The Hardest Part of Starting a Business? Just Starting.

I’ve met a lot of business owners over the years who’ve become really successful, and one thing they all have in common is this: they just got started. That first step — the decision to actually begin your business — is where most aspiring entrepreneurs get stuck. And I get it. There are so many reasons people hesitate to take the leap into entrepreneurship. Maybe they’re afraid of failing. Maybe they don’t feel confident in their skills. Some people don’t believe anyone would pay for what they offer. And honestly, some are even afraid of what success might bring.

Before I started my business, I thought I needed to be an expert. I believed no one would work with a business owner who didn’t have years of experience and polished credentials. But here’s the truth: you don’t need to be an expert to start a business. If you’ve taken online courses, studied the topic, watched videos, read articles, or practiced your skills — you already know more than most people. That knowledge puts you in a position to help others. If you’ve built your own website, tested a Google ad or Meta ad, or grown a personal Instagram following, you’ve already gained real-world experience — and that’s valuable.

One of my close friends, who’s been a successful entrepreneur from a young age, once told me: “Just start. You’ll become an expert over time.” At the time, that sounded reckless. But I followed his advice anyway, and it changed everything. I started small. I worked for free to gain experience, built my own website, ran a couple of test ad campaigns, and even grew a fun Instagram account to over 1,400 followers organically. It was messy, full of trial and error, and at times incredibly frustrating — but that’s how I learned. Every technical issue, every setback, every “I have no idea what I’m doing” moment taught me more than a textbook ever could.

I still remember my first few client calls. I was winging it, trying to sound confident, hoping they wouldn’t ask me something I didn’t know. But the more calls I did, the more I noticed common patterns. Clients kept asking the same questions — so I started tracking them. I built out a FAQ doc. I created a client onboarding checklist to make things smoother, including steps like how to give access to Google Ads, Facebook Business Manager, or Instagram. These little systems helped me look more professional and streamlined my process — and more importantly, they helped me feel like I was becoming the expert I used to think I had to be before I could start.

So here’s the point: if you want to start a business but feel stuck, the most important thing you can do is start. That first step is the hardest, but once you take it, everything starts to shift. You gain momentum. You learn by doing. You build confidence. It’s not about having all the answers or being perfect. It’s about showing up, learning, and adapting.

Don’t wait until you feel ready — because you probably never will. Start now. Learn along the way. Build something real. That’s how entrepreneurs are made.