How to Succeed in a Small Business
Franko's Maps Story: Quit a 9 to 5 Job, Work at Home & Make Money
How to start a home business, increase sales, make money, and have business success. How Franko's Maps began and grew from a hobby into a money making business.
Starting a home business and building it into a success isn't easy. Either is deciding to quit a 9 to 5 job and deciding to work for oneself. It takes risk, talent and dedication. This is the success story of one such growing business - Franko's Maps.
In 1992 when Frank Nielsen, avid California bicyclist, needed a map of mountain-biking trails near his home, he decided to design one for himself. Filling a need for oneself, as is often the case in starting a business, ends up filling a need for others. There were other mountain bikers in need of direction. So began “Franko’s Maps.”
Starting a Home Business
Inventing new map-making methods, Franko began by creating hand-drawn maps and had them printed on waterproof paper.
Expanding a Home Business
After some success selling these first maps, Franko designed more local trail maps. Next, he began working on a series of California islands and coastal maps, including a Santa Catalina Island (off the California coast) map.
At first, this was a part-time business venture. Frank worked as an engineer full time and was designing and selling maps on the side. This is how many successful businesses begin; using funds from a job to pay the bills as a small business grows into a profit-making company.
Overcoming Personal Difficulties in Small Business
Just as more and more stores began to carry the mountain-biking maps, Frank had a difficult personal set back. One day, while mountain biking in a familiar area, Frank took a horrible spill. He suffered multiple wounds, and despite wearing a helmet, endured facial lacerations and damage to his mouth, teeth, and more. He was in a great deal of pain.
After a long recovery, Frank was not eager to return to biking quite yet. Traumatized by the accident on land, Frank, never one to give up, turned his attention to another love - the ocean. Having a degree in Ocean Engineering, this was a natural transition. Franko’s Maps began designing surfing and diving maps.
Quitting a Job to Start a Full Time Business
After some time, Frank and his wife decided to jump into the mapping business full time. Working out of their home and using an outside printer for their expanding product line, the couple sometimes struggled, but the business continued to grow slowly.
Growing a Business
Soon Frank began the huge task of creating a series of Hawaiian Islands surf and dive maps. Next came California surfing maps and, with Franko’s enthusiasm, the product line kept growing. He designed laminated fish identification cards for divers, with a miniature map on one side, and coinciding ocean creatures on the other.
Offering a Unique Product Is Important
According to Franko, his maps “are printed on plastic paper so that they are waterproof and rip-proof. The use of plastic is just right for use in the mountains, islands, ocean, harbors and lake environments.” This originally offered bikers the option of sticking a map in a pocket and/or being able to wipe it clean of mud, sweat or rain. Later, this waterproof quality worked for divers and surfers. This is one of many qualities that make Franko's Maps unique.
Franko's Maps Today
After several years of hard work by the entire Nielsen family, Franko’s Maps has grown into a thriving business with numerous products. See the Franko’s Maps website to see their beautiful (now computer-drawn by Franko), colorful, and informative guide maps, dive maps, surf maps, trail maps, fishing maps, and laminated fish cards. Items for the Hawaiian Islands, California, Florida, the Caribbean, Cozumel, the Virgin Islands, Guam, and Micronesia are available (Palau map coming soon) .
This is a story of a business built by filling a need and expanded through hard work and triumphing over tragedy. Oh, and yes, Franko did get back on the horse...so to speak. He got back on the bike, actually, and enjoys riding once again (with his four bikes!).
What does Franko think of his success? "Unbelievable!!!"
Resources:
- Franko's Maps website (linked above)
- Interviews by phone with the Nielsens, March 2008
Also see Hawaiian Vacation with Grandkids, Hawaiian Red Real Dirt Shirts, and Fun Survivor Theme Birthday Party.
As a side note, Micronesia and Palau were locations where the Realty TV Show Survivor was filmed. Locations of Survivor are shown on Franko's maps.
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