Thinking of starting a small business? Jumping in can be exciting, nerve-wracking, and let’s be real - a bit overwhelming! You’ll second-guess yourself. You’ll wonder if anyone even wants what you’re offering. You’ll feel like everyone else knows what they’re doing while you’re just fumbling along...
Sound familiar?
The Emotional Reality of Starting a Small Business
You’re not alone. Every small business owner has been there. The uncertainty, the waiting for the ‘perfect’ time, the endless validation-seeking from family and friends (who are probably not the best people to ask anyway!) - it’s all part of the messy, exciting, and totally normal process of building something new. But here’s the thing: clarity comes from action. You don’t have to have it all figured out to get started.
Over 5.5 million small businesses were launched in the UK in 2023, meaning millions of people have taken that same leap. The truth? No one feels 100% ready. But starting before you feel ‘ready’ is exactly how you learn, grow, and build a business that works for you. Take it from someone who is 4 years in, I am still a baby business but every year brings fresh lessons to be learnt - good and bad!
Spoiler alert: there’s no such thing as a ‘perfect’ time. The businesses you admire? They didn’t start with everything in place either. They started, they figured things out as they went, and they evolved. You will too.
Action Creates Clarity
At the start of my business, I questioned everything. I wanted reassurance, confirmation, a sign from the universe that I was doing the right thing. But what changed everything for me was simply taking action. Four years in, this still holds true!
The more you do, the more confident you become. Over time, you start asking better questions, ones that spark deeper conversations and move you forward instead of keeping you stuck in doubt. You learn that trusting yourself is a skill that strengthens over time, and that is when things get exciting.
OK, Where to Start Right Now
So, you’re ready to dive in, but where do you start? Here is my advice:
1️⃣ Know Your Why. Why are you in business? Why this product/service? Why should your customer care? Understanding your ‘whys’ keeps you motivated when things get tough. It’s okay if making money is a big motivator! But dig deeper—what else drives you? And how does that benefit both you and your future customers?
2️⃣ Get clear on your business foundations. Working on your foundations (the who, what, why, where and how) does what it says on the tin. It gives you solid business foundations that will focus your motivation, mission, vision, marketing, services, understanding who your customer is - you know, all that vitally important stuff. So don't skip it!
3️⃣ Let Go of Perfection. You don’t need to know everything on day one. There are free and affordable resources everywhere; Skillshare, YouTube, podcasts etc to help you gain skills as you grow. If you need help, that’s okay! Bounce ideas around with people in your industry/small biz world. Take inspiration from those you admire. Outsource when you can, take all those free masterclasses! Build your knowledge and communicate your worries/struggles - you will soon realise you are not alone.
4️⃣ Sort your branding (but don’t obsess over it). Keep it simple - a simple logo, a small colour palette, one or two brand marks are all you need to start. Consistency matters more than perfection. Do your socials and website feel cohesive? Your branding can (and will) evolve, just start! But do put some thought into your fonts and colours 😅
Here is a blog post that may help you there: Finding the Right Vibe For Your Business
Picking a Name? Don’t Get Stuck!
One of the biggest things that hold people back? The name. I see it all the time, people waiting for the perfect, catchy name before they even begin. But here’s the thing: your business is more than a name.
Your brand is built on your message, your values, and the way you connect with your audience.
Take my own journey: I started with my blog ‘Jenny and the Magic Feather,’ then this led to ‘Magic Feather Blog Designs,’ before finally landing on ‘Magic Feather Designs.’ My business evolved, and my name did too, and that’s okay because all the foundational good stuff remained at my core. But you know, don't mix things up every week!
Some tips for choosing a name should you need them:
✨ brainstorm words that describe you
✨ brainstorm things you like to do, or liked as a kid or both!
✨ brainstorm what values are important to you
✨ look for common themes, mix and match words
✨ let all ideas good or bad tumble out of your head and just see what forms and sticks
✨ be aware… it is also ok to just use your given name at the end of the day
Here is a blog post that may help you there: The REAL Purpose of Your Logo
The Quiet Seasons Are Where You Build Strength
Once you get started, and into that first year - here’s something I wish someone had told me: brace yourself for the quiet seasons.
Things will slow down at times, and that can feel discouraging. But quiet seasons aren’t a sign of failure, they’re an opportunity to build a stronger foundation. Use that time to:
✔ Get clearer on your business foundations: As you gain experience, revisit your business foundations. Do your original ideas still fit? Have your ideal clients or services shifted? Regularly refining your vision keeps your business evolving in the right direction.
✔ Refine your client journey: Can you streamline your processes, automate emails, or tidy up your onboarding experience? Is there something that feels off in your process, anything clients have mentioned in feedback - are you asking them about your process, communication or if they felt anything was missing or not as expected?
✔ Strengthen your brand: Are your visuals consistent? Does your branding still align with your message and business goals? Are you wasting time on templates each week - start batching that content!
✔ Learn something new: Is something still holding you back? Are potential clients turning you down because you do not offer X? Whether it’s branding, marketing, services or business strategy, investing in knowledge now will pay off later.
Love content like this? I often share behind the scenes of my business along with tips/advice just like this in my newsletter! Click here to sign up, I would love to see you there!
Still Feeling Utterly Overwhelmed with Starting a Small Business?
As a brand designer, guess what I do! Help people just like you define their brand and get awesome visuals to boot! If you’re ready to invest in your business and elevate your brand, get in touch with me today to chat about how we can get started.
At Magic Feather Designs, I am all about solving problems through cute design solutions. I create branding that’s unique, personality-packed, and built to help your business thrive - not just look pretty. A cohesive and strategic brand design is the biggest key to boosting the good stuff right from the bloody start! 😉😉😉
How to Book Your Future Brand Project!
If you feel ready to take that next step, then firstly - yey! How exciting!
Next, you can head to my contact page or email me directly at jen@magicfeatherdesigns.com or look me up on socials and pop me a DM - Instagram is best www.instagram.com/magicfeatherdesigns . There are no silly or small questions with me, I am here to help!
Check out my portfolio page to see what I created with previous clients, and what they had to say about working with me 🥰
PS. Speaking of consuming freebies - I have FOUR! Designed to support new small business owners looking for insights into their brand identity. Real advice, in a fun way, from a real brand designer working with real small businesses just trying to figure it all out.
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