Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Beth Tofel, Co-Founder of FootprintID, located in Livingston, NJ, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
FootprintID is a Personal Portable Health Record. It is a solution that helps the member (and any stakeholder in their care) always have timely access to all their health and medical information. Our customers are primarily businesses/organizations that provide FootprintID to their members, customers, or employees; however, we also sell directly to consumers. The benefit to the readers supporting our service is to make sure that they have immediate access to their information in an emergency while visiting a health care provider, getting a second opinion, or traveling and away from their home doctors. That includes, but is not limited to, prescription information- which helps to avoid contraindications, emergency contacts, allergies, conditions, immunizations, family history, and prior test results (we provide unlimited document storage for lab reports and previous test images- which helps to reduce the time and cost of a duplicate test) as well as document storage for health care proxies, advanced directives, or any other documentation the member chooses to include. We do this in a secure HIPAA compliant environment.
Tell us about yourself
I started my business after some personal family experiences, which clarified the challenges with our health information being fractured and scattered across multiple locations. I have always had a passion for safety and well-being. Each day I work toward bringing our solution to as much of the population as possible to potentially save a life, create better health outcomes and save time and money.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Growing the business out of a passion for what I am doing and bringing it to life. We are working with multiple organizations that embed our solution into their programs. To date, we have reached a population of over 5+ million members. That continues to grow, and I'm very proud of what we have been able to accomplish
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
Patience!
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
I would say understanding that it takes At LEAST twice as much time, money, patience, and grit as you anticipate. Nothing happens overnight. When marketing your product, you must understand that not every opportunity will materialize even if the potential client loves your product/solution. Don't take it personally. It's all about timing, Never burn any bridges and remember that people want to do business with people they like and trust. Build your network, maintain your relationships, and plant as many seeds as possible. They might not grow right now, but eventually, they will benefit your professional life.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
Building a business is a roller coaster, with many ups and downs, but well worth it if you believe in it. Grit is key. Wishing the best of luck to those who embark on the journey!
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://footprintid.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/footprintid
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/footprint_i_d/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bethtofel/
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.
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