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Since high school, Keith D’Angelo has always enjoyed creating things through welding and sculpting. So, when he saw people having a good time around the fire pits in their backyards, he jumped on an opportunity to create a unique version of these neat devices.In November 2016, he and his father, Terry, formally launched Colorado Custom Fire Pits, LLC in Denver, Colorado. The two work out of a welding shop in the area and handle the business side of the venture right from home.“We sculpt custom fire pits that are completely made out of steel,” Keith D’Angelo explains. “With these fire pits, there is no mess, no ash to clean up, and the fire danger is extremely low. Plus, we offer a superior product at a cheaper price than what you would find elsewhere.”The fire pits are powered by either natural gas or propane. Instead of dealing with real logs for a fire, the D’Angelos create lifelike log sets, pinecones, and twigs made out of steel. But they’ve had customers who can’t even tell the difference.In terms of customization, the company offers circular, rectangle, and square fire pits with various options on log sets and aesthetics. It takes the entrepreneurial duo at least 100 hours to handcraft a custom fire pit.“It is a very time-consuming process, but we want it to be just what the customer wants,” he says. “Our turnaround time is only about two weeks.”While D’Angelo labors away on steel in the shop, he is also working on earning a master’s degree in social work from the University of Denver.<h2>Enjoyment to Self-Employment</h2>According to D’Angelo, he and his dad get the most reward from self-employment upon seeing the reactions of their customers.“When I see someone’s face and the smile they have when I deliver their fire pit, it really means a lot. It is also nice to see something you’ve spent so much time working on come to life in the end. But the process of creating these products is a lot of fun, even though it is a lot of work.”He adds that the main goal behind the fire pits is to help customers make fond memories of sitting around a campfire, roasting marshmallows, and just relaxing in a rustic-inducing environment.<h2>Competing in the Small Business Sphere</h2>Small business owners in all fields are up against some form of competition. While there are other companies out there that create and sell fire pits, the customization that the D’Angelos offer is what sets them apart from the rest of the pack.“We spend a lot of time on the aesthetics of each product,” he says. “They also look so real but are totally made of steel, so it’s very unique.”In terms of demographics of their customers, they generally target families and individuals who are 40 and older.<h2>Marketing a Small Business</h2>The company has a website – <a class="link" href="https://www.coloradocustomfirepits.com/">www.coloradocustomfirepits.com</a>. The father-and-son business partners have also used word-of-mouth strategies to simply tell others about their venture. In addition, they’ve implemented search engine optimization (SEO) techniques on their website, and they’re looking into using some third-party distributors to help them get more products into the hands of eager customers.

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Startup Story: Fire Pit Designers Help Customers Make Memories

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One thing that small business owner Francis Zape has learned is that fashion trends may come and go, but classic timepieces never go out of style. At least that’s what he’s experienced in his line of work repairing wristwatches. In December of 2015, Zape formally established ZWatchmaker, LLC. Although Zape’s business is only newly established, he’s no stranger to the industry after having worked with his father who taught him the ins and outs. Now, the entrepreneur has settled into a store in a mall in Charlotte, North Carolina.“I work strictly on wristwatches. I fix fine timepieces. Some of my duties are replacing broken parts and batteries, restoring the look of the watch, polishing it, and making it look brand new. I only touch the watches that are out of warranty,” he explains.Although Zape is off to a good start with his small business, he believes his work ethic and attention to detail will be what brings him continued success. In a world where everything is hurried, perfectionism pays.“I don’t want to sound cliche, but hard work is what brings me success. I can only do so much with my hands, my eyes, and my time. The quality of the work and the consistency of the work is important to me. At the end of the day, it has to be perfect,” Zape elaborates.It makes sense that Zape’s favorite aspect of small business ownership is working with a variety of luxury watches under the microscope.“Most people only get to see these watches in the magazines, but I get to work with them. There’s a big science behind it.”In modern times, it has become more fashionable for people to buy cheaper, throwaway watches instead of investing in timeless, higher-quality pieces. This reality has only benefited the growth of ZWatchmaker. Because of the old-school nature of his business, Zape isn’t really mindful of his regional competitors as they are few and far between.“There are watchmakers outside of the region, but I have an edge because my physical presence is here, so I am easily available to them. I am the only one in town who is certified, and there aren’t even a lot of certified watchmakers in this century. So when potential clients need a watchmaker and they ask around, my name comes up,” he says.Because he’s what he calls a “dying breed,” Zape gets by quite well through just word-of-mouth advertising, and most of his watch-wearing customers are men.<h3>Challenges of Small Business Ownership</h3>One of the biggest challenges that Zape encounters on the job is something typical for many small business owners — which is convincing clients to pay for quality and not just convenience.“Sometimes customers will want to pay less for the service, but they don’t know what they’re going to get if they go for the cheapest option. They don’t know if real parts are being used. If you’re investing $10,000 in a watch, you don’t want to go to the cheapest place to get it fixed. This is not just a piece of fine jewelry, but a status symbol.”<h3>Tips for Small Business Owners</h3>Zape insists that the foundation for a small business to build on is education. He emphasizes that the learning never stops and should grow alongside the experience gained.“Things change every year. I am always training myself to become better at what I do. Seize any opportunity to learn,” he enthuses.He also urges small business owners not to take advantage of their customers, particularly if they are not knowledgeable about what their needs are and are seeking a professional’s expertise.<h3>Experience as a 1-800Accountant Client</h3>Francis Zape of ZWatchmaker, LLC is a satisfied client of 1-800Accountant.“I like the fact that I can set up an appointment and have a meeting within that week,” he says.

