We recently connected with Monchaily Hendricks and have shared our conversation below.

Monchaily, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

The idea for my business came from a mix of personal experience, passion, and frustration with what I saw happening around me. I remember sitting at my desk, overwhelmed by everything I was managing—helping colleagues, supporting friends with their businesses—and realizing so many people struggled to get their ideas off the ground because they didn’t know where to start. They were juggling multiple tools, overwhelmed, or didn’t have the confidence to move forward. I thought, Why isn’t there one place that can make this easier?

Growing up in a military family, I learned to work hard, think creatively, and solve problems. Over the years, I developed a knack for simplifying complex processes and making them accessible to others. As I helped people with logos, websites, and marketing strategies, I saw a clear pattern: entrepreneurs needed more than just a service—they needed a partner to guide them through the process of building and growing their business.

The turning point for me was seeing how often people were overcharged or left disappointed by other providers. It was heartbreaking to hear stories of business owners spending thousands on services that didn’t deliver. I knew I could do better. I could offer not just high-quality work but also an empowering experience. That’s when I decided to create Xelbooks—a one-stop shop for entrepreneurs to bring their businesses online without the hassle of multiple sources.

What excited me most was creating something that truly made an impression. I didn’t want to just provide services; I wanted to inspire confidence and give people the tools to succeed. I knew my approach was unique because I made it personal—I listened, collaborated, and cared deeply about their outcomes. Seeing clients succeed, like one who went from feeling stuck to being featured on Good Morning America, reinforced that this wasn’t just a business—it was my purpose.

Xelbooks isn’t just about services; it’s about legacy. It’s about creating something meaningful that helps others succeed and thrive. Every time I see a client achieve their goals, I know I made the right decision. That’s what drives me—helping make the impossible feel possible, one dream at a time.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Well, I never actually planned to start a business. It all began when I noticed how many coworkers hated their jobs but couldn’t get noticed when applying elsewhere. One day, I offered to help a colleague rewrite their resume, and before I knew it, half the office was asking me to do theirs. Honestly, I almost said no. But a coworker told me, “You should do this. The world needs people like you.” That stuck with me.

Later, in Jacksonville, Florida, I met a guy who made the most delicious pickles but had no idea how to get his business online. He became my first big client, and I was nervous! But after building his website and seeing his business grow, I started to believe in myself. That’s when I realized this was more than just a side project—I could really help people.

From there, I listened carefully to my clients’ frustrations with other companies—how they felt overcharged, unsupported, or stuck with cookie-cutter solutions. I decided to offer something better. That’s how Xelbooks grew into a full suite of services, including logo designs, websites, business cards, brochures, flyers, LinkedIn updates, storefront decals, infomercials, and more. Every service is tailored to meet my clients’ unique needs, and I’m always thinking about their future—like building websites on platforms with no hosting fees or providing full logo layouts so they’re ready for anything.

What sets Xelbooks apart is how I run my organization. We’re a small but mighty team, 100% remote, which allows us to keep things personal. I’m hands-on with every project because I want my clients to feel supported and confident in their next steps. Whether I’m designing a resume on premium linen paper or creating a website that makes their business shine, my goal is to deliver quality work that solves problems and saves them money in the long run.

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

The way I learned resilience in business came from a lot of things—not just encouragement, though that helped. My husband played a huge role in keeping me going. There were so many times I wanted to quit, and I mean every year, like clockwork, I’d say, “I’m done. I’m getting rid of this business.” But the story that sticks with me the most, the one that truly taught me what resilience looks like, was the day I dealt with a very difficult client.

At the time, I was offering a service I didn’t even want to do. It wasn’t at the core of what I wanted my company to represent, but I was chasing money—which, let me tell you, is not the right way to run a business. This client hired us for flooring work in his home. He wanted custom tiles, bought them himself, and only paid us for the labor. We went in, did the work, and honestly, it looked beautiful. But less than an hour after we finished, the client went home, ripped up the tiles, and demanded a refund, claiming he didn’t like the quality of our work.

I remember standing there at that moment with a choice. I could either let that situation break me—let this client’s unhappiness make me question everything—or I could fight. I could fight for the quality of my work, for the staff who poured their energy into the job, and for the business I’d worked so hard to build. And that’s exactly what I did. Even though we closed things out with that client and they weren’t happy, I walked away with a lesson I’ve carried ever since.

That experience taught me two things: First, I was only going to offer services I truly loved and believed in. If I wasn’t confident or passionate about something, there was no point in offering it. Second, running a business isn’t about the easy days. It’s about showing up no matter what kind of day you’re having, because resilience isn’t built when things are smooth—it’s built when you have to fight through the challenges.

So now, everything I offer is something I’m passionate about and confident in. I stay focused on what feels natural to me, where I know I can make a difference. And even on the tough days, I remind myself why I started this business in the first place. That’s what resilience means to me.

We’d love to hear the story of how you turned a side-hustle into a something much bigger.

For years, I kept my business on the side, doing it on weekends when I had free time—between taking care of my son, running errands, and helping my husband. I started back in 2007 when my first son was born, and I thought, This is just something I’ll do when I can. I thought I had to stick with a 9-to-5 to survive. Over the years, I yo-yoed between working full-time jobs and running my business part-time.

Then in 2019, everything changed. I got laid off and was forced to rely on my business full-time. It wasn’t a Cinderella story—it was one of the hardest years of my life. I barely made $300 the whole year, ended up on food stamps, and thought seriously about closing the business for good. But something in me said to keep going. I went back to a 9-to-5 for stability, but I realized how much I missed my business. Even though it hadn’t been perfect, I missed the freedom—the ability to do work I loved without all the red tape.

In 2024, I made the decision to go full-time with Xelbooks. I resigned from my job and put everything I had into my business. It’s not always easy—some months are better than others—but I wouldn’t trade it for anything. That journey taught me so much about resilience and believing in myself. What started as a side hustle turned into something I’m truly proud of. Now, I get to wake up every day and do work that not only supports my family but helps others bring their dreams to life. It’s been a long road, but I’m so glad I kept going.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.xelbooks.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Xelbooks
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/392384817499713
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/xelbooks/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDE9FLgLLT7BJjLM7VNN9eA
• Yelp: https://m.yelp.com/biz/xel-books-fayetteville-2