Are you thinking about finally quitting your 9-5? Have you had enough of working for other people? Or are you simply ready to create something beautiful that you can take ownership of and love? Then, you may be ready to start your own business!

It's been one year and three months since I started my own business as a freelance social media manager and writer. And man, has it been a bumpy ride! I'm by no means a “seasoned entrepreneur,” but I've gone much further than I ever imagined. Despite how others project it, starting and running your own business requires lots of time and work. Having the flexibility of working my own hours doesn't mean I get to sip mimosas in my backyard on a Tuesday at noon. It means I'm working 18 hour days to make sure my clients are happy.

Being a business owner is not for everyone: it is challenging, there is a lack of certainty, it can be very hard financially, and it will take a lot of work. It's definitely NOT a walk in the park. If you're considering starting your own business, here are a few pointers that could help you in those beginning stages.

While starting your own business is a long and stressful experience, the reward of being your own boss is like none other. If you do it right, you’ll enjoy all the freedom and flexibility while doing what you really love.

Own Your Brand Identity

Your brand identity can make or break your business so be sure you own it. What do I mean by own it? Clearly define who you are as a company — with an emphasis on “clearly.” Lucky for me, my identity was my name and face. I chose the website name and social media handles “OnlineDrea” because it was a unique way to identify myself and my brand whereas my actual name, Andréa Jones, is quite generic.

Take a note from other brands in your industry and see how clear their brand identity is. Essentially, you want individuals to be able to look at your website/social media platform and know what you do fairly instantly. Do your research on laws and copyright requirements if necessary. Just make sure you are presenting an authentic version of you that isn't easily confused with other brands. It's challenging, I know, but 100% possible and necessary.

Have a Plan

Honesty moment: I usually only like planning fun things like vacations and date night. Important tasks like taxes, doctors visits, and laundry typically get saved for the very last minute. Thankfully, I had a bit of guidance when I started freelancing full-time and created a plan (albeit a terrible one) in order to get me started.

[bctt tweet=”If you don't have any way to measure your success, how will you know if you were successful?”]

Don't overestimate the importance of a business plan. You can always re-evaluate it and adjust accordingly in the future; but if you don't have any way to measure your success, how will you know if you were successful? Business plans will help you formulate virtually everything from how to get your customers to understanding your budget. Speaking of….

Understand Your Budget

I don't think I have to say this but money is very important to starting a business, even a virtual one. No matter what size business you have, understanding what you have ( or don't have ) to spend is crucial. A great rule of thumb is to overestimate your costs and underestimate your profits.

No matter what size business you have, understanding what you have ( or don’t have ) to spend is crucial. A great rule of thumb is to overestimate your costs and underestimate your profits.

Your budget will also dictate how much you need to charge for your services or products. Start with how much you need to make in order to keep the lights on and work out how much money you will need to bring in from there. Avoid falling into the “discount” trap. While it's okay to discount services as a reward for loyalty, don't apply discounts out of eagerness to sell. You'll end up attracting the wrong customer instead of bringing value to the right customer.

Always Be Learning & Listening

Being an entrepreneur is a bumpy road. As you start your own business, don't be afraid to learn from those around you. Find a mentor to help guide you in your first steps. Hire a business coach who understands your niche and can interpret the industry with you. Join a forum and learn from others who know just a bit more than you do. Whatever it is, learn from those around you. You know what they say: knowledge is power.

Also, keep an open mind to learn from your mistakes as well. And trust me, you'll make some.

Lastly, listen to what your customers are saying. A great example of this idea for me is my web design service. I'm not a designer by any means but a few of my clients asked me to set up and customize their WordPress websites for them. Because of those experiences, I now offer that as a service to potential clients as well.

Be Prepared to Wear Many Different Hats

New business owners end up doing many of the tasks that they later can delegate. In the beginning, you may have to be the Etsy shop owner, graphic designer, customer service rep, social media manager, lawyer, and accountant.  The sooner you realize that you are going to need to become good at a LOT of different things, the sooner you can start improving at them all.

Of course you can't master everything. But you must know enough to reach your audience and make some sales. Once business picks up, then you can outsource! As the CEO of your own business, it's your job to be the most knowledgeable person about your business. Simply knowing more than you did yesterday is the best place to start.

Start Now

There are a multitude of other things you need to begin your business but don't let that hold you back from starting today. Take everything in baby steps. If you're not afraid of a hard, honest day's work, I strongly believe you are well on you way to being a successful business owner. In the beginning, you may not see the results you're looking for or business may be slow, but start now anyways! Don't let the fear of failure hold you back.

Many successful entrepreneurs and business owners (including myself) started working on their own businesses while they held a full-time job. They didn't let excuses hold them back. Jump in with two feet and learn as you go.

Many successful entrepreneurs and business owners started working on their own businesses while they held a full-time job. They didn't let excuses hold them back. Jump in with two feet and learn as you go.

While starting your own business is a long and stressful experience, the reward of being your own boss is like none other. If you do it right, you’ll enjoy all the freedom and flexibility while doing what you really love.

So tell me, what have you learned as a new (or seasoned) business owner? Share your thoughts in the comments below and I look forward to connecting with you there.

Andréa Jones Signature

About onlinedrea

Andréa Jones is a social media strategist who works with lifestyle brands to build their online presence through targeted social media and content marketing solutions. She's also the founder of SavvySocialSchool.com - a membership community with everything you need to achieve visibility, growth, and engagement on social media.