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Startup Story: Time is Money for this Watchmaker

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Sergeant first class Al Conrad served 20 years in the U.S. Army. He says these 2 decades of experience were the most rewarding time in his life. While he has been long retired from active duty, he now fulfills his love and respect for the armed forces through a unique small business he recently launched. Conrad is the proud CEO of PIR Custom Military Figures, Gifts, &amp; Awards, LLC in Columbus, Georgia. (The PIR acronym is short for Parachute Infantry Regiment.) Formally established in December 2014, Conrad sells custom military figures, dioramas, plaques, and other cool creations related to military members and first responders through the startup venture. He maintains a brick-and-mortar location in Columbus, but he resides in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The 51-year-old entrepreneur elaborates on what the small business can actually offer. “We produce totally custom action figures for military veterans, active duty military members, and first responders like firefighters and police officers,” Conrad explains. “Anyone can collect a plastic figure. But with us, we make figures that are very close to replicating the face of an individual who deserves recognition.” The figures are produced in 1:6 scale size and are typically about 12 inches tall. Conrad designs many of them himself through painting and woodworking, but he outsources the manufacturing process to others when necessary. “One time, I made one for a woman whose son was killed in action in Afghanistan,” he recalls. “I put him in the same uniform he wore that had his patches, equipment, and weapons he used. He was a medic, so the figure had the same medic bag he carried. Another example was a gentleman who had a bomb-sniffing dog with him, so I was able to replicate both the man and his dog.” Conrad is a world traveler who was stationed all over the globe, including in the continental U.S., Hawaii, Germany, Panama, Australia, Thailand, and Japan. Upon his retirement from the Army in the early 2000s, he worked as a high school ROTC instructor. Now his eyes are set on startup success running this small business full time. In his words, the most satisfaction he gets out of running this operation comes from the ability to serve his customers. “Being able to give back to soldiers and guys I spent good times with is the most enjoyable part,” he says. “It’s really great to see their expressions. For people who have lost loved ones in combat, there is not much I can do to make them feel better, but I can at least give them something by which they can remember someone. I’m in this business to make money like most other small business owners, but the biggest return I get from this is making soldiers and their families happy.”
<h2>Competing in the Small Business Landscape</h2>
Conrad explains how his small business differs from others. “Not many companies out there produce the items we do with the customization of facial features and expressions. We can also make each figurine part of an award or plaque as a keepsake. We’re a veteran-owned and operated business as well.” The Army vet has done a lot of work for friends, family members, military comrades, and even the National Medal of Honor Museum in Chattanooga, Tennessee. To make others who he does not know aware of his startup venture, he maintains a company website at&nbsp;<a class="link" href="http://www.miniheroes.us/">www.miniheroes.us</a>.
<h2>Challenges to Startup Success</h2>
Like so many entrepreneurs out there who have taken the plunge into starting a business for the very first time in their lives, Conrad admits he has experienced challenges throughout the process. “The first thing was figuring out the types of legal requirements and everything you have to do to get set up as a small business. Cost is obviously another challenge. I’m lucky that I started investing when I was fairly young. It’s exciting and overwhelming at the same time.”
<h2>Tips for Entrepreneurs</h2>
He offers some valuable tips for entrepreneurs whose goal is to achieve startup success. “Consult with people you trust about what you’re going to take on as a business owner, and depend on their advice heavily,” he advises. “Find out what you need to do from a legal standpoint. Being self-employed is tough, so don’t feel like you’re the only one who has been overwhelmed by starting a business.”
<h2>Experience as a 1-800Accountant Client</h2>
Conrad praises 1-800Accountant for the guidance he has received as a client of the national accounting and consulting firm for small business owners. “1-800Accountant is very reassuring and has been very helpful with keeping me compliant,” he says. “It’s great to have a company like this supporting me as a business owner.”&nbsp; Photo credit: The photographs included in this blog post were provided by PIR Custom Military Figures, Gifts, &amp; Awards, LLC and are used with permission.

