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Entrepreneur Jackie Ranieri admits that the jewelry market is oversaturated. However, she has combined making jewelry with her love for spirituality to put up her own unique small business in this industry.Ranieri, a 1-800Accountant client, operates her own jewelry company called Jacqueline Rose, LLC. Originally launched in January 2014, she runs the startup company directly out of her home office in Brooklyn, New York.“I design and sell handmade spiritual jewelry based on numerology and astrology,” Ranieri explains. “I come up with the design ideas, and then I give them to an artisan who actually puts the pieces together. I’m also looking to add candles, handbags, and some other spiritual items to my selection.”It was a combination of experience and a personal passion that led the 32-year-old to take a dive into starting a business for herself.“I’ve worked in the fashion jewelry industry for over 10 years,” she says. “I’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit. In my personal life, I’m really into spirituality and astrology. Over the past few years, I started brainstorming ways to combine my skill set and passion, so this is what I came up with.”Throughout her career, Ranieri has worked for a few well-known jewelry designers, including the late Joan Rivers’ line and Anthropologie.Under Jacqueline Rose, LLC, she offers high-end necklaces, bracelets, earrings, and body jewelry in brass, sterling silver, precious stone, and other metals. The pieces are primarily for women, but she does get men as customers buying for the females in their lives. In addition, she can produce custom pieces based on certain specifications.She explains what she thinks are the keys to startup success for any entrepreneurs out there.“I know I took a big leap of faith starting a business at this point in my life,” she says. “But I’m quite courageous and have a bit of an impulsive personality, so I jumped in with both feet. There has definitely been a learning curve for me. You have to learn from your mistakes and not repeat them in the future, and you will always need to re-tweak things that don’t work. My business plan kept me organized.”According to the newly crowned small business owner, flexibility is a fantastic reward to self-employment.“I love the freedom I get to have,” she says. “It’s nice to be able to create my own schedule and be my own boss; I like to wear many hats, and I know this will help when I bring on employees because I’ll know exactly how to do their jobs. It will make me a much more effective leader.”In addition, the process of seeing an idea turn into a real piece of jewelry is very gratifying to Ranieri.“It’s extremely rewarding to see a customer wearing my jewelry, especially when they say how much of an impact it has made on their lives. One customer said she actually felt at peace wearing it because of the positive energy and spiritual nature of the gemstones.”<h2>How to Compete in the Jewelry Industry</h2>No matter what line of work they are in, entrepreneurs are typically up against some sort of competition with others offering similar products or services. In Ranieri’s words, she believes her jewelry is different enough to give her a leg up.“It is very competitive out there right now. The economy still makes it a challenge because my jewelry is moderate to higher priced, and people normally want to spend less than $50 on fashion jewelry. Where I have an edge is the fact that my jewelry is based on numerology and astrology. There is a big New Age craze going on in our culture. In my research, I couldn’t find any mainstream brands solely focusing on these New Age concepts.”<h2>Small Business Marketing Tips</h2>To make others aware of Jacqueline Rose, LLC, Ranieri mainly relies on Internet marketing. Her company website through which she sells her jewelry is <a href="http://www.shopjacquelinerose.com/">www.shopjacquelinerose.com</a>. She also maintains company profiles on social networking sites like <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ShopJacquelineRose">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/shop_jacrose">Twitter</a>, <a href="http://instagram.com/shopjacquelinerose">Instagram</a>, and <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/ShopJacRose/">Pinterest</a>.<h2>Challenges to Self-Employment</h2>Ranieri admits that starting a business in any field comes with unanticipated challenges and struggles. Her experience with this has mostly been in the financial realm.“Financially, it’s been rough,” she says. “I’m not sure if I was totally prepared for the financial sacrifice. It’s a huge monetary investment, and you can’t expect to see a return on investment early on. I will definitely look for investors down the road.”<h2>Advice for Aspiring Business Owners</h2>She offers tips for entrepreneurs interested in taking the same risk she mustered up enough courage to take herself.“Don’t be afraid of failure because it is the key to success. Yes, it’s cliché, but it’s something I’ve truly discovered. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, either. Make very sound decisions with your money, and document everything.”She adds that being one’s own boss comes with pros and cons, but the positives should outweigh any drawbacks.“An advantage is the ability to create my own schedule, which is awesome,” she explains. “At the same time, you need a lot of discipline because there is so much freedom, so it’s easy to get scatterbrained. I work from home, so I feel like I never leave work. It’s easy to get on my computer and start working. I usually start my workday at 9 a.m. and finish at 8 or 9 p.m., which is a lot later than when I was an employee. Also, you’re the problem-solver 24/7 when you have your own business. As an employee, you can just go to someone to help fix your problems.”<h2>Experience as One of 1-800Accountant’s Clients</h2>Ranieri speaks highly of the small business accounting support she has received as a 1-800Accountant client.“1-800Accountant has been great,” she says. “From quarterly taxes to sales tax payments, you guys have been able to answer all of my accounting questions and needs.”Photo credit: The photograph of Jackie Ranieri was provided by Jacqueline Rose, LLC and is used with permission.

