ownership position as they seek distribution for their content. Acquisitions are led by President Ernest Dancy, and Jermel Wells leads QC. Our customers include filmmakers from diverse backgrounds and independent content creators. The public at large partakes in the enjoyment of television programs and films are also our consumers through streaming services.

Tell us about yourself

Being in entertainment since my college years, I have had several titles, from location scout to executive producer. I have been a publicist, talent manager, and business consultant for over 15 years. My dream board always included having a conglomerate of radio, television, and film studios to give a diverse view on society and help people of color be viewed humanely and as diverse as those who are not underrepresented. We love, care, give to our community, and we are funny, romantic, and full of ingenuity. I started working on Scooter P Entertainment when I had a reminder from a friend that I am meant to be more than a connector for others in the TV & film industry. Motivated by my mother's passing in 2019, I decided to move forward in honoring her memory and my father, who have been the heroes in my life, to keep going in the face of adversity.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

My largest accomplishment for Scooter P Entertainment has been the team that has grown through an idea-turned-company. The realization of the projects for 2023 on streaming services, Tubi, Amazon Prime Video, Plex, Mometu, Redbox, and FIlmocracy, was a team effort. Our partners and filmmakers have made this dream a reality. We give opportunities to content creators, and that is a huge accomplishment. We are taking on more aggregation deals to expand to more platforms.

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

One of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner is letting people know that their project needs work. Unfortunately, people feel entitled to services and are not always open to criticism. For those who are open-minded, they take notes, apply them to their projects, and move forward to distribution or production.

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

  1. Make the vision clear. Give details to your business plan, set deadlines, and make a plan to attract your targeted audience. It is okay if deadlines roll as long as you move toward the business's goals. Hitting the goal is important, not the timeline, but do not procrastinate.
  2. Make an advertising and public relations plan. Start with your sphere of influence. Create a newsletter program like Mailchimp, Madmimi, and Constant Contact. Create a social media blitz, advertise with social media ads, OOH( Out of Home) Marketing- Billboards, Digital Boards, Geofences, etc. Hire a publicist to create a press release, obtain media placements, plan grand openings, and make product placement if you have a CPG(Consumer Product Good) or service.
  3. Set up your business entity for you to apply for business credit, loans, and programs to help with payroll, such as the Workforce Center for payroll assistance.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.scooterpentertainment.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ScooterPEntertainment/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scooterp_entertainment/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Scooterp_ent
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/scooter-p-entertainment/

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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