Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in publication but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Jason Sizemore, Owner of Apex Books, located in Lexington, KY, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
We are Apex Publications, an LLC that is comprised of two independent arms: Apex Book Company and Apex Magazine. Our customers are readers of speculative literary fiction via digital, online, and print formats.
Tell us about yourself
I was raised in the Appalachian hills of southeast Kentucky and went to a private college on scholarship, where I picked up a degree in computer science in the mid-90s. After 20 years in the business, I decided to pursue creative and entrepreneurial goals and opened Apex Publications. Fortunately, the career change fit my personality. I find myself greatly enjoying the work of editing and publishing. The process of being the creative vision of brilliant writers never grows old.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
On the book side, it was winning the Philip K. Dick Award for our novel PLAGUE BIRDS by Jason Sanford. It isn't often a micro-press that wins a major award like the PKD.
On the magazine side, it was able to claim that our online publication was running in the black. It's absurdly difficult financially to run a digital zine. Most speculative fiction is financed by people who do it for the love of the format and don't mind losing a few dollars to the arts. Apex Magazine isn't a big earner, but it no longer functions as a loss leader, either!
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
There's a balance that has to be met between the needs of your business and the financial requirements of your family. I stress over every dollar I take out of the company to pay myself, but at the same time, I never feel like I'm taking enough!
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- To start a business, you better be sitting on substantial savings. You'll need that money in the lean early ears.
- To run a business, you have to recognize your strengths and weaknesses. Lean into your strengths and convictions. Don't be afraid to find experts in the areas of weakness.
- Growing a business is typically a multi-person job. There will be too many plates to spin for you to do it alone. Hopefully, once you reach a level where your business is ready for the next step, you will have a team of trusted and capable individuals who are indispensable to the company.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.apexbookcompany.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ApexBookCo/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/apexbookcompany/
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/apexbookcompany
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
Turn your craft into recurring revenue with Subkit. Start your subscription offering in minutes and supercharge it with growth levers. Get early access here.