We recently connected with Everette Ligon and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Everette thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.

I always knew that I had to own my own business as a main source of income some day. I just was very unsure on how. My mother started her own staffing and drug testing company back in 1999. I watched her growing up seeing her as a business woman. She inspired me, letting me know that if there was something that I wanted to do, I just had to try my best, and the rest will take care of itself. I asked my mother about some of her profit margins one day in conversation. The numbers that she gave me were baffling. At that point, I realized that the easiest path to entrepreneurship was to use a path that had already been traveled. I decided to go into drug testing because I knew there was a need for it, and I had someone who could give me advice and help. I decided to add the 24 hour, and mobile aspect for multiple reasons. A couple are; with using a “mobile” business model, ensured the operating cost would be very low, and also, because there weren’t many, if any in Ga that were open 24 hours. Making the company available 24/7 placed me into another category that not many companies do what my company does. My company solves a few problems. My company caters to those who are not able to be free during normal business hours, but need a drug test. Many people come to me after everyone is closed. I am normally one of the only businesses open after hours. I also eliminate the problem for those that don’t have transportation. My company travels to the location of the request.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I got into the industry due to the need to be an entrepreneur. I knew that I had to make a choice at some point to commit to being a business owner. This starts with a mental decision, but it’s just an idea until you put action behind your thoughts.

I saw that the industry was run by the big name companies, and the current business models that the drug testing companies have has not made it convenient for the person who has to get drug testing for reasons outside of contracts with larger companies. Some people have jobs and can’t make it during business hours to get testing.

My company is different because we are open 24 hours, and we are mobile. We make it possible for those who can’t make it for what ever reason possible to get a drug test. I want people and companies to know that our business model is made to accommodate the individual who has a schedule or situation that doesn’t fit the criteria of the big name drug testing companies. We offer many types of testing 24 hours a day

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

My journey through entrepreneurship has been very rocky, but I have not given up. I started my company, and for the first year and a half, I didn’t have any customers. I spent lots of time figuring out different marketing techniques and strategies. I self taught myself some things concerning marketing and Google.

I was working a regular job during the time that I was developing my business. I experienced making bad decisions, and having to deal with the consequences of these decisions. I would quit my job when business got good. Not long after quitting my job, my business would slow down, causing me to experience a shortage in money. I would have to get another part time job. I went through this cycle for a while until I figured out how to properly navigate that area of my life.

Over time, I didn’t give up and now I have many contracts that keep me busy. I also learned that when you have money saved up, you can survive the draughts and make it through with out having to quit jobs. I continued to advertise and work towards my goal to entrepreneurship and now I am making a living through my business alone. I am in the top 3 business results on Google.

Have you ever had to pivot?

I had always put effort into developing my business. I would go to events, go door to door, hang signs, advertise online, and any other thing that I could think of to do to generate business. I remember my mother telling me that as a business owner, “you” make your phone ring.

The results were not immediate, but over time I remember having to tell customers that they have to schedule an appointment because I am very busy. I felt that at that point, I had generated enough business to have to be selective on the business that I accept.

Contact Info:

• Website: FSSGA.COM
• Instagram: _FSS_16
• Linkedin: EVERETTE LIGON