Manage your finances.  Cut expenses where necessary to keep going.

• If you cannot afford to pay staff, be prepared to bus the business yourself.  
• If you feel you are too important to clean, answer the phone or book appointments, go get a job.  The richest business owners I know have zero shame when it comes to getting their hands dirty.  I shovel snow and clean for myself.  When you have more money, you can do what you like.
• Taking stuff on credit is good only if you are responsible enough to repay it on time.  Do not apply for it if you normally do not repay your debts.

Buy supplies when necessary

• I remember the days I would:
• buy relaxer creams one small tub at a time because that was what I could afford.
• be jealous of those people who could buy cart loads of color tubes while I stood with my one tube waiting to pay.   
• I  might have used cheaper shampoo but my hands would dry up so I had to get the good stuff.

Boss Yourself.  

Stick to your work hours as you would if you were an employee.  I had people tell me they would close if it is a slow day at their business.  You have to show up and stay the whole time.  Any day I decided to leave early, a client would gaslight me the next day because they turned up out of the blue.  This kind of expectation kept me on point.

Treat your business as a business to clients, family and friends.  

• They will be the ones to say they piece if you close unexpectedly.
• Do not let family, friends etc. annoy you to abandon your business because you are not a millionaire in a week.  Most businesses fail because of a lack of confidence also.

Continue to update your expertise in your Area.

Keep in line with advances in technology etc. so you don’t fall behind in what is happening in your industry.

If you had asked me “what does running a business mean” at the beginning, I would have spewed the regular things people say.  I realize now that I had a need for independence and the real requirements come with time.

By Paula Barker, Silkie Locks Hair Design

Books:  “Talking Hair”, “Filling My Head” & “Dreadlocks – A Hairstylist’s Manifest”.