Starting a business is no small thing. You’re making a huge life change, and that involves a lot of decisions and choices. While there is a ton of advice out there about what to do (and what not to do) when starting your business, here are some tips from someone who has been there, done that.

It’s not about the money, but it is about the money (and that’s ok). 

I love when people say they’re not in it for the money. They feel fulfilled. Good for you! You should!

And also, it’s okay to want money. Matter of fact, as your accountant, I need you to be making money. Your time and energy is worth money. No need to downplay it and say it’s not. Why is it okay for corporations to make billions of dollars a year while someone who is passionate about their job makes pennies on the dollar? Ummm… it’s not. And you don’t need to pretend like it is.

Making money doesn’t take away from the fulfillment, in fact, it should add to the experience because it adds to your life experience. With more money comes more opportunities. You can buy more tools for your business, hire more people, gain more brand awareness through marketing, and further spread your cause.

Why the Money is a Good Thing

On a personal level, you can take better care of yourself/your family, eat better food, have a personal trainer for prime workouts, maintain a cleaner house by hiring a cleaner, go on more trips and explore the world, donate to cause near and dear to your heart, help family and friends in need of financial support. You get the point.

Once you realize running a business is actually about making money, then things start to fall into place and you can operate from a place of strategy, not just a place of charity. Show up fully and unapologetically. You get to serve and be served at the same time.

For me, this became even more crucial once I had my first child. If I was going to take time away from my kids, I knew I had to be doing something I loved, something that filled my cup, and something that benefited our family financially. And guess what? You really can have it all. You’re not asking for too much. I promise.

If you need help with your money mindset, keep reading and be sure to check out this blog post: Why Does Money Mindset Matter?

Develop yourself before your business

This isn’t to say you have to be perfect before you can be a business owner, this is to say self-development isn’t a luxury – it’s the foundation of a successful business. Your development sparks your business’ development. So hone your skills, nurture your passions, and understand your values.

What is your goal for your business? What do you want your day-to-day life as a business owner to look like? Become that person first.

For example, maybe you want to only work a few hours per day so that you can spend more time with your family. If so, start prioritizing family time over work time. Set boundaries for when and where you work and respond to business messages. By developing a strong sense of yourself, you’ll gain more confidence, resilience, and a deeper understanding of your goals. This self-awareness not only guides your business decisions but also shapes the way you interact with clients and employees.

A well developed business starts with a well developed you. But with that…

Believe in yourself

You are ab-so-lutely capable of running your own business. You have the passion, the smarts, and the work ethic that will build a successful business. And remember if you do make mistakes, this is all just part of the adventure. This lessens the pressure on mistakes because they just become learning opportunities. Plus, it increases the excitement of opportunities because it’s your next adventure!

Don’t overcomplicate the marketing.

Consider the fact that serving clients is actually a huuuuge part of marketing. Word-of-mouth travels fast! And not only is it fast, it’s effective. Our business is built on like 90% referrals and serving clients is my absolute fave way of marketing anyway!

Some people love in-person networking so if that’s your jam, by all means, do it! Others love to network online, like LinkedIn. And then there’s me who started an entire Facebook group because I like networking with other like-minded accountants. I’m very picky on who I want to network with so I created my own group so I could be the filter and handpick who I wanted my friends to be. You can check it out HERE.

So many people get hung up on social media and think they have to show up all the time. No you don’t. Speaking from experience as someone who does show up on social media semi-frequently, it’s not a make it or break it kind of thing. In fact, when we had our Instagram hacked Spring 2023 and had to start from ground zero, it didn’t affect our new client signage rates in the slightest. So if you’re not feeling it…you don’t even have to show up at all! Remember you make the rules. Speaking of…

Write your own rules

Starting a business means you’re the boss. You get to decide on, well, everything! That might seem intimidating at first, but it’s actually a really great perk. You get to do things the way you want. Create the products and services that you feel passionate about, even if they’re different from what everyone else is doing. That’s the beauty of starting your business. No one else is doing things exactly as you are, which is why the right clients will choose you over others.

Remember to create a business that serves you and is life giving.

Think big picture

When building out your business, always think about where you’re going with it. Take me for example, even before I hired a team, I started using “we” in my marketing. Because I knew that within a matter of months, people would be working with my team, not just me. That was my goal so that’s what was gonna happen. 

Or when I started my business I knew I wanted to add some freebies and educational content but I didn’t have the bandwidth to do it quite yet. I posted educational content online in the meantime which was great marketing for my done-for-you services. Then, why I finally launched freebies and passive offers, my community was ready to eat it all up because I had already prepped them for that. I wasn’t only selling done-for-you, I had always been selling the empowerment of finances and now I had new ways they could experience it.

Even planning what services we offer and how we offer them came because I thought big picture. When I started my business I knew I wanted to be a working mom. I didn’t have kids yet, but I planned for them. That means limited meetings (because I’d be busy playing with play-doh and blocks), flexible hours (hello nap time hustle), and virtual work environment (SAHM working in pjs please!). 

Culture is everything.

Everything!

From the way I hire to what services I offer to how I show up on social media. Building a successful, branded business, comes down to identifying the culture and letting it seep out of everything you do.

You’re not alone

I remember feeling so alone on the entrepreneurial journey. That is, until I started to intentionally connect with other entrepreneurs and I hired a coach who really got me. It was such a relief, a total breath of fresh air, to have solidarity with them. To know my big dreams weren’t out of reach. To see others on the same journey falling down, and getting back up. I never valued community as much as I do now.

Some people may say find a mentor but I say find a whole freaking community. IG is great for this. I don’t even know half the people I follow and they certainly don’t know me but I look up to them and receive more validation from them than they realize.

It goes without saying but… congratulations on taking the plunge and becoming your own boss! It’s such an exciting time and we wanna help in any way we can! We offer online education, done-for-you services, and business coaching to help you find the utmost success during your entrepreneurial journey. We’re here to be part of your core team and we want nothing more than to watch you succeed!!

YOU’VE GOT THIS!!!!