Richmond James Tobillo, the story of two wheels
Twelve years ago, Richmond James Tobillo had one ride and one dream. No fancy setups, no investors, and definitely no blueprint. Just a Suzuki Skydrive 125, his then-girlfriend (now wife) and a growing list of dreams he couldn’t afford to give up on.
That scooter wasn’t just transportation. It was his delivery truck, service vehicle, date bike, and emergency escape. It carried groceries and ingredients, small wins and big worries, and eventually, the foundation of what would become a multi-business journey.
“That scooter carried not just groceries, but all my hopes and fears.”
In the early days, Richmond wasn’t planning to become a serial entrepreneur. He was just trying to make ends meet. Every week brought new side hustles, small gigs, and temporary fixes just to survive. Along the way, he realized he wanted something of his own—something that blended creativity, calm, and community.
He didn’t begin with success.
He began with failures—a few small businesses that didn’t take off. But each setback taught him something. And he didn’t stop.
His first real breakthrough came with a skincare clinic. Then a barbershop followed. Both slowly gained traction.
Only last year did he open a café—Monsieur Artisan Bean—his most recent venture and proof of how far he’s come.
But if you ask Richmond, he’ll be the first to say—he didn’t get here alone.
His success story is also a love story. A story of partnership, of faith, and of choosing to keep going—together.
“I didn’t do this alone. We did this together.”
They say behind every successful man is a strong woman—but the truth is, she was never behind me. She’s been beside me through it all. Before there were clients, clinics, or coffee shops, there were just dreams—and the two of us, holding on. She believed when no one else did. She stayed through the unpaid bills, late nights, and silent sacrifices. She carried more than her share—not just the house or the kids, but a dream that wasn’t even hers, yet she made it hers anyway.
She wasn’t just my support; she was my co-builder. Her strength wasn’t loud, but it echoed in every decision, every risk, every step forward. This life we have now? It’s not just built on hustle—it’s built on faith, partnership, and the quiet power of a woman who chose to believe in us. To all the women who carry dreams they didn’t start but never let fall: you’re not behind the story—you are the story.
From Concept to Community
Richmond James Tobillo launched Monsieur Barbershop + Café, combining grooming and coffee into a single neighborhood hangout. The concept clicked. Then came Skin Society Laser and Aesthetics, adding skincare and beauty services to the mix. Finally, ZIIV Project—a business focused on high-performance motorcycle exhaust systems.
Four businesses. All built from scratch. All running at once.
But behind the polished exteriors, things weren’t always as curated as the feed. Permits piled up. Bills crept in. Staff came and went. Richmond often took on multiple roles in one day—barista, cleaner, manager, driver, support system.
There were wins, sure. But there were also nights when he’d sit outside the shop at midnight, coffee in hand, asking himself if it was all worth it. When no one was watching, he was still working. Still thinking. Still moving.
One time, a group of creatives walked by the shop. One of them said, “Bro, goals ‘to. Gusto ko rin ng ganito.” Richmond smiled quietly. He’d been that guy once—looking from the outside in, not knowing the cost behind the design.
“Concept is easy. Execution is war.”
Because the cost wasn’t just financial. It was emotional. It was time lost with his kids, sleep skipped, energy drained. Passion got him started, but it was discipline that kept the doors open.
“Passion is what starts it. Discipline is what keeps it going.”
Staying Grounded, Moving Forward
Today, all four businesses are still growing. Nothing grand. But there’s a working car in the garage, three kids in the backseat, and a scooter that still runs.
More importantly, there is honesty in how Richmond James Tobillo sees himself.
“Gusto ko lang linawin: Hindi kami mayaman. Marami parin loans. Nagpapaiikot. Nagbabayad. Nagtitiis. Pero ang mahalaga, hindi sumusuko.”
Success for Richmond isn’t about the number of branches or how viral a reel goes. It’s about building something real without shortcuts. It’s about showing up on the hard days, not just the launch days.
“Hindi mo ito ginagawa dahil uso. Ginagawa mo dahil may dahilan.”
It’s knowing that sometimes, the simplest things—a good haircut, a great cup of coffee, a clean aesthetic space, a brand that speaks to people—are enough to keep a business running.
“I’m not where I want to be yet. But I’m far from where I started.”
Richmond James Tobillo is proof that true success doesn’t always look shiny. Sometimes, it looks like a scooter and a secondhand espresso machine. But with heart, discipline, and the refusal to quit, it turns into something far more powerful: a life you built yourself.
Looking for more real stories from self-made Filipinos? Browse our Success Stories archive for more.
