Operating a small business is not easy. But it is rewarding.
You can follow suit and what our society dictates. Go to school, get a good job with a good company, stay for 30 years, retire. Or you can carve your own path. We chose the latter. The owners and myself all had the drive and need to work for ourselves. We did get our starts out there in the "corporate world" and by working for other people. Which is great! We learned a lot and were able to take that experience and create the kind of business we believe people like to work with.
There will be bumps in the road when getting started. Guaranteed. That's where the strong persevere and succeed. You don't know what you don't know. And there are things you don't know. Trust me. However, I encourage you to use your resources. Network. Get to know other small business owners in your community. They can, and will, help you along the way. Actually, feel free to call our office if you'd like to bounce any "getting started" questions off of us. We're glad to share our experience.
There are pros and cons just like with anything else. The pros are feeling the direct effects of winning that bid, receiving compliments on your workmanship and customer service, creating your own schedule and watching your business grow. Some cons are having to handle everything. You're the boss now so you get to handle the good and not so good. Long hours are ahead! Sometimes it can't all be accomplished between 8am - 5pm.
After being involved in two start ups, there are a few things I know for sure.
1) You will become a jack of all trades. You may think you just need to know the skill that is your business. For example, jewelry making. Before you know it you will be an accountant, sales person, customer service rep, human resources director, marketing guru, website designer and social media expert.
2) Utilize resources/don't be afraid to ask for help. Score.org is a great resource.
3) Don't take no for an answer.
4) Follow your gut. If other people think you're nuts, that's OK. If something doesn't feel right, change it. Do what's best for your business.
Owning and operating a small business is challenging and rewarding. If this is something you've wanted to do, do it!
-Tiffany
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