We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Mashawn Robertson. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Mashawn below.
Mashawn, thanks for taking the time to share your stories 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.
Working in the healthcare industry of the federal government I saw a problem they had and I created a solution. Way back in 2010 the swine flu, H1N1 influenza, and just previously the Covid-19 pandemic healthcare facilities, labs, and other medical providers and practices needed same day or overnight delivery of medical supplies, organs, blood, etc so I created a medical courier business to solve that issue. From writing my business plan for Nonstop Brokerage to actually seeing my first contract was super exciting. That first contract I treated like it was a million dollars so that is what kept me even more motivated to seek out my next one. The excitement of bidding on a contract and winning felt so amazing. A feeling I will never forget.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
A girl from Washington, DC who was raised by everyone but her own parents who have big dreams. I believed in myself regardless of what others thought was impossible for me. With no connection to Hollywood I worked endlessly pounding the pavement, negative bank account, missed flights, long bus rides, going days without being with my two children, while constantly being told no and how I just wasn’t right for the roles I so badly wanted. Discouragement stepped in at times, but in my gut I knew acting was ingrained in my soul. The same way I feel about my passion for acting I feel for my business. I am the co-owner of Nonstop Brokerage with my husband. We are a small black owned transportation and brokerage company who help clients who need specific products/services within the transportation industry. What sets our business apart from others is that of great customer service and offering same deliveries within a 150 mile radius. What I am most proud of is that we at Nonstop Brokerage pride ourselves in great customer service and keeping a lasting impression on our clients that they refer other businesses to us. We have never had to pay for advertising or marketing thus far to promote our business since opening in 2021. I think that is quite impressive.
Can you tell us the story behind how you met your business partner?
Lol. My business partner….. I am laughing because we started out as friends, then business partners, now husband and wife. Yes, business has been going well can you tell. I met him through a friend of mine. His sister and I are friends and she introduced us because I am a very great grant writer and he was looking to start an assisted living business. I created him a business plan, searched a few grants for him, and from that day forward we were inseparable. His business ideas were amazing and aligned with the many business ideas I had in mind as well. In particular the transportation industry was the first business we started together.
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
A lesson I had to learn was they way you start isn’t necessarily the way you end. What I mean by that is I was a new business owner so I did not know everything far as paperwork goes. Started the business as an LLC which you still can be liable for certain things far as your business. I took a class that showed me how to convert the LLC into a S corp business structure. As an LLC owner, you’ll incur steep self employment taxes on all net earnings from your business, whereas an S corporation classification would allow you to only pay those taxes on the salary you take from your company. So now knowing that I always tell new business owners I meet to make sure beforehand they figure out which business structure setup they are going to form far as tax purpose wise. Uncle SAM is expensive so make sure you educate yourself and protect your business entity.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: nonstop_brokerage
- Linkedin: Mashawn Robertson