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Spreading Spirituality through a Unique Jewelry Business

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Riley Mate got an early start in designing. His parents introduced him to art at a very young age. Later, his interests became more focused on design and textiles, both of which he studied in college. Riley now has a four-year career under his belt. He’s been designing clothing and other objects under the pseudonym PSEUDODUDO since 2015. In October 2017, Riley officially incorporated his business as an LLC. “The thought of owning and operating some sort of entity was always very appealing to me,” says Riley. “So when things really started to pick up, it just felt like the right thing to do. Incorporating was one of the best decisions I have ever made.” Riley says that what drives him to succeed are all the odd and abstract aspects of life that he doesn’t fully understand. “Those things keep me thinking, keep me working.” He also feels challenged by clients who seem to ask for the impossible. He realizes that these challenges push him to explore new territory and discover unexpected ways for things to fit together. “Progress in design is amost always tough but worthwhile,” Riley says. To solve other business challenges, Riley reached out to 1-800Accountant. “1-800Accountant’s service has helped in many ways,” he says. “For one, the online portal provides such a beautifully simple way to keep everything organized and balanced.” Riley recognizes the important investments 1-800Accountant has made in keeping current on the latest technology. “And of course my accountant, Robert – I have a lot of good things to say about him,” says Riley. “He’s somewhat akin to an accounting oracle. He provides a wealth of valuable guidance and answers that help me make smart decisions related to my business.” PSEUDODUDO will continue building up its clothing line and design portfolio while being open to any new opportunities that come along. “Simply put though,” Riley says, “more work and more fun are on the constant horizon.”

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Riley Mate and 1-800Accountant: Designing the Perfect Partnership

