This Sabahan serial entrepreneur built 6 brands, here’s his business playbook

[This article was written in collaboration with Successive JK Ventures (SJKV.org).]

Growing up, Chong Eng Khin always dreamt of starting his own business. He wasn’t just interested in running one, he was captivated by the art and science of entrepreneurship itself. 

He loved dissecting what made businesses tick, how they succeeded, and how they failed. 

Today, that passion has translated into six thriving brands under his belt (and under the SJKV group), each with its own story and purpose.

One of Khin’s flagship ventures is THE BEAN, a brand he revitalised in 2016 and expanded into a household name in Sabah’s coffee scene. 

This was followed by the launch of THE BEAN EXPRESS in 2017, one of Kota Kinabalu’s first takeaway concept cafes, now with seven outlets. 

In 2023, he added a roastery, THE BEAN ACADEMY AND COFFEE ROASTERS, to support the business’s growth and nurture talent. Taking things international, THE BEAN is now gearing up to open its first outlet in Tokyo.

But coffee isn’t Khin’s only forte. He’s also behind KK BAKERY, Papel Studio, KIN LODGES, and Attribute Design.

This got us wondering how he did it, and he was more than happy to share the lessons that paved his journey.

There’s no “perfect” time to start

For Khin, the entrepreneurial spark can come from many places—a sudden inspiration, spotting a gap in the market, or discovering an unmissable opportunity. But one thing’s for sure: Waiting for the “right” time to start isn’t part of the equation.

“Starting a business is a dynamic process that requires both a solid strategy and adequate financial resources. There’s no perfect time. What matters is having the right mindset and being prepared to face setbacks along the way,” Khin explained.

This isn’t to say that you should dismiss factors like competitors and market trends. However, Khin found that it’s more important to be mentally prepared for the hardships and uncertainty that comes with entrepreneurship.

One instance that reminded him of the importance of evolving was during the COVID-19 pandemic. Khin had to make a tough call between closing some of THE BEAN’s outlets to maintain cash flow, or continue running them and hope for market recovery.

In the end, he chose the former for the sake of the business’s long-term sustainability, and this decision later paid off.

Diversify your portfolio whenever possible

Every one of Khin’s ventures serves a specific purpose within his ecosystem of brands. Branching out into new industries is his strategic move to diversify and create a well-rounded portfolio. 

“Each brand under our portfolio shares a common purpose: to guide passionate individuals to grow, create meaningful impacts, and inspire future generations,” he explained. 

“Our vision is to inspire youth, encouraging them to believe in themselves.” And this purpose isn’t restricted to just those within his team.

For example, Papel Studio taps into the handcrafted paperwork and design market while nurturing creative expression. Similarly, KK Bakery and THE BEAN are spaces for youths to build entrepreneurial skills through hands-on F&B experience.

Empower your teams to have a sense of ownership

Khin’s entrepreneurial philosophy revolves around people. “The joy of entrepreneurship comes from leadership and helping my team members grow and succeed,” he shared.

Seeing his staff members transition from being an employee to a business owner motivates him to keep going. A few of them got THE BEAN’s cafe licence and opened their own outlets, while another climbed the ranks and now runs THE BEAN ACADEMY AND COFFEE ROASTERS.

Others developed their leadership skills and later went on to help grow their own family businesses.

In the same vein, another lesson he picked up on is that company culture is a symbiotic relationship. “The company sets the foundation, but it’s the employees who bring it to life through their actions, mindset, and interactions,” he emphasised.

In his experience of building teams, he quickly learnt that what matters more than a set list of company values is whether the team can embody them. If they don’t, then something isn’t aligned.

This became obvious during THE BEAN’s expansion period when some of his employees didn’t resonate with the values, leading to challenges in teamwork.

So instead of trying to enforce a strict set of company values, he focused on creating an environment where his team could take ownership of them. “When this happens, the company culture becomes organic and growth follows naturally.”

Hiring the right people REALLY matters

No entrepreneurial journey is without its share of challenges. For Khin, one of the most expensive lessons was the importance of effective cash flow management.

“In the early stages of one of my ventures, I underestimated the capital needed to sustain the business through its growth phase,” he recalled. This led to a cash flow crisis that required taking out his own personal savings to resolve.

But it also taught him the difference that a supportive and loyal team can make.

When some of THE BEAN’s outlets had to be temporarily closed, his team adapted to new roles instead of backing down. Some also volunteered to reduce working hours to ease the business’s financial strain.

This proved to Khin that a strong and loyal team isn’t merely an asset, but the backbone of any business, especially in difficult times.

Finding your own meaning to success

With these lessons making up Khin’s business playbook, what does success really mean to him?

“For me, success is measured by the lives I’ve positively influenced, whether it’s helping my team grow, providing opportunities for untapped talent, or inspiring others to take their own entrepreneurial leap,” he confided.

“As long as I keep learning and making a difference, I believe I am on the right path.”

He added that finding your inner goal as an entrepreneur is essential to sustain yourself. It’s not always about aligning perfectly with your passions, rather, it’s about having a deeper purpose to drive you forward.

Featured Image Credit: SJKV.org