What is the most challenging part of your business?

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Guest post by Rena Tom

Mini goals chalkboard by Mary Kate McDevitt

Now that we have covered the topic of too much success, let's get down to business. How do you reach that exalted state where you are completely busy and feel like you have to turn away work?

I'd like to hear more from you about your concerns. I'm pitching a virtual booth labeled 'Advice' and inviting you up to the counter. What is the most challenging part of your business? What do you wish you had more information about? What is preventing you from moving forward?

Please leave your questions in the comments below. I'll pick from the most original and also the ones that recur the most. I love doing research so feel free to get a little esoteric :) If you need a little kickstart, you can peek at the 10 Minute Guides [http://renatom.net/category/blog/10-minute-guides/] I write over on my site and I would be happy to expand on any of those topics.

Comments

Simone Walsh said…
Big picture planning or proper business planning I think is probably the biggest challenge for me - to the point that I never seem to get very far with it before I give up and get back to other work!

I'm fine with planning smaller projects, etc. but getting a handle on the big (BIG!) picture and planning strategically for my business in terms of where I want/need to go I find really difficult.

This is especially as I feel this sort of planning for a micro business seems to be quite different to what is needed for bigger businesses which tend to work in more predictable ways, so it's hard to get advice/information that helps on this front.
2:14 am, July 11, 2011
Tricia McKellar said…
The biggest challenge? Oh wow-- there are so many. I would have to say it's faith and confidence, day in and day out, working the plan even when you're feeling down and discouraged. :)
4:37 am, July 11, 2011
sarah - dodeline design said…
My biggest challenge is proper legal and financial organization. I find that very scary and more difficult the bigger and more successful I become. What if I want an employee? How will I pay taxes? What if some crazy person (heaven forbid) sues me?
4:50 am, July 11, 2011
Janery said…
I have to agree with Sarah above - hands down, the biggest challenge is legal and financial issues. I have trouble understanding all the ins and outs of the laws relating to small business.
4:57 am, July 11, 2011
Peggy said…
My biggest challenge is staying focused. I have so many ideas and I want to do them all, so I end up with half finished projects.
5:20 am, July 11, 2011
Bluebird Jewellery said…
My biggest challenge is knowing how to approach magazines and get noticed more widely. Sometimes it seems the same work is in the magazines and I want to break in too!
7:23 am, July 11, 2011
Anonymous said…
Keep them coming! These are great questions :)
9:31 am, July 11, 2011
Anonymous said…
Also interesting is if people say how long they have been in business - I'd love to know what questions crop up at certain stages of the business.
9:32 am, July 11, 2011
Bozena Wojtaszek said…
Marketing...... ouch..... I always thought it is enough to make good stuff. Now I know it isn't... :)
9:40 am, July 11, 2011
Robyn Coburn Writer/Artist said…
I'm with Bozena - marketing and I will add on a budget. Getting people to my store and my webpage. Marketing outside of to each other on Etsy.
9:47 am, July 11, 2011
Jenny said…
my biggest challenge is the business/financial side. I feel really confident in my art abilities (or at least my ability to grow in them) but as soon as I get into figuring out things like taxes/prices/budgeting, I feel really overwhelmed. I don't want to make a mistake just because I didn't know something.
12:38 pm, July 11, 2011
Summer said…
Agree with marketing and getting your work in publications. Both of those just seem so daunting. I don't even know where to begin.
12:55 pm, July 11, 2011
Alejandra said…
Also marketing and PR. I want to be able to get myself mentioned in more publications as an expert and possibly some TV spots. I also want to know how get the word out about my services--that's been really difficult as I can't really afford traditional advertising, but even with my strong social media network, it hasn't been enough to pull in local clients (who aren't necessarily using Twitter/Facebook, etc.)
3:33 pm, July 11, 2011
Anika said…
Marketing is my focus right now: how to get noticed. Is it worth it to spend money on web ads? If yes, how much is too much? And which blog/site? And should the ad be static or rotating images? What return should I expect? I would really love for someone to constructively critique what I'm doing now (everything).
7:48 pm, July 11, 2011
elisa said…
making decisions about how much time to devote to various aspects of business (as i begin - just getting started here!) particularly when some areas are easier or more interesting and others more challenging!

and you know, all of the above! x
9:04 am, July 12, 2011
pedestrian said…
My biggest struggle, now that my Etsy shop is consistently busy, is finding time to make things for myself/my kiddos/my house. I'm debating on setting aside one day a week to work on other non-Pedestrian items.
9:37 am, July 12, 2011
Anonymous said…
I think my biggest struggle is knowing when/where/how to approach boutiques in my areas to carry my lines. It seems so intimidating and I am not sure what works and what doesn't.

hairofthehare.etsy.com
6:40 pm, July 14, 2011
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