Q'vive is a one-man operation, so the key is to create new revenue streams to grow the Wixom-based consulting business. Eric van der Meulen believes he found another one this year: online courses.
The 5-year-old firm specializes in offering consulting services in project management. Van der Meulen also teaches courses in project management at
Schoolcraft College.
He started selling these courses online last year. Sales tripled in that time, turning it into another revenue stream that helped spike the company’s growth by 50 percent in 2013.
"Last year was the best we have had so far," van der Meulen says. "It far exceeded our previous years."
He is now entering his 10th semester teaching project management at Schoolcraft and estimates he has helped educate about 250 students in that time. "Participation is strong," van der Meulen says. "It has actually been strengthening over the last few semesters."
Q'vive is looking to grow more revenue streams in 2014 by creating strategic partnerships with other local consultants and educators. "That's what I plan to do for the foreseeable future," van der Meulen says.
Source: Eric van der Meulen, president & owner of Q’vive
Writer: Jon Zemke
Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.
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