Entrepreneurship: Starting Out

Last week, I visited Montreal to speak on a panel at a national conference for law students. The session was about entrepreneurship and alternatives to legal practice. It was such a great discussion that I thought it would be helpful to any one thinking about starting a business or wants to do better in their existing business. I ran a poll on my Instagram story and everyone was interested in hearing my take on the topic of entrepreneurship! SO today on the blog, I’m sharing some of the questions I received to help anyone interested in pursuing an entrepreneurial venture. These are some tips that have worked for me over the past 9 years!

Is it possible to work a day job and a run your own business as a side hustle? Any advice or tips would be helpful.

This question came up in my DM’s and also at the conference. It is probably the most common situation that many people find themselves in. You’re on your way with a great career, but then along the way you decide to pursue a side hustle. Could be that you found your passion and you truly enjoy it. Just to be clear, a side hustle is an entrepreneurial pursuit that you pursue in your free time. It’s called a hustle because it keeps you busy, while also being an alternative source of income. I was in the same boat for many years. I worked my day job as a lawyer for 50+ hours a week and then also worked on my business every evening and every weekend.

The process of working for yourself allows you to set your own schedule. While working from 9 to 5 as a lawyer, I remained focused on all the necessary tasks I had to accomplish each day. I kept my two jobs separate. Any photography client calls or meetings outside of my day job were handled on my lunch break or after work.

If your business is service oriented, like mine, then it’s really important to let clients know the times that you’re available for their emails and calls. I would schedule phone calls and meetings at times that were most convenient for me. If you don’t manage their expectations, then you will really run into problems trying to juggle multiple things at once.

In addition to communicating, I also think it’s a good idea to really master your time management and team building skills. If you’re able to manage your 5 hours after work, you can achieve a whole lot in that time. It’s also a huge help to hire an assistant so that you can delegate some of your workload. Your time is precious and time is money! In my case, it wouldn’t be possible to outsource certain things, because I’m the lead photographer for my business. I also enjoy being behind the camera and working with my clients. But I definitely outsource parts of my workflow that isn’t completely dependent on me, like my editing, for example.

I also suggest using some type of software to keep track of all your clients and projects. I use 17hats! It’s a huge help to manage my clients’ needs and is a great tool for entrepreneurs that helps you manage your projects and keeps you on track. It’s not just for invoicing. 17hats has changed how I do business and I’m so much more organized thanks to 17hats. It’s amazing for keeping track of your finances, receiving online payments, keeping track of your emails, and it’s so convenient because you can use it from any computer or from your mobile device on the 17hats app. If you’re interested in checking them out, click here!

How did you go about preparing your business plan? Are there any specific steps you can recommend?

I didn’t realize how important this was at first and I started my photography business without a business plan. Bad idea. I did have a plan and so I did tried every type of photography, including pet photography, although I am extremely allergic and quite scared of animals (even the cute ones!). Why would I venture into an area that just wasn’t a good fit for me? Well, I didn’t set out my plan beforehand.

What I learned is that, I needed to have a business plan to give my creative mind some structure. It helped me to be specific about what my purpose was and what problem I was going to try and help solve for my clients. Being really intentional and making a business plan, helps you focus on what you’re doing and who your ideal client is. In the process of making a plan, you are also going to do some research about your area and identify your competitors and any other important details that make your business unique and profitable. This information is really worth it.

You wouldn’t bake a cake without a recipe, so don’t start a business without a plan. All I can say, is JUST DO IT! The great thing about having a business plan is that you can always revisit it and make changes when necessary. Creative businesses should consider business planning early on to avoid taking everything and any thing that comes into your inbox. Being selective helps you find your voice and helps your potential clients with knowing who you are and what you’re about.

As an entrepreneur, do you work with a team? How did you determine that they were the right people to work with? 

It might sound corny but teamwork makes the dream work! So many times when I’ve tried to do it all by myself, I’ve failed. I’m so much more productive when I’m doing what I’m good at and working with a team to help with the rest. I found team members through Indeed.com and also through word of mouth. I prefer word of mouth because there is a great chance that who ever is referring the person to you knows the person and is confidently referring them to you for a good reason. I think it’s important to acknowledge that you need help and let people know that you’re looking to build your team. You can also use social media to ask for assistant or interns. I have found the best people through trial and error. I conduct interviews and I pay attention to the things people say. There have been times where I’ve made mistakes with my selections, but that’s just a part of business. It’s best to keep it moving and keep looking for the best fit for my business’ needs.

How did you build your business as an entrepreneur? Where do you go to seek clients, and how do you ensure you keep them? 

I built my business through word-of-mouth referrals at first. Clients that worked with me initially were kind enough to share their experience with others. I also took the time to share my work on Facebook. This was long before Instagram existed. These were huge in helping me build my list of clientele. I also wasn’t afraid to share that I was a photographer with people I met. I didn’t feel sales-y because I was hoping to use my skills to help people with great photography. If you’re feeling shy about telling people about your business than you may need to really focus on your greater purpose for starting your business in the first place. If you’ve got something to offer that will benefit someone then it’s a lot easier to talk about in a public setting. While working with clients, I have always tried to maintain a certain level of professionalism. Through feedback I’ve learned that my clients appreciate that. I believe that in addition to beautiful photos, my professionalism has helped me maintain relationships with clients and keep them booking me time and time again.

~

I hope this post gives you some insight into my thoughts on entrepreneurship. If you’re still looking for some more tips and advice, I suggest you sign up for my email list by clicking here!