The Beginners Guide to Becoming a Girl Boss.

In 2016 I quit my job to become a Girl Boss.  It was a huge step.  I quit and decided that I would be the captain of my own ship and steer my destiny on a path I saw fit.  Two years later I have started two businesses (working on my third now!), one for profit and one nonprofit and I haven’t looked back (moments of “OMG am I doing the right thing with ALMOST debilitating fear not included. LOL). Nevertheless I continued on and here I am-virtually unscathed and still ready to put out fires as needed!

This blog is here to save you time, headache and heartache.  To give suggestions on how to balance life and being a Girl Boss.  I am a mom, a wife and self-proclaimed Boss and I want you to be a Boss too.  There are so many opportunities afforded to women right now and I want to make sure you know about them.  Use this as a guide to jump start your business, get a better handle on the work/life struggles of being a Girl Boss, find your voice, or just come for a good story-I definitely share mine, the good, bad and downright ugly.

Women supporting other women in business and life is so needed and that is why I’m here-at 3:36am writing this…to make sure that you get the best start possible.  Take my mistakes, learn from them-be better, grow faster and be successful! 

How is Being a Girl Boss different from Being an Entrepreneur?

• Entrepreneur as defined Merriam-Webster Dictionary is- one who organizes, manages, and assumes the risks of a business or enterprise.
• Girl Boss as defined by Me is-a woman/girl who can organize, manage, and assume the risks of a business or enterprise while balancing home, love and life with grace and poise-to live her best life and generate positive change in her surrounding community.

How to Become a Girl Boss-First Steps.

• What is your business idea?-WRITE IT DOWN-A clearly articulated idea can make for smoother sailing once it’s given a direction.  If you don’t have an idea for a business, define your skill set.  Think about a time that people complimented you on something you did well-go through post on social media boards and see if you can answer the questions that people are having problems with.  You can find inspiration everywhere!  Don’t worry.
• Clearly Define Your Goals- not just in your head-AGAIN WRITE IT DOWN-Why is this a good business idea?  Where do you see this business in five years?  Is it a viable idea?
• Figure Out Your Money-Do you have a monthly budget?  How’s your credit?  Are startup costs free?  Inexpensive?  Expensive?  Do you need to explore crowdfunding?  A business loan?
• Figure Out Your Time-Are you still working a day job?  Will this become your full time business, or stay a side hustle?  How much time time can you set aside to put into your fledgling business?
• Come Up With A Plan-The fun stuff, it’s time to hash out the particulars and tuck into the meat and bones of seeing this paper plan have real results!
• Execute The Plan-It’s not a paper plan anymore, it’s a living breathing thing that you have created and can be super proud of.
• Maintain And Grow The Plan-It’s time to level up!  Build, grow and expand the idea to really make it what you want.
• The Best Part?-I’ll be here to celebrate your victories, give you encouragement when you have your OMG Moment and answer questions, every step of the way!  I’ve even made it easy for you to get started!  Download your FREE Girl Boss Starter Pack!  

Tips to be a Successful Girl Boss.

• Take care of and be kind to yourself-self love and self care are going to be important factors of being a Girl Boss.
• Be patient, you are building something great. It will take time.
• Make time to be physically active-being a Girl Boss takes stamina.
• Carve out quiet time for yourself every day-even if its just 10 minutes.
• Maintain a healthy diet, it goes a long way in how you feel.
• Drink Water.
• Get rest and plenty of it.  Don’t skimp on sleep-you’ll only be cranky.  Trust me.
• Make time for family and friends-stay grounded.
• Get a semblance of organization-it helps.
• READ.  I have a great list of books HERE if you don’t know where to start, I read and reread them often and update this list all the time!
• Stick to your budget.
• Be kind to others and genuinely take interest-they can help launch you forward-even the rude ones.
• Remember your why.  When it gets tough ask yourself WHY you started this in the first place.
• Have a plan for when money starts coming in-make your money make more money for you.
• Have an exit strategy ready.

I know it seems to be a lot of focus on you and your physical health, there is and for good reason.  Everything starts with you.  How well you are physically, mentally and spiritually, matters.  Stress reduction is critical, especially in the early stages of business development.  You will be your best cheerleader.  You are the Boss after all, you call the shots and what you do for your health, counts in the health of the business.

Girl Boss FAQ 

• Where Do I Start?
  
  • Start right now by writing down everything.  Every idea that comes to you surrounding your new venture-put it on paper, so you can see how it all fits together to be organized.  What is it? A blog?  A tangible item?  Advice?  Who wants it?  Why do they want yours?  Do you have a defined niche?  A viable product?  How much does it cost to produce?  What startup costs do you need?  How will you get funding?  Do you have a unique voice or style?  How can it be marketed.  These are all questions that need to be answered. 
• What does LLC, S-Corp, C-Corp, Partnership and Sole Proprietorship even mean and why should it matter to me?  
  
  • These different business entities refers to how you can structure your business and how they will be taxed.  They all have their benefits and setbacks, so it’s good to talk to someone about this part.
  • Limited Liability Corporation-this is a business structure in which the owners cannot  be held personally liable for the businesses debts or liabilities.
  • Sole Proprietorship-this is a business entity that is not incorporated and the business owner pays taxes on profits from business activities.
  • S-Corporation-this is a corporation business structure whose profits and losses are taxed to its owners on their individual income tax returns instead of to the corporation. 
  • C-Corporation-this is a corporation business structure whose profits and losses are taxed separately from its owners individual income tax, but requires more paperwork than a LLC.  In some states LLC’s are treated the same as a C-Corporation.
• What kind of funding is available for my startup?
  
  • There are many ways to get funding for your startup.  Your savings. Asking your family and friends for money. Traditional business loans.  Angel Investors, Crowdfunding. Crowd-loans…yes, there is a such thing.  Or you can barter your skills and trade services for help with certain aspects of getting your business off the ground.  Calculate how much you need and why to have a clear answer for anyone who will be asking what the funds are for.
• What kind of professional services do I need?
  
  • Accountants, lawyers, bankers, investment brokers, insurance agent, oh my.  When I first started out,  I sought a really good accountant and she coached me through quite a few things.  Depending on your business, I would suggest consulting an accountant first.  My first business was a bakery (Something Sweet, LLC.) and the next step I took was to insure my business, especially because it’s required for food businesses.  We go into much more detail later, but to start-go with a good accountant and I have a list of questions when you interview different accountants to make sure  they are the right fit for you.
  • Do I have a good idea?
    
  • Great question and this is where a lot of people get discouraged and quit before they even get started.  If you’re not sure about an idea, test it.  There are so many ways to connect with people now and you can put out feelers to see what your demographic would be, what your niche is, and how to get to them.  Are you truly fulfilling a need?  Is there a demand for what you offer?  Don’t be discouraged and don’t be afraid to fail.  Your idea is probably a good one, even if it needs a bit of tweaking.
• Do I have to write a business plan?
  
  • Yes and no.  Depending on what kind a business you want to start.  Make a plan for yourself first and as you learn your business a formal business plan can be put together, especially if you’re planning to take out a loan or get investors-banks, loan officers and investors want to see how organized you are and ROI (Return On Investment) before handing you a big lump of money.

A Last Tidbit to Know About Being a Girl Boss.

• A.  YOU GOT THIS!
• B.  I am here for you-join the email list to get my latest tips, check ins and finds.  Follow me on social media and meet women and girls like you who are taking on Boss Life and living their best lives!