In my previous blog post I talked about 5 things I wish I had done when starting my business, while I only listed 5, the list could have been close to endless! Buuut, I also did a few things that still have me counting my lucky stars.
1) Opened a separate bank account
One of the first things I did when starting my own business was open a business checking account. All I needed was my business license (which is also easy to get), my personal information and $50 to deposit into the account. Opening a separate bank account allowed me to keep my business and personal expense separate from the start. Avoiding any messy books come tax season and it also helped me feel super legit.
2) Used Quickbooks to keep my finances in order
Speaking of messy books. I signed up for Quickbooks Online which is an accounting software that lets you import all of your banking transactions and categorize as needed. You can even do things like create and send invoices, have clients pay you online and generate monthly reports that tell you where and what you’re spending your money on.
3) Invested in my Brand with brand photos
Full disclosure I didn’t have the budget to spend money on brand photos right away but as soon as I did, I invested. Brand photos are a way for you to build credibility with your clients. If they come to your website or social media page and see stock images, how can they take you seriously? By seeing stock photos there is no way for potential customers them to get a feeling of what your brand really offers and they can't see your products or services. When you have money to invest in your brand, make this one of the first things!
4) Have a business plan
That can sound really scary and big picture but breaking your business down into small sections can help you focus in on want you want to be doing and will help your business tremendously. I attended Women’s Economic Ventures in Santa Barbara, they helped me layout a business plan and get the ball rolling. Often times, your brand stylist can help you with this (wink, wink ahem… me :) ) There are also online business courses, free blog posts and resource to help you create anything from a simple business outline to 100 page business plans.
5) Surrounded myself with people that believed in me.
There is zero chance I would have been successful in my business without the support of my friends and family. Surround yourself with people that want you to succeed and are proud of everything you do. You know, the friend that always “likes” you Instagram post or the Dad that brags about how proud he is of you. These people believe in you and they are the ones to turn to when you’re doubting your path. Because believe me, owning a business is hard work and doubt is going to creep in.
Are you just starting out or have you been in business a while? What are some of the things you are happy you did when building your brand?
