Servisit is a start-up cleaning services business started by Owen Rosco under the BECALL (Bicol Entrepreneurship and Empowerment Center for Accelerating Local Livelihood) Technology Business Incubator. But before Servisit focused on providing cleaning services in Naga City and nearby municipalities, it first provided computer services. With Owen’s background in electronic engineering, Servisit initially started by offering computer services and hiring onboard computer technicians. However, things were not systematized at that time. The onboard technicians also had other jobs and only considered Servisit as an additional income. Even so, with the rough beginnings, another opportunity came for Servisit based on recommendations which led them to focus on venturing out into cleaning services.
According to Owen, someone recommended a person who is very good at cleaning. Seeing the potential of offering cleaning services, they hired more cleaners on board, knowing that they get to help these people earn a living and, at the same time, provide cleaning services to those clients who need them. Owen realizes how some people hire cleaners to clean their houses, offices, and dorms because they cannot focus on cleaning due to having busy lives. Most of their clients are busy students, workers, and those with old parents who cannot move around to clean their houses. Servisit eventually found a new sense of purpose in offering cleaning services that are tailored to their client’s needs. They started offering quick cleaning, general cleaning, and dorm cleaning. An upgrade of additional services includes washing the dishes and folding the laundry.
Owen shared that one of the challenges he had to face in starting the business was talking to people. Admitting he is an introvert, “pinakatumatak na challenge is yung kumausap ng tao, kausapin yung taong may problema kasi ang goal ng business is to earn pero how do you earn if you cannot solve the problem of people.” Since he started Servisit, Owen has tailor fitted the goal of Servisit to solving people’s problems. Despite having a business that started as self-funded and mostly coming from his own allowances along with his two other co-founders, as time went on, they were able to earn little by little to keep the business going. Initially starting with P500, they bought the cleaning materials and equipment to be used by the cleaners. Each co-founder also added P1,000 for their starting capital.
With plans for the expansion in the finances, loaning in a bank is part of their considerations if there’s a come a stage that they would need it in the business and if they can already afford to pay for it. Owen invested in the business with the belief that “if your goal is to make an impact, the money will follow.” He wanted to focus on the improvement of the services they offer and believed that their earning would eventually grow in time.
As a young CEO of a start-up business, Owen said that it was fulfilling for him and that he loved the experiences and the learnings in the business field. It was difficult for him to balance studying, business, and his personal life, but what kept him going is his contributions and the opportunities he opened to the people because of Servisit.
“Wag ka pumasok sa business kapag hindi mo gusto yung ginagawa mo. Dapat may goal ka for venturing this kasi kung hindi ka motivated, kung hindi ka patungo sa goal na yun, wala siyang patunguhan. Dapat may sense of purpose ka.” Owen concluded. Owen is among the local entrepreneurs who had a vision as he ventured out this business with hopes of creating a positive impact to the lives of people through Servisit.
Do you also want to start up a business like Servisit? You can always make things happen with Bank of San Jose’s Negosyo Loan. The Bank of San Jose assists small and medium-sized business owners in expanding and succeeding in their business ventures which entrepreneurs can use as additional working capital or purchase fixed assets. Through the Negosyo Loan, you can loan P100,000 to P5,000,000 between 1-5 years with a payment scheme of monthly amortization, including principal and interest.
