How myBooks started
I started my first small business, an enterprise software consulting firm, when I was 27. I was good at what I did, and I picked up a few customers very quickly. But I struggled with every other part of running a small business — finances, recruitment, sales and marketing. I couldn't find the right resources or best practices at an affordable price. There were apps for every part of running a small business, but subscribing to each one meant spending a fortune, far too much for a fledgling startup. I ended up overpaying for some things and underpaying for others, losing opportunities either way. If I'd known what a business my size typically paid for things like auditing or rent, I could have made better decisions. If I'd had a set of tools to manage critical functions like finance, HR, and sales and marketing, things could have gone very differently. We decided this was a problem worth solving.
Why small businesses matter
Small businesses are the backbone of a nation's economy. A small business gives an individual the chance to succeed without the prerequisites of an expensive degree, a large investment, or connections to influential people. A high school dropout can start an auto repair shop; an ex-convict can start a custom tailoring shop. Anyone can start a small business, from a street-side food vendor to a fine restaurant — and if they do it wholeheartedly, it's destined to succeed.
Our mission
We exist to empower small businesses and give them a fair chance to succeed in a competitive market — to give them the tools to help them compete against big corporations. We want to be the sling of David in the fight against Goliath. We believe this is a noble mission: to create more equality in the world and give individuals a chance to dream and succeed, rather than get ground down in a regular 9-to-5 job at a big corporation. We believe a career should be more than just a means to a paycheck, and that every individual should have the chance to make a difference and contribute meaningfully to their community.
How we operate
While our reason for existing is to empower small businesses, we're just as deliberate about how we get there. We believe every employee should be set up for both short-term and long-term success — for themselves and for the business. We're as invested in our employees' well-being as we are in our business goals, and we care more about holistic employee development than about a quick exit for short-term monetary gain. Our business isn't a hustle — it's a mission we're pursuing the right way.