Starting your own business can be daunting. But you don’t have to do it alone! 

One of the most valuable things I’ve learned in business is the importance of building a community and learning from those that came before you. That’s why I’m sharing these tips I wish I’d known when I first started.

Here are my top business tips for success as a new entrepreneur.

1. Trust yourself.

When you’re first starting an online business, it may seem like everyone around you has it all figured out, but I promise you that’s not the case! Everyone is just figuring it out as they go.

We’re so used to following instructions to achieve a certain result, this can be a hard thing to swallow. But once you realize this, it’s actually freeing, because if you put in the hard work and time, you WILL see progress.

Along the same lines, try not to compare yourself to other business owners. It’s easy to get caught up in everyone else’s success stories when you see people making six figures and traveling the world. But you are far better off owning your unique brand and business than trying to copy someone else’s.

Again, the best way to do this is to just get started. Pick something, stick with it, and own it! You can always change your mind later.

2. Don’t try to do too many things at once.

This is another one of those business tips I heard over and over again, but it never really sunk in until I started my own business. Maybe other people couldn’t do it all, I thought, but I was the exception.

Yeah…or not. 

This is especially hard when you’re a multipassionate entrepreneur. When I was about to launch my design business, I was still holding onto my travel blog. I’d invested so much into it, I just couldn’t let it go. The same thing happened with my coaching business: I thought I could run my travel site, my design business AND launch a coaching business all at once.

But I had to let it go of things that served me in the past in order to move forward and truly see success. I went all in on my coaching business and decided to focus on one thing rather than spread myself thin.

You can expand later, but in order to establish yourself, you need to focus on one thing at a time.

It’s okay to have other interests and business ideas, but sometimes you need to put them away and say, “I’ll come back to this.”

3. Surround yourself with successful people.

Your physical environment and the people you spend time with have a huge impact on your business. That’s one of the reasons I decided to move to Bali and spend my days surrounded by like-minded entrepreneurs 

P.S. Want to see a typical day in my life? Read more here.

Before starting an online business, I was stuck in a corporate job and kept my entrepreneurial dreams to myself. The people around me didn’t understand my desire to move abroad or start a business. In fact, I’m pretty sure when I announced I was moving, most people thought I would be home within a year.

In order to protect yourself and stay motivated, building a community of successful people (whatever success looks like to you) is KEY! 

Find people that challenge you and excite you, that are already living the lifestyle you want to have. 

Starting an online business can get lonely, but talking to other entrepreneurs is magic! Not only are these people important to your network and for future work opportunities, but they will also be there with you as people who understand the lifestyle. 

If you’re looking for your online community, check out the Laptop Lifestyle Facebook group, a community of globetrotting online business owners! These women are there to support you and share their own business tips for success.

4. Don’t forget about the unsexy stuff: finances, taxes, legal.

It’s not the most glamorous aspect of starting an online business, but it has to be done. I opened an LLC really late and it hurt me financially. I also tried to do my own taxes and it was such a nightmare. 

It’s astonishing how many clients I see that don’t know how much money they made in the last three months. Know your numbers! And be careful of legal aspects, as well. Remember you are running a business here.

This especially applies to digital nomads. So many people think when they leave their home country the rules no longer apply to them, but this can get you into serious trouble. Take your business seriously from the beginning to avoid any issues down the road.

5. The small things make the biggest difference.

Flashy one time sales are nothing without the everyday work behind them. The slow brand awareness you build everyday adds up to huge sold out launches. Small details of your client experience (like a cute welcome email sequence) will make people want to buy from you again and again.

These small things add up in the long run, and they really make a difference. What you do daily will define your business. For example, track your leads everyday, not just before a launch. Get in the habit of marketing and maintaining an online presence.

I used to be all about taking big flashy risks. This can be beneficial sometimes, but I wish I had focused more on the small everyday habits. When I launched my design business, I made the decision to be more intentional and to focus on daily action. Because of this I was able to make over $5k my first month in business.

These business tips will help you find success as a new entrepreneur. Like I said above, the rest is just hard work and patience. Follow these business tips for success and your hard work WILL pay off!

If you’re ready to take the plunge and start your own business, check out my free 30 day step-by-step guide, the Laptop Lifestyle Blueprint, which will walk you through everything you need to know. 

Want even more tips? Check out 15 Things I Wish I’d Known Before I Started My Business.

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