things I wish I Knew before starting my small business..

Things I wish I Knew before starting a small business..


PRODUCTS: Start small. Focus on quality products that define your brand. Add seasonal items as needed, but avoid overwhelming yourself with too many new releases. Always test before committing to big orders. This will save you a lot of time & money!

MATERIALS: Although I don’t encourage you to order lots of materials at once, I do recommend paying for quality. If you order the cheapest option from Amazon, that material may well turn up and be totally useless. Choose materials that reflect your brand and protect your products.

BE REALISTIC: You aren’t going to sell hundreds of items overnight! It’s a matter of slow and steady progress, building up your customer base and brand presence. Gradually you’ll begin to see the orders coming in and building up but this takes time. Set yourself realistic expectations.

PRICE: Your hard work, time and energy has gone into making your small business a success and people need to pay you a fair price. If you’re struggling to know how to price your items, have a look at what other similar businesses are charging.

FINANCES: Open a business bank account ASAP to seperate personal and business expenses. You'll save yourself when tax season rolls around and you can write off a lot of those business expenses!

SUPPORT: Instagram is all about community. If you support makers who share similar brand values and make similar products, you can both benefit. It’s so encouraging to receive support from other small businesses and to share in each other’s little successes. I’ve made so many small business friends on Instagram already and I haven’t actually met any of them!


CELEBRATE: Since I started my Instagram I’ve gained over 900 followers and I’ve made 4 sales. Doesn’t sound like much does it? And to be honest, my excel spreadsheet still tells me that overall I haven’t made any money – far from it! Starting a small business takes time. And you need to keep yourself motivated to keep going.

Every sale, every comment, every review is worth celebrating so order in the chocolates and give yourself a massive pat on the back. The best is yet to come!