Launching A Business 101
Olivia was right. It is brutal out here.
Especiallyyy when you’re launching a new business for the first time.
There’s a lot I didn’t know when I first got started and I WISH I had a word of warning about the things I’d have to deal with + handle on my own.
To spare you the headache (+ because we’re all friends here), I thought I’d sit you down for a chat so I could share a few things I learned to help you as you start to build your biz!
01. There’s no rule book
Despite what you may have heard, there’s no rulebook for building your business.
There’s no manual you have to follow or a formula that’s guaranteed to work.
Most of the people you’re looking at that are ~slaying~ the game had to do what you’re doing now!
They had to:
🌟 create a marketing + biz strategy
🌟 implement their plan consistently
🌟 and fine tune it along the way
In reality, what works for others may not work for you + vice versa. So the name of the game is consistency, habitual troubleshooting, and learning as you go.
Ofc you should learn from those who are steps ahead of you. But know you can let go of the “rules” that don’t work for you or don’t fit the vision you have for yourself.
02. You wear all the hats
This is a BIG one!!
When you’re just starting out + you’ve got limited resources (no team, little experience, + you DON’T want to drop the big bucks), you have to stay on top of everythinggg.
YOU have to handle your admin, bookkeeping, marketing strategy, social presence, lead gen, proposals + contracts, customer service, and absolutely everything else.
To save time + avoid oversights, you should consider creating a system or schedule for as many as these bad boys as you can:
⚡️ your client on / off boarding systems
⚡️ bookkeeping schedule
⚡️ content creation + social media posting
⚡️ your ideal workweek
Have a plan so as little as possible slips through the cracks. 😉
03. If you don’t protect yourself, no one else will
Friends, there are so many risks that come with running a business!! So, before you start working with your first client, you HAVE to take measures to protect yourself.
I’ve heard far too many horror stories about biz owners being taken advantage of, given the runaround, and simply not receiving payment for their hard work (nightmare material, am I right?). That’s why it’s important to take steps NOW, so that doesn’t happen to you.
Here are a few things you can do today to protect yourself for the future:
💥 decide to accept either 50% or 100% of payment for your services upfront
💥 write up an agreement that covers your payment terms + deliverables, any upcharges that come with an increase in work, and that protects your intellectual property + confidentiality
💥 have a lawyer look over your agreement (bc you do NOT want this to be a DIY job)
💥 be clear from the get go about your boundaries + expectations with your clients
Going back to point 01, there’s no rulebook when it comes to running your biz but these are a few things you should be aware of before you take the plunge.
If you found this helpful, have any questions, or if you want to talk biz—shoot me an email. I specialize in personality-driven copy + offer 90 minute 1:1 strategy intensives where you can ask burning questions you can’t find answers to anywhere else!