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Most people would find Jeremy Oneail’s job downright nightmarish, but for Oneail of Goffstown, New Hampshire, it’s a dream come true. In April 2015, Oneail FX Studios, LLC was formally established. The entrepreneur’s business requires him to make realistic masks that are a big hit in the Halloween industry.
“I make monsters! In a nutshell, that’s what I do. I make monster masks and other silicone masks. In addition to being popular during the Halloween season, they’re also used in theatrical and stage productions. Practical jokers seem to like them, too!” he says of Oneail FX Studios.
Like many entrepreneurs, Oneail sought out small business ownership because of the freedom it allows him to not only follow his passion, but make his own rules. He does not have any business partners or employees, and he makes his creations out of his home studio — making time for family more available than it ordinarily would be with a conventional job.
“Real work is yucky! This business is something I just kind of fell into. I’ve always been artistic. I started to make some masks for my friends, and I went and got an art degree. I also started doing movie makeup, which is a lot of fun. When I made silicone masks for some customers, things just really took off,” he explains of the business’ origins.
It is this organic development that he thinks will bring Oneail FX Studios continued success.
“I think that the product itself is what has made me successful so far, but I’m always innovating and moving forward. I try to figure out what people are looking for, and then balance between what other people want and what I want. Usually, these ‘wants’ coincide with my artistic temperament,” he jokes.
According to Oneail, the most enjoyable aspect of small business ownership is that he never feels like he’s working, and the gratifying feeling he gets when a customer purchases a piece of art.
“Whenever I sell a mask, it’s validation from my customer that my piece of art is worth their hard-earned money,” he says.
The customer base of Oneail FX Studio is mostly men in all age ranges. The small business has a website located at&nbsp;<a class=link href="http://www.oneailfxstudios.com/">www.oneailfxstudios.com</a>, as well as pages on&nbsp;<a class-link href="https://www.facebook.com/OneailFx?ref=ts&fref=ts">Facebook</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a class=link href="https://twitter.com/oneailfx">Twitter</a>. Oneail also interacts with customers face-to-face at conventions and trade shows. His creations even made an appearance at San Diego Comic Con in 2015.
<h3>Competition in the Halloween Industry</h3>
Oneail offers a glance of what competition within the Halloween industry looks like.
“When you’re talking about Halloween itself, it’s a multibillion-dollar industry. There actually aren’t too many businesses making masks like this, and what’s great is that we’re all friends. We see each other at trade shows and conventions, and we pass customers to each other if we think the other business is a better fit. There are always going to be people who butt heads, but it makes us look better when we don’t,” he confides.
<h3>Overcoming Challenges as Small Business Owner</h3>
Being that Oneail FX Studios is a newly-established small business, Oneail – a lifelong artist – is still getting adjusted to the title of “business owner.”
“Even though the business just kind of formed finally after laying the foundation for it, I’m still an artist. The biggest challenge is reminding myself, ‘Oh yeah, I have a business!’ It’s not just a cool hobby that I have anymore,” he admits.
<h3>Advice for Entrepreneurs</h3>
Oneail reminds aspiring entrepreneurs that startup success can be achieved in multiple ways.
“You can make a huge leap and dive right in, or you can do what I did and just let it form organically,” he says.
He encourages those who want to turn their craft into a profession to seek what he calls the “terrifying freedom” of small business ownership, and to evaluate strengths and weaknesses and outsource accordingly.
<h3>Experience as a 1-800Accountant Client</h3>
Jeremy Oneail of Oneail FX Studios is a satisfied client of 1-800Accountant.
“I’ve received help with modifying my business to make sure I’m going in the right direction. It’s a lot less scary knowing I can turn to you guys with questions,” he says.
Photo credit: The photograph of the masks included in this blog post was provided by Oneail FX Studios, LLC and is used with permission.

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Every Day is Halloween for This Small Business Owner

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After noticing a lack of classic coffee shops in the historic district of Troy, Missouri, Nancy Wyatt and her family took the plunge and decided to take matters into their own hands to fill this void. In December of 2014, the Wyatts formally established Roasted Bean, LLC. In addition to Nancy, the team includes her husband, Randy, their daughter, Kristen Glenn, and her husband, Justin. The coffee shop resides in a building built in the 1920s that the Wyatts are renovating.The Roasted Bean will serve pastries, donuts, and muffins in the morning. Then, at lunchtime, they’ll switch up the menu items and serve soup and cold sandwiches. In the late night hours, the coffee house will sell desserts like cheesecake. In addition to fresh coffee and food, the family’s renovated space includes new furnishings to create a relaxed and comfy atmosphere.

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Bringing a Coffee House to a Historic Downtown District