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Army Vet Finds Startup Success Selling Mini Heroes

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Sean Fitzpatrick grew up on Cape Cod. The 32-year-old has had a love of his hometown and the Atlantic coast his entire life. However, he recently realized that there was a major void in properly spreading the true culture of Cape Cod. So he took the bull by the horns to launch his own small business – Cape Cloth, LLC – through which he shares this culture by offering unique apparel.
Fitzpatrick, a 1-800Accountant client, proudly registered the business in October 2014. In fact, he officially pushed the “Go” button on it on October 10th&nbsp;at 10:10 a.m. He runs the e-commerce store directly out of his home office in South Dennis, Massachusetts.
The entrepreneur-by-day and bartender-by-night explains what ultimately led to him taking the leap of faith into starting a business of his own.
“This past summer, I was on the beach with my girlfriend, Kerin. She was complaining about something that was wrong with her baseball hat,” he says. “I realized that there is no apparel that captures the true spirit and energy of this place. I always wanted to work for myself someday, so I came up with a design for apparel that is a modernized version of Cape Cod.”
He offers t-shirts, shorts, tank tops, and beachwear. The items are emblazoned with images of people enjoying common activities on Cape Cod, such as fishing, sailing, golfing, and water sports. He is also looking to add some formalwear options like polos and button-down shirts.
Unlike other clothing outlets, Fitzpatrick is not just selling a cool line of apparel. He is also donating $1 for each purchase of a cloth item to Cape Abilities, a local nonprofit that helps individuals with disabilities find jobs, places to live, and other fulfilling opportunities in their lives.
<h3>Enjoyment to Self-Employment</h3>
While Fitzpatrick admits it’s a cliché, he says wearing lots of hats is what he truly enjoys about being one of the many self-employed small business owners out there in pursuit of a passion.
“A common theme in my life has been challenging myself to do things and learn new skills,” he confides. “I kind of have an ADD-type brain. As a business owner, every day is so different, and there is so much you just can’t plan for. I really enjoy the constant learning process.”
<h3>Successfully Competing in the Apparel Industry</h3>
Fitzpatrick admits that the apparel industry is quite competitive with countless brands offering various designs. However, his unique twists – the Cape Cod-centric style and his charitable giving – separate Cape Cloth, LLC from the rest of the pack.
“I’m trying to symbolize a certain energy, the community, and the people who live in this area,” he says. “There have always been a very Kennedy-esque, blue blazer, khaki crowd, and then the casual crowd. This kind of meets right in the middle of those styles. From a design element, there is nothing out there like this. The charitable element also makes it unique.”
<h3>Marketing a Small Business</h3>
Starting a business that primarily sells its products online means its marketing strategies should obviously be more web-based. Fitzpatrick has a website –&nbsp;<a class=link href="http://www.capecloth.com/">www.capecloth.com</a>&nbsp;– along with social media pages on&nbsp;<a class=link href="http://facebook.com/capecloth">Facebook</a>,&nbsp;<a class=link href="http://twitter.com/capecloth">Twitter</a>, and&nbsp;<a class=link href="http://instagram.com/capecloth">Instagram</a>. He explains the importance of consistent branding on the web.
“Make sure the domain name you want is available, and try using the same URL names for your social media pages. This allows you to have a powerful marketing presence online.”
In addition to online marketing strategies, the entrepreneur has received a good amount of word-of-mouth referrals – something he finds extremely valuable to any small business.
<h3>Overcoming Business Ownership Hurdles</h3>
Like fellow entrepreneurs working independently, Fitzpatrick says he’s been no exception to many of the common challenges that come with starting a business.
“Staying focused and staying on task are a challenge. The biggest thing has just been trying to keep it all running myself. There are no employees or departments I can turn to for help. I have some close confidantes I can bounce ideas off of, but it’s still all on me. You’re kind of off on your own island.”
<h3>Tips for Entrepreneurs</h3>
Thanks to his own experience, he offers some tips for entrepreneurs.
“You really have to love something,” he says. “The demand will dominate so much of your mental state. It’s so easy to think about your business all the time, so you have to be able to balance all the plates in your life.”
<h3>1-800Accountant Client Testimonial</h3>
Fitzpatrick says he has been very happy with the business accounting services he has received from 1-800Accountant.
“When it comes to accounting, the less I have to focus on, the better. 1-800Accountant offers a very convenient service. Whether it’s basic tax questions or figuring out different tax strategies, I love having a company with a large breadth of knowledge at my disposal.”
Photo credit: The photograph included in this blog post was provided by Cape Cloth, LLC and is used with permission.

