Meet Cesar Costa | Business Owner and Author

We had the good fortune of connecting with Cesar Costa and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Cesar, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
The hardest part to start my own business was getting enough customers at the very beginning in order to cover costs and become profitable. At the beginning of a business, there is a lot of investment, but revenues are not there yet. Customers still don’t know your capabilities and are not familiar with you and your brand. It took an enormous amount of effort in the first two years to build a customer base and build a reputation. Little by little I was able to show the company’s capabilities, and demonstrate why I was better than the competition. With dedication, results came in years 3-5. The second challenge then was to find motivated employees that would share the same vision of service excellence and customer experience. It took many wrong hires to find the perfect team. So at the same time that I was looking for customers and referral sources, I was training the team to deliver exceptional customer experiences. Now almost 5 years, I can say that results are starting to show. The company is well known as one of the leaders in its segment and the word to mouth sustains the business.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I worked for many years as an Executive for large corporations. The executive career was exhausting. International trips would happen in the middle of birthdays and graduations and I had little control over my life. So I have decided, after 20 years, to open my own business. It was a lot of work too. But now, I am more satisfied and I have a sense that I can control my life and the results of my efforts.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
One thing that I love to do with people that come from other places to visit me and my family is to take them for one-day boating. Here is the worldwide capital of boating. Sandy bars, snorkeling, looking at sunk ships, and weaker skiing are so much fun. This is a great experience for a day. Renting a boat is accessible and fun

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
SCORE is a great organization that supports new business. When I started I searched for their guidance on how to seek capital, build a business plan and structure the business. They are a nonprofit organization, and the volunteers have experienced professionals that share their life experiences with new entrepreneurs.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cesaracosta/