‘Entreprenurse’: How these nurses started their small businesses despite having no business experience

Three nurses from different parts of Australia jumped into business and show that you don’t have to be a professional to get the job done

Nurses who opened their businesses in Australia: (from left) Kristina Fernandez, Francis Antoque, Mark Maranan)

Key Points

• There are 450,000 nurses and midwives in Australia which is the largest sector of healthcare workers.
• Friends Mark Maranan and Francis Antoque are both nurses from Victoria who recently established their bubble tea shop.
• A nurse from Queensland Kristina Fernandez purchased a cafe with her husband and friend nearby a hospital.

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‘Entreprenurse’: How these nurses started their small businesses despite having no business experience

SBS Filipino

22/09/202208:43

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Filipinos are known for pursuing a nursing career in the health sector due to their caring and compassionate nature.

Even though the work is tough, especially during the height of the pandemic, it didn’t stop some nurses in Australia from doing other things that make them happy and gave them extra income.

Victorian nurse Mark Maranan and his business partner and fellow nurse Francis Antoque had the courage to start a new business.

They’ve only been in Australia for four years but have started up a bubble tea shop in Ballarat - Boba Central.

We have decided to open a business in Ballarat because during those times that we are in Geelong we are wanting to do business just for another income because were supporting loved ones in the Philippines.

Mark Maranan

Mr Maranan and Mr Antoque both love bubble tea, so they thought it’d be a great idea, especially as there isn’t much competition in their area.

The two nurses were scared to start their new venture as they didn’t know a thing about running a business but persisted and just gave it a go.

"There was really big fear and hesitation at first,” Mr Antoque said.

“We were thinking about it multiple times, we slept on it, we prayed for it, because it’s really a big risk in jumping into a new business, especially for us, we don't have knowledge about business, even in the Philippines," he said.

Mark Maranan manning their bubble tea shop Boba Central in Ballarat, Victoria.

The Ballarat boba shop owners aren’t the only ones who started a new business during the pandemic.

Business software company Xero released a report earlier this year in partnership with consulting firm Accenture Australia, which revealed there’s been a surge in the creation of small businesses since the pandemic arrived in 2020 and brings with it ‘countless chances for growth, innovation and connection’.

Filipinos in Australia are part of the shifting profile of Australia’s small business owners.

Xero reported the owners of small Australian companies are now more diverse with a growing number of people from different cultural backgrounds as well as more women and young people.

Three Shots Cafe owners Francis and Kristina Fernandez.

In Queensland, another nurse went reduced her hours and went part time at work to focus on starting her hospitality business on the Gold Coast.

The former nurse turned business owner Kristina Fernandez opened Three Shots Café with her husband and a friend.

“All of us don't have any barista experience and no business experience, I want to inspire people that you don't have to be a professional to start a passion.”

There was also an opportunity for their café to deliver to the nearby hospital where Ms Fernandez used to work.

For Ms Fernandez, it was important to connect her love for working as a nurse as well as her love of coffee.

She said, “I didn’t realise that it will be an opportunity for us to provide for my colleagues who are nurses and doctors, and they always say when we deliver our coffee to them, it brightens their day – for the doctors in theatre it saves the day.”