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What I Wish I Knew Before Starting My Small Business

This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Wilfrid Laurier chapter.

Starting a small business can be both the best and most stressful thing you do. It sounds like a good idea, but it takes a lot of long nights and sacrifices to get off the ground. Before you start, try to do as much research as you can, but at some point, you just have to put your feet into the water. Here are some things to know before starting up a small business.

1. Block booking posts

Blocking booking posts is honestly a lifesaver. Pick one day a week and create all the content you’re going to need for the week. It may take the whole day to finish but it makes running a social media account for your business so much easier. Trying to make a new post every day when you need one is just not efficient. This way you can ensure that all the posts follow the same theme, and you can ensure that you don’t have extra work to do when it comes to the day of posting.

2. Pick the right business partner

Picking someone to go into business with is very tricky. Working with your friends may seem like fun but when things don’t go as planned, the friendship you guys have had may be at risk. If you are going into business with a friend, make sure that you both understand how to compartmentalize your business separately from your friendship. Make sure that your friendship doesn’t become just business. Moreover, make a plan for when things don’t go well. Agree on stuff while things are going well for when things go awry.

3. There will be hiccups

There will be something that doesn’t happen as fast or as easily as you had hoped. You need to keep persevering on when these things happen. Picking a name could be one of these struggles. Trying to find a name that wasn’t taken on the platforms you want to use or that is free of copyright is very difficult. Words have a peculiar way of holding various meanings and constructs. Trying to find a word that would encompass what you are trying to achieve with your brand can be difficult, to say the least. Once you do get over those hiccups and work past them, it will feel like the greatest accomplishment. You will think to yourself, “I did this!”

Overall starting a business is something to recommend to anyone who has ever thought of it. It can be hard to put yourself out there and be the face of the brand you are trying to create, but the rewards are worthwhile.

Adrianna Pater

Wilfrid Laurier '21

Adrianna - 4th year Film and Management student at Wilfrid Laurier University. You will probably find me at the library. Instagram @AddiePater
Chelsea Bradley

Wilfrid Laurier '21

Chelsea finished her undergrad with a double major in Biology and Psychology and a minor in Criminology. She loves dogs way too much and has an unhealthy obsession with notebooks and sushi. You can find her quoting memes and listening to throwbacks in her spare - okay basically all - her time. She joined Her Campus in the Fall of 2019 as an editor, acted as one of two senior editors for the Winter 2020 semester and worked alongside Rebecca as one of the Campus Correspondents for the 2020-2021 year!