3 Reasons to Start your own Business Online
Susan Stalte
Guest post is brought to you by Susan Stalte
At the end of March 2017, I was laid off at the age of almost 25. I come from a healthcare background, a job that required 5 years of education and a difficult board exam. I worked a standard 9-5 for a bit and quickly realized that this was not how I wanted to spend my life. After that, I transitioned to a remote telemedicine startup role working in ops/marketing, as I was interested more in the business end of things rather than clinical. Talk about the best job ever.
Fast forward a year, and the company cut almost half of its small team. I cried in self-pity for a good day or two, but decided to use this as an opportunity to do something different. Gone are the days of spending hours sending out 100 applications for full-time remote gigs (stay at home dog mom speaking, I just love remote work life). 
One day, I just went for it – Entrepreneurship. One day I was planning on being a drop shipper, the next day a social media influencer. I had set my mind on doing my own thing, but WHAT could I possibly do that would meet or exceed my full-time income while giving me the flexibility and freedom that I desire? Over the next few days, I had joined a ton of entrepreneurial Facebook groups. Awkwardly popping in and posting – “So, what do you all do and how did you get started doing it.” I learned other people’s stories. Everyone loves talking about themselves. I encouraged discussion and truly wanted to know how they got to where they are today. If you ever ask someone their story, they’ll be happy to tell you (in my experience). Talk about a heck of a week. I learned that there are TONS and tons of people just like me. Whether they hated their 9-5 or were laid off like me, I realized that I found “my people” in these online communities.
What now?
Okay, so, that brought me back to my “what now?” What the heck was I going to do? I can’t design anything, I don’t do tech, I don’t even know what a funnel is, I don’t want to do 1:1 nutrition client work (dietitian speaking), etc. So, how can I create my own role in this online space? Ladies and gents – I just went for it. One day, I wrote out my strengths. Responsibilities that brought me joy or those that I enjoyed learning more about. This sounds easier than it actually was (lol), I honestly sat there unsure of what I had to offer to the world. It’ll be tough making that list, but I recommend everyone do it. 
You may surprise yourself. Anyway. Fast forward almost 4 months, I’m blessed to say that I’ve developed a thriving online consulting business. I specialize in supporting foodpreneurs (#foodies) with social media management, ghostwriting, and other business tasks. While I could chat food all day, I DO help others (stationary brands, photographers, wedding planners, etc.). It’s important to niche down, but working with others in any capacity encourages growth. I knew that I didn’t want to deny someone that I could help as community is key. Are you in a similar situation?
Sick of your 9-5?
Start your own business online
Friends, there’s more job flexibility and freedom out there, you just need to develop your own opportunities. Entrepreneurship is HARD. It’s a HUSTLE – But, a worthwhile one. There will be weeks where you don’t make a penny, and there will be weeks where you get so lost in your list of clients that you question how you’re even physically managing this. Without trying to scare you away from considering developing an online business, allow me to give you a few reasons to start your own business online. Just do it. Give it a go. You’ll never know what may happen.
1. Low risk: An online business runs on networking and is mostly digitized, which means it isn’t burning a hole in your pocket (for the most part, but you likely will have SOME sort of overhead).You don’t need to rent or buy an office space, you can DIY a website, you can use Canva’s free features for a DIY logo, etc. Guys and gals, bootstrap it. It’ll take some time to get it together. But if you have a product or service that you KNOW (through market research) is an absolute need jumpstart it, baby. With that said though, make sure to invest in a legitimate/thorough legal contract, such as one through businessese.com or similar. Cover yo’ butt.
2. Income: If run with the help of strategic planning and execution, starting your own business online can be extremely fruitful and a practical source of income. The reach to your business is limitless.For example, if you’re the owner of an online store, all you have to do is add another category to sell a product of a different kind and you have already conquered another territory online. Identity a need- Easier said than done. So, first, figure out what you’re good at. YOU are incredibly valuable and YES you have something to offer as I’ve shared above. An online internet business can flourish very quickly when run with determination. You’ll be shocked at how quickly you can scale (and when you’re overwhelmed, delegate). Plus, your freedom to invest your time and energy is empowering in itself. Are you still hanging your dream project to the hooks of doubts? It’s time to unleash your potential to build that passion project. So cheesy, but really, do this for you.
3. Flexibility: When you’re a business owner, networking with like-minded people and forming your own little community is a rich experience you will cherish for the years to come. You’ll find yourself forming online besties. It also gives you the flexibility to work from the comfort of your own space – did you know there are people who literally travel the world while working on their laptop? I can technically do that, but the thought of not having Wi-Fi at any point gives me anxiety (torn between #millenialproblems or #onlinebizownerprobs). I’m blessed to work with my rescue dog sitting next to me all day, or at local coffee shops from time to time. It’s possible, you just need to create this for yourself. The benefits of starting your own business online are endless – Just know that any level of entrepreneurship requires hard work and consistency. Start TODAY. Work on your passion project just a little bit, schedule it into your calendar. Show UP for yourself. Looking back, you’ll be so grateful that you did something for YOU. When the time comes and you’re up and running – Be visible, deliver great service, and become a master in your field.
Start your own business online
When you start your own business, it’s natural to choose a niche out of your passion. Pursuing one’s passion brings tremendous joy and happiness. As easy as it may sound, it involves a considerable amount of hard work which eventually results in satisfaction and fulfilment. If you’re open to some hard work (there’s no quick fix’s when it comes to building a biz), please start. Do something. Even it’s just making a list of things I loved and hated like when I started. Know that EVERYONE starts somewhere. Life is too short to not listen to that little voice in the back of your head – You got this.
Susan Stalte can be found here:
http://www.instagram.com/b2b.rd/
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