What I’ve Learned in My First Year as a Small Business Owner
This past year has been my first full year of being a small business owner and pursuing my art full-time. It’s been exciting, emotional, unpredictable, and deeply rewarding. I’ve learned so much—both about running a business and about myself. Here are some of the biggest lessons from my first year building a creative business from the ground up.
1. Stay Focused on Your Craft
At the end of the day, painting is my purpose. It’s why I started this journey. When you’re running a business, it’s so easy to get caught up in emails, logistics, packaging, marketing, and all the admin tasks that never seem to end. But I’ve learned that picking up a paintbrush every single day—even if it’s just for 20 minutes—grounds me. It centers me back into why I’m doing this in the first place. Staying connected to my craft keeps everything else in perspective.
2. Embrace the Ups and Downs
Freelance life is a rollercoaster, and that’s something I’ve had to accept. Income ebbs and flows, and it’s rarely linear. I’ve had months that were incredibly slow, and then one day that brought in more income than I made in the last three months combined. I no longer take it personally or judge my success month by month. Instead, I pay attention to the big picture—my yearly income, my growth, and the opportunities that come my way. It’s liberating to let go of the month-to-month pressure.
3. Teach Yourself Everything You Can
Running a business means wearing a lot of hats—marketing, website design, print production, networking, shipping, bookkeeping, and everything in between. One of the biggest lessons this year has taught me is: you can learn almost anything. Approaching every task with the mindset that you’re capable makes such a difference. At the same time, I’ve learned to get clear on what’s worth outsourcing. Some roles drain too much time or energy, and it’s okay (and often smart) to let someone else handle them.
4. Set Boundaries for Work–Life Balance
When your studio is at home, the lines between work and life can blur very quickly. I’ve found myself slipping back into work mode during times that should have been for family, rest, or anything other than business. Now, I’m intentional about creating a schedule and sticking to it. Setting boundaries isn’t about doing less—it’s about preserving your energy so that when you’re “on,” you can give 100%.
5. Focus on What Energizes You
Not everything in a business will be your favorite—and that’s okay. But it is important to pay attention to what fuels you and what drains you. For me, I’ve realized that shows and art markets take a lot out of me and aren’t always the best use of my time. Every opportunity needs to be weighed against what it takes away from. Sometimes saying “no” to something allows you to say “yes” to what truly matters: creating.
6. Stay Positive and Believe in Yourself
Mindset is everything when you’re building something from scratch. It’s easy to get discouraged when growth feels slow or when comparison creeps in. This year, I’ve done everything I can to support my mindset—taking breaks from social media, prioritizing self-care, listening to self-help audiobooks, making vision boards, and getting quiet with myself when I need to. Staying positive isn’t naive—it’s necessary. You have to believe in your business, even when the numbers or the algorithms don’t reflect the growth you know is coming.
This first year has been full of learning, stretching, and celebrating small wins. I’m grateful for everything it has taught me, and even more excited for what’s ahead. Being a small business owner isn’t always easy, but it’s one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever done—and I’m proud to keep growing, one painting at a time.