William DeTemple is a seasoned entrepreneur and business growth strategist who has built and sold multiple companies before founding 9 Figure Company. With decades of experience, he has helped businesses scale from a few million dollars in revenue to billions, creating sustainable jobs and empowering entrepreneurs along the way. His story is one of vision, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to guiding founders towards success—making him a true inspiration for the Humans of Fuzia community.
Can you tell us about your journey as an entrepreneur?
I started my very first company in 1976, importing toys from around the world and selling them to retail stores across the West Coast. Over time, that business grew nationwide and reached about \$30 million before being acquired by a public company. I went on to build and sell three more companies in industries like automotive and beyond, following a similar model. After moving to Florida, I transitioned into coaching business owners and launched 9 Figure Company. For the past 22 years, I’ve been helping entrepreneurs scale their businesses, and some of our clients have grown to billions in annual revenue.
What is the main focus of 9 Figure Company today?
Our work primarily revolves around helping companies that generate between \$3 million and \$50 million in annual revenue, although we also work with larger organisations. My passion lies in creating good, sustainable jobs by teaching founders how to scale their businesses effectively. The more jobs we help create, the stronger our communities and economy become.
What challenges do you see most entrepreneurs face when trying to scale?
The biggest challenge is usually capital. Most entrepreneurs don’t have enough resources to do everything they need or want to do. At 9 Figure Company, we help them access non-dilutive capital, which means they don’t have to give away ownership or control to investors. It’s important to protect entrepreneurs from mistakes that could cost them their companies.
What advice would you give to someone starting their business journey today?
My advice is to be mindful of capital and how to use it wisely. Access to funds is critical, but it’s equally important to ensure that entrepreneurs understand how to deploy that capital effectively to scale their businesses without losing ownership or vision.
What drives you to continue this work after so many years?
I truly love what I do. Helping entrepreneurs scale their businesses and seeing them succeed brings me joy. At the end of the day, it’s about creating sustainable jobs and opportunities. That’s my passion, and I plan to keep doing it for years to come.
“My passion is about helping entrepreneurs scale and grow their companies. That’s what I’ve been doing for 22 years, and I’ll probably do it for another 22.” – William DeTemple
Connect with William DeTemple
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/wdetemple
Want to be featured?
If you’d like to be featured in the Humans of Fuzia series, email us at [fuziatalent@fuzia.com]
