As an esthetician, especially a solo esthetician you might find yourself inundated with advice from well-meaning friends, family, and acquaintances. One common piece of advice that often gets pushed is the need for a business plan. I experienced this firsthand with my aunt, who relentlessly advised me to create a detailed business plan. Despite her good intentions, I never followed through, and here’s why I don't regret it.
Let me quick preface that for my business, this worked. I'm sure business plans work for many people, and I know they are essential for many loans.
Every business is unique, and so are its founders. What works for one person might not work for another. My attempts to draft a business plan always ended in frustration, not because I didn’t see its value, but because my style of working didn’t fit into a conventional framework. I thrive on creativity and adaptability, and honestly a little chaos if you ask my husband.
I am not saying that planning is inherently bad, but the plan needs to accommodate the natural fluidity of your business and your personal working style. Which is why I wasn't able to really conceptualize and create a business plan.
I also think it's important to remember that advice from those who haven’t walked in your shoes is often less valuable. People who haven’t run their own businesses may not fully understand the nuances and challenges. While their intentions might be good, their suggestions should be taken with a grain of salt.
While I never developed a traditional business plan, I’ve learned that a flexible and intuitive approach can be just as effective. The key is to create a framework that suits your style and allows for adjustments.
So here is my advice, from one business owner to another ;)
Take advice from those who have successfully navigated similar challenges and are in our industry. Their insights are more likely aligned with what we're going through.
Embrace and trust your intuition. I think so often we get caught up in following the rules, thinking that will lead us to success. What I've learned is marching to the beat of your own drum is what helps you stand out, not to mention, nobody knows who made these rules in the first place.
And last, being flexible is crucial. Building a business is a journey and there will be ebbs and flows. I remember anytime I had a gap in my schedule I would declare I was going out of business. I learned to take that time to get all of the small things on my to do list crossed off. It's easy to panic, but you just have to trust the process. As long as you're not afraid to do the hard things, and have the agility to pivot, you'll be just fine!