To many kids who grow up listening to rock and roll music, owning a record store is the ultimate dream. For John Gentner, that dream followed him all the way to his adulthood. Now, he’s opening the doors to Metal Head, LLC – a brick-and-mortar record store based out of Astoria, Oregon. Formally established in October of 2014, Gentner is the mastermind behind the business. The retail store is not limited to vinyl, selling used denim and functional glass products as well.“It’s always been something that I wanted to do. I’ve been working fairly steadily since I was a teenager and had done a lot of retail. I wanted to combine my years of work experience and do something alone and completely how I want to do it,” he says.In addition to selling products that cater to a niche market in his region, Gentner has landed a location for the store that will surely aid in the success of the small business.“Since it is a well-manicured niche market, a lot of what I am going to be providing will appeal to that type of person. Where I’m conducting business is a pretty hot destination for people to come visit, so that, along with a good product, should work out well,” Gentner explains.Enthusiasm definitely doesn’t hurt success, either. By starting up a small business of his own, Gentner now has the opportunity to surround himself with what he loves on a daily basis — and share that with others. In true record-store fashion, he is in a position to give inquiring minds recommendations based on the music purchased from him, keeping the tradition alive from when he was a teenager.Metal Head’s demographic is fairly open-ended. The music being sold caters to many different age groups. The customers who purchase the denim and vintage band t-shirts will most likely be folks in their 20s and 30s. He’ll also be selling buttons and patches separately for those looking to punctuate their clothing. The culture of Astoria allows Gentner to focus on the business without having to concern himself much with competitors.“There are maybe 3 or 4 other record stores. It’s such a small community that likes to take care of one another and do what is good for the whole town, so if I have something that someone else doesn’t, they’ll pass them my way. I kind of stand alone, which is beneficial,” he confides.<h3>Challenges of Small Business Ownership</h3>Like many small business owners in the startup stages of success, Gentner has experienced challenges in the form of materializing an idea he has had since he was a teen and turning it into a fruitful endeavor.“I’ve always had an idea for what I wanted to do. The challenges were looking at the big picture of everything I had to get done instead of taking small bites. The concept itself was always there. Frankly, the red tape and getting all the licensing and paperwork done was the hardest part for me more so than the aesthetic aspect,” he admits. “The downside is that since it is your thing, the free time isn’t there as much. If you want help, it might not always be there, and it can be overwhelming. But the good outweighs the bad.”<h3>Tips for Entrepreneurs Seeking Startup Success</h3>“Don’t take your eye off the prize. There are definitely going to be roadblocks, and there’s definitely going to be occasional discouragement, but fight tooth and nail if you want it,” Gentner urges. “The advantages outweigh the disadvantages. You can be in total control of what you want to do, and not have to answer to anybody about what you’re doing and have total creative freedom.”<h3>Testimonial for 1-800Accountant</h3>Gentner is a satisfied client of 1-800Accountant.“The people I’ve spoken with have been very helpful and mellow, and talk to me like a person and not like they’re forced to do their jobs,” he says. It’s been very helpful!”Photo credit: The photograph of records included in this blog post is used with permission via the Creative Commons license through Flickr.

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Startup Story: Keeping the Classics Spinning at Metal Head, LLC

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When Kyle Bergman first heard about a new fashion statement, sweatpants overalls, he wanted a pair for himself. Unfortunately, the only ones he could find for sale were for women. Undaunted, Kyle took his experience from the merchandise retail industry and created a business that sells sweatpants overalls to both men and women. He called them Swoveralls.
Kyle’s business,&nbsp;<a class=link href="https://swoveralls.com/">The Great Fantastic LLC</a>, launched in March 2017. He sold his first pair of Swoveralls in September of 2017. Over the following year, he pulled in nearly $250,000 in gross sales. According to Kyle, if you google “sweatpants overalls” online, Swoveralls are the only ones you’ll find.
Prior to starting The Great Fantastic, Kyle worked in the buying office at Bloomingdale’s. He then went on to work for Birchbox, an online subscription service that sends subscribers boxes of makeup samples and other beauty-related products.
But while the industry experience was invaluable, Kyle prefers to be his own boss. He loves coming up with ideas and then executing them to be sustainable and profitable. “I’m one of those people who would rather work 100 hours per week for myself versus 40 hours a week at a desk for someone else,” says Kyle. “I’m a producer. I like talking the talk and, shortly thereafter, walking the walk.”
Not surprisingly, Kyle receives frequent requests to make specific designs or add college logos to his Swoveralls products. New parents are asking for Swoveralls in baby or kid sizes, too. Says Kyle, “The biggest challenge is always staying focused and not spreading myself too thin with cool opportunities that arise – things that look shiny and seem like they might be amazing to do, but realistically they could stretch me from a cash flow standpoint.”
Kyle considers himself a classic entrepreneur who would rather paint with his hands than produce a bar graph or analytical spreadsheet. With that in mind, Kyle had another great idea: he hired 1-800Accountant to help with accounting and tax issues. “1-800Accountant has been amazing at holding me accountable and reducing the amount of stress I have,” says Kyle.
With so much at stake, Kyle likes that he can talk to an accountant whenever he needs solid advice. “Deni looks at everything and tells me I’m doing great. It’s nice to know I have someone with that expertise, someone who can say you’re all good with this, now you can focus on painting with your hands again.”
In the last twelve months, Kyle has proved that the Swoveralls concept is a good one. Now, he’s looking forward to growing in the existing market. “Sweatpants overalls didn’t exist more than a year ago. I’ve created this subcategory within athleisure and loungewear. I want to put Swoveralls in every household in the world!”

