Today we’d like to introduce you to Andrew Dennis.
Andrew, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I graduated from the University of Miami JD/MBA program in 2016 and subsequently passed the Florida Bar Exam and the Series 7 and 66 financial licensing exams. I am a third-generation graduate of the University of Miami Law School and spend every chance I can with my 91-year-old grandfather who has lived his entire life in Miami.
Working in the corporate world stressed me out. To the point where I spent six days in the hospital with ailments related to stomach ulcers in August 2018. I was lying in the hospital bed, awaiting the biopsy results for what they feared may be stomach cancer, when I made the decision that I wanted to be my own boss and I wanted to dedicate my life’s work to helping others.
When I founded Ibis Prep I had no clients, no tutors, just passion and belief in my vision. I named my company after the legendary Ibis, the bird that is the last to leave when a hurricane approached and the first to return when the storm passes. As a result, the Ibis feasts while it’s competitors have fled. My vision was to instill this attitude in my students- to treat what most fear as an impending disaster as an opportunity to prevail and prosper. I have excelled in exams my entire life and it has opened many doors for me. My dream is to help open those same doors for others in my community and beyond.
My first client was my little cousin Jacob who I tutored for free on the SAT. As a result, he earned a high enough score to qualify for Florida Bright Futures and receive a full scholarship to college. My second client was a Russian woman who lived in Deerfield Beach and was studying for the TOEFL (Testing Of English As A Foreign Language). For $40/hr I would take the metro rail to the tri-rail and walk 15 minutes to teach her English. Looking back I am proud because I know I was doing whatever it took to build my business from the ground up. My third client was my most fortuitous when I met Sam Duque at a Miami Hurricanes Football tailgate. He owns an Allstate agency and needed help passing the Series 6. I used to drive to Weston at rush hour for two-hour lessons. After he passed his exam, he referred me to Pedro Meurice who owns an Allstate in Kendall. From those two clients, I have become the go-to Series 6 tutor for Allstate agents throughout South Florida.
I tutor for the SAT, ACT, GMAT, LSAT, GRE, Florida Bar Exam, and the Series 6, 7, and 66. Since I filed for incorporation in April, we have already helped over 500 people live in Miami and remotely via mobile tutoring. Each one of them I invest in their results and treat them like family. I have grown my team to include a full-time Director of Operations, a Director of Marketing, and a team of highly qualified and capable tutors. We offer live tutoring and mobile tutoring, and I also host seminars frequently at the University of Miami.
I believe that by sincerely helping people at an affordable price my business will continue to grow. My dream isn’t to make a million dollars; my dream is to help a million people realize their dreams.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The opposite of smooth! Being an entrepreneur is a lonely road, and no one seems to understand your vision until it plays out. The biggest challenge has been client acquisition. I’m just a little guy and people naturally go with companies they are familiar with, even though they provide inferior services at higher prices. Another challenge has been balancing scaling the business with bringing in the daily bread. I love tutoring because I enjoy the material and the clients, but the more time I spend “in the field” the less energy I have to put towards growing the business.
Finally, it’s been financially challenging. Every speck of profit has ultimately been reinvested in growing the team. I understand that success takes sacrifice, and it’s been a struggle so far.
Please tell us about your company.
We pride ourselves in individually tailored academic tutoring. We understand that every student requires a personal plan to reach their goals. My students will tell you that I reach out to them almost daily to check-in and offer support. We only charge for tutoring hours but we offer around the clock free services including resume building, application help, and just answering general concerns about their future. I will say that my company is best known for tutoring for the LSAT (the Law School Admissions Test). This is my favorite exam and we have developed cutting edge strategies to help people improve their scores.
What sets us apart from the competition is we treat each student like family. We go above and beyond to help them reach their goals. We charge a fraction of the price of our competitors and offer great loyalty and referral discounts. There is an LSAT tutor around town who charges $250 hour. I am sure that we provide better tutoring services, but our maximum price for an LSAT lesson is $75/hr. and a ten-hour package is only $50/hr. While I recognize I could raise my prices, my belief is to help people not hurt them. $250/hr. is absurd. We want to provide value above all else.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
The spirit of the Ibis.
Contact Info:
- Address: 3067 Center Street
- Website: IbisPrep.com
- Phone: 2159139096
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @IbisPrep
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