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Spreading the Cape Cod Culture through Apparel Business

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Barney Heath wanted a 1971 Ford Bronco. But he didn’t have the cash lying around to afford one. So he turned a hobby into a small business making a unique, portable loudspeaker. He hasn’t purchased the Bronco yet, but he’s well on his way.Heath and his wife, Patty, are involved in their own startup company called BarnBlaster, LLC. The home-based business, headquartered in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, was formally launched in early 2014. Its main focus is selling an electronic item, fittingly dubbed a BarnBlaster.“It’s a portable loudspeaker that runs on rechargeable batteries and connects to practically any device that produces sound,” Heath explains.“It’s great for tailgating at sporting events, beach parties, camping, or wherever you want to be heard or listen to music.”The BarnBlaster weighs 34 pounds and hooks up to smartphones, tablets, iPods, and a wide variety of other electronics via Bluetooth or with a hard wire. It is assembled in a water-resistant case that is perfect for outdoor listening. It’s made with a 36-volt system, and the speaker can last over 30 hours on a single charge. It essentially has the same look as a boombox.Not only was it Heath’s desire to get the classic Ford car, but also it was a bit of an unexpected proposition that led him to try his hand at startup success.“A friend of mine built something similar to it, but he built it with a wooden box around it,” he says. “I told him I wanted to build one that would be lighter and more portable. So I built one, and the next thing I knew, people were asking me to build one for them.”To create the devices, Heath orders all the parts online and puts them together in his own garage. He says it takes about 14 hours to assemble one BarnBlaster. He can customize the outside case with a particular team’s colors, such as the orange and blue of the Florida Gators, the garnet and gold of the Florida State Seminoles, or the aqua and orange of the Miami Dolphins. In fact, Dolphins wide receiver Brian Hartline is one of Heath’s customers.According to Heath, the way he designs his product has been the key ingredient to helping him discover startup success.“It’s all about the sound quality of the box,” he says. “It really sells itself just by looking at it and seeing what it can do. As soon as people hear about it, they want one.”In Heath’s words, the most rewarding part of operating such a small business is having the ability to give others a portable outlet to enjoy their favorite songs.“I’ve always loved music,” he says.”Being able to build a device that people can play their favorite tunes on is fun.”In addition to running BarnBlaster, LLC, Heath works as a full-time yacht captain for a company that takes boats to the Bahamas and throughout the Caribbean.<h2>Accounting for Competition in the Small Business World</h2>Entrepreneurs like Heath must be accounting for competition at all times to separate their ventures from the rest of the pack. He says he is not aware of any speaker devices out there that are similar enough to the BarnBlaster.“There are some similar devices and companies that make portable loudspeakers in vintage suitcases, but mine is more durable than those. You can kick sand on it or throw mud on it, and it will be just fine. I like to keep that outdoors-y feel to it.”To make others aware of his product, Heath maintains <a class="link" href="https://www.facebook.com/barnblaster">company Facebook page</a>. Plus, he includes a dozen business cards in the box of each Barnblaster he sells. Word-of-mouth referrals have been his biggest source of business, he says.<h2>Small Business Challenges</h2>Small business owners in all fields encounter unexpected hurdles and challenges in managing their companies. Heath admits it’s the hands on the clock that have been his biggest bugaboo.“The time commitment can be challenging,” he says. “When I do get called for my day job, finding time to work on the boxes is tough. But most people don’t mind waiting a few weeks to get them after placing their orders.”Tips For Aspiring Small Business OwnersThanks to his own experience running a business, Heath provides some insight into what it takes to find startup success in any line of work.“If you’re going to start a business, find something you really love to do and are passionate about. In some cases, it might just happen and kind of fall in your lap. I didn’t set out to make this business, but because of the demand for these devices, it just kind of happened.”<h2>1-800Accountant Client Testimonial</h2>The Heaths are clients of 1-800Accountant. Barney Heath says he and his wife have been very satisfied with the accounting support they have gotten from the national accounting and business consulting firm.“We are just trying to figure out all the tax rules involved in running a business,” he says. “I really didn’t think about all of this beforehand. It’s good to do it the right way, and I am very glad we are working with the experts at 1-800Accountant.”Photo credit: The photograph of the BarnBlaster included in this blog post was provided by BarnBlaster, LLC and is used with permission.

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BarnBlaster Pumps Up the Volume Toward Startup Success

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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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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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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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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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