Photo of models wearing sweat overalls called swoveralls

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Kyle Bergman: What Do You Get When You Combine Two Great Ideas?

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Lily Grillo’s husband is serving in the military overseas. She is also the proud mother of two young boys. While many military wives in her shoes might feel overwhelmed, Grillo did not hesitate at all to pursue her dream of startup success.Grillo, who is a client of 1-800Accountant, operates her own small business known as Grillo Unlimited, LLC. She formally launched the home-based enterprise in February 2015 in Flemington, New Jersey. Through the new startup company, Grillo intends to sell leather-based products for both men and women. Her selection will include handbags, wallets, and other handy accessories. Some are even outfitted with the latest RFID blocking technology to keep customers’ credit cards protected. She is currently developing prototypes with David Hauser of <a class="link" href="http://dragonleather.net/">Dragonthorn Leatherworks</a>. Based on her early experience, Grillo shares why she thought starting a business in this particular industry was the right move for her to make on the entrepreneurial chessboard.“I used to work for my brother who owns a wallet company,” Grillo explains. “My family is full of engineers and scientists. I wanted to try something new and different.”Grillo is a former middle school science teacher and daycare operator. Her husband, Joseph, currently serves in the Middle East as a member of the Army National Guard. In her words, those around her will ultimately help in her quest for startup success.“I feel like the Julia Child of the fashion industry,” she confides. “At this point, I don’t have a huge background in this field, so I’ve spent lots of time finding the right people to work with and surround myself with.”On a related note, she says it’s these individuals with whom she gets to work that make her job as a small business owner so enjoyable and rewarding.“It’s really the people that I enjoy most about all of this,” she says. “In the past, people have used my skills to help get their businesses going, but I’ve seen a lot of unprofessionalism. Everyone I work with now is very professional, and I mesh well with them.”<h2>Competing as a Small Business Owner in the Fashion Industry</h2>Grillo explains how she is separating her small business from the rest in the very crowded fashion industry.“I don’t want to make millions. I just want to accomplish my entrepreneurial goals so that I can provide my family with financial stability and provide my customers with a good product. I think all of this will reflect in my customer service.”To make others aware of Grillo Unlimited, the entrepreneur is launching a website through which she’ll sell her leather goods. She also plans to use the crowdfunding website Kickstarter, in addition to creating social media pages for the small business.<h2>Challenges to Small Business Ownership</h2>She admits she has faced her fair share of challenging decisions and circumstances in starting a business like this.“This is a completely new industry for me. The hardest thing has been finding the right supplies and materials at the best rates out there. It’s the little details I have had to iron out that have taken up so much time.”<h2>Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs</h2>Thanks to what she’s been through during her entrepreneurial journey, Grillo shares some tips for entrepreneurs.“The biggest thing is making sure you really want to start a business,” she advises. “Starting a business and actually setting it up is easy, but then you have to decide what you want to do with it. Personally, I have to keep reminding myself of my end-goal. Another thing I’ve learned is that you have to be able to say ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to certain decisions – sometimes when you’re pressured to make one. Stay true to yourself.”She adds that self-employment often comes with both advantages and disadvantages.“The advantage is that you have complete control and can do whatever you want to do or don’t want to do. The disadvantage is that you have to rely on other people and trust them.”<h2>1-800Accountant Review</h2>“Everyone has been very helpful and so easy to work with,” Grillo says. “I don’t have to worry about all of the stuff involved in business taxes and finances. I always get reminders about when certain things are due.”Photo credit: The photograph of Lily Grillo was provided by Grillo Unlimited, LLC and is used with permission.

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Military Wife Finds Startup Success with Leather Goods

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For the folks in Augusta, Georgia seeking the ultimate man cave, they needn’t look any further than the Men’s Refinery BarberSpa. In addition to the barbershop, the space also includes another small business. In December of 2014, Brad Pond established The Inside Drive, LLC. The Inside Drive offers a realistic golf simulator within the confines of the barbershop, making it a one-stop shop for those looking to get a more polished image and improve their golfing statistics. The game offers 50 different courses, and you can use your own golf club as a controller.
“Golf is my passion, and I wanted to make it more accessible to people,” Pond says of the partnership. “We’re creating a culture within our team that focuses on high tech, high touch, and just phenomenal customer service.”
What Pond enjoys most about small business ownership is the journey that comes with seeking startup success.
“I love the spirit of entrepreneurship — having to fix problems along the road and address new challenges daily. Although I feel I wrote a great business plan, you don’t find out what works until you put the pedal to the metal and just go for it,” he admits.
The Inside Drive is one of the only small businesses providing golf simulators in Pond’s region, so he is confident he has an edge over his competitors.
“We have the first mover principle in our area of the southeast. The model we have created would be seen more in the northeast and in Canada. There is not much competition for this style of golf simulator, especially the pairing with the men’s barber shop,” Pond says.
The Inside Drive shares a common goal and demographic with the established Men’s Refinery. This partnership lessens the risk typical of startups to attract clients, but also allows both to explore new demographics by playing off each other’s strengths. The Inside Drive has a website, as well as pages on&nbsp;<a class="link" href="http://www.instagram.com/insidedrivegolf">Instagram</a>, and&nbsp;<a class="link" href="https://twitter.com/insidedrivegolf">Twitter</a>.
<h2>Challenges of Small Business Ownership</h2>
Every small business owner will face challenges at some point, especially in the startup stage. In a partnership, those challenges can be doubled. Pond has preparedness on his side, and didn’t go full-speed ahead with the business until the time was right and the goals for both The Inside Drive and Men’s Refinery were clearly defined, and in alignment with each other.
“The challenges have been refining the business model to something where the funding made sense. I partnered up with Men’s Refinery a year ago, and we wrote a business plan to fit our model. So the biggest challenge has been getting the economy and the bank on the same sheet of music so we can go full throttle with the business,” Pond explains.
Despite the inevitable challenges, Pond insists that startup success makes jumping over the necessary hurdles worth it.
“Being an entrepreneur is a very rewarding task, so it’s a matter of understanding your own risk profile, and it’s finding people who support you and teaming up with others,” he advises.
<h2>Testimonial for 1-800Accountant</h2>
Brad Pond is a very satisfied client of 1-800Accountant and recommends the nationwide accounting firm for other small business owners looking to achieve startup success.
“I’ve been overwhelmed. I’ve been really blown away! I’ve been really nervous about the bookkeeping setup, the tax implications, and one afternoon call really addressed all of the things I was concerned about in a way that made sense. It allowed me to focus on the startup of the business and not worry so much about the accounting side. Get out there and do what you do really well. Bookkeeping will not make you money, so turn those things over to 1-800accountant,” he says. “I don’t need to be an expert on the accounting side of things – they’ve got my back!”
Photo credit: The photograph of the indoor golf simulator is used courtesy of&nbsp;<a class="link" href="http://www.insidedrivegolf.com/">www.insidedrivegolf.com</a>. The logo was provided by The Inside Drive, LLC and is used with permission.

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Indoor Golf Simulator Makes for the Ultimate Man Cave

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Sports analytics has become a big business among sports outlets like ESPN. There are also numerous online services out there tracking every statistic imaginable across all major sports.
At just 22 years old, entrepreneur Ricky Mouser had no hesitation to jump into the sports analytics field. The recent college graduate launched Last Man Up, LLC in May 2015. He does all of his analysis right out of his house in Dallas, Texas.
For Luis Rodriguez of Rio Rancho, New Mexico, a small business customizing t-shirts made sense. A student of photography and graphic arts, Rodriguez’s experience creating and designing led to him customizing t-shirts as a hobby, and from that hobby came T-Shirts and Things, LLC.
“If you can think it, we can design it for you,” Rodriguez insists.
Although Rodriguez established his small business twenty years ago, he and his business partner, Kristin Giuliano, have been operating out of their home office in New Mexico for ten. Unlike other small businesses that specialize in printing custom t-shirt designs, or sell t-shirts with clever sayings or graphics already on them, what sets T-Shirts and Things apart is the collaborative process.
“We give people exactly what they want and are grateful for our customers,” he says. Because not every customer with an idea has a background in graphic arts, Rodriguez uses his education and experience to execute his customers’ ideas.
Rodriguez admits there is a lot of competition in the t-shirt industry, but his willingness to collaborate with his customers and make suggestions and improvements for no extra cost is what sets him apart from his competitors.
“We like talking to people. We take the time to walk them through what they want from start to finish. We give them the freedom to express themselves and their ideas.”
Word-of-mouth referrals have been Rodriguez and Giuliano’s most priceless marketing tool, although they do have a website at&nbsp;<a class=link href="http://www.tshirtsandthings.com/">www.tshirtsandthings.com</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a class=link href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/T-Shirts-And-Things/207931122559543?fref=ts">a Facebook page</a>.
Since T-Shirts and Things specializes in customization, there really is no target demographic for the small business.
“Everybody at some point or another will want something customized,” he says.
Although the small business’ demographic is unlimited, the passion for each project is not only consistent, but necessary.
“Passion will determine if you succeed or fail. People see the difference between someone who is passionate and someone who is in it for the one-time deal.”
<h3>Challenges of Small Business Ownership</h3>
Some of the challenges Rodriguez faced when getting T-Shirts and Things off the ground were “getting our name out there, letting people know what we did and how we accomplish it. The way we overcame that is being personable with people. We listen to what customers are looking for. Letting people know who we are and allowing them to understand our vision. Over the years it has grown, and we are happy to help people. We’re in it to build relationships, we enjoy working with people and want to make sure they are happy. We enjoy the one-on-one meetings.”
Not knowing what to expect on a daily basis is one of Rodriguez’s main roadblocks as a small business owner.
“Every day is a challenge. Every day you have to go out there and look for business. It’s not easy to be motivated every single day, but if you believe in what you’re doing, you can go out there and achieve great things.”
Despite officially being considered his own employer, Rodriguez says his customers are his real bosses.
<h3>Tips for Startup Success</h3>
For entrepreneurs who are planning to start a small business of their own, Rodriguez offers up some advice.
“Be persistent. Believe in yourself and what you do, and have a passion,” he advises. “We have a passion for what we do, and if we didn’t have a passion for what we do we wouldn’t be doing it”
<h3>Experience as a 1-800Accountant Client</h3>
Of the services he has received from 1-800Accountant, Rodriguez maintains a positive stance.
“The tax advice is the hardest part in any specific business, understanding the laws and what to do and what not to do,” he says. “You guys have been good to us.”
Photo credit:&nbsp;<a class=link href="http://www.tshirtsandthings.com/">www.tshirtsandthings.com</a>

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Customizing T-Shirts through Collaboration

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A great thing about working with so many small businesses is watching as they flourish and grow. The unique paths they’ve taken to succeed are insightful, and we’re proud to share some of those inspiring stories with you.

Client Spotlight 

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Huong T
“Excellent first call, very informative. This is my third business … this time  I will ease the burden and use 1-800Accountant [for accounting]”

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