This article is created in partnership with <\/span><\/i>Squarespace<\/span><\/i><\/a>.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n Starting a start-up is anything but simple. From the moment you get a great idea (inception) to the moment it\u2019s up and running (completion) there are a lot of steps along the way.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n But that doesn\u2019t mean every step has to be hard.<\/span><\/p>\n Recently, <\/span>Gracie J<\/b>, lead creative and CEO of <\/span>The Editorial Nail<\/span><\/a>, opened up about her journey to becoming a businesswoman. The founder started her business in 2014 and her work has since gone on to be featured in everything from <\/span>Glamour <\/span><\/i>magazine to the wildly popular hit TV series <\/span>Claws.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n \u201cThe Editorial Nail was founded in 2014 as a means for me to really just go off on my own as an artist and explore the possibilities of becoming a solo business owner,\u201d says Gracie. \u201cIt\u2019s a platform that celebrates culture and social impact and standing up for the things that are good in the world.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Here are a few things we learned in her interview that helped her along the way:<\/span><\/p>\n 1. Research the industry:<\/b> it\u2019s important to know the climate of the industry you\u2019re planning to get into. Thanks to technology, we practically live in a free-information era. Look into the ongoing and potential revenue of that market, watch YouTube videos for inspiration and information, and determine some of the lesser-known costs you may incur.<\/span><\/p>\n However, research with regard to business should always be, well, \u201cfor research purposes only.\u201d While you may feel that the market you hope to enter is saturated, one thing that the industry doesn\u2019t have is <\/span>you.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n 2. Create a list of affordable action items:<\/b> the thought of money can overwhelm a person from starting a business before they even try. That\u2019s why it\u2019s ideal to create a list of free or affordable things you can do right away, to contribute to your dream. Everything from grabbing up social media handles with your business name or creating a $20 website in less than an hour with <\/span>Squarespace<\/span><\/a>, it\u2019s possible to get started on your business without a big budget.<\/span><\/p>\n 3. Work on a business plan: <\/b>creating a basic business plan will give you a better sense of what you\u2019re doing and where you\u2019re trying to go with your start-up. While it may take some fine-tuning and plenty of future revisions, devising a few strategies, tentative goals, and tangible \u201cto-do\u2019s\u201d go a long way in the early stages of a start-up.<\/span><\/p>\n 4. Sign up for multi-tasking software:<\/b> whether it\u2019s downloading an app to schedule your social media posts or designing a site that practically runs itself, you want to use technology that works <\/span>for <\/span><\/i>you. As Gracie points out, \u201cI use <\/span>Squarespace<\/span><\/a> for e-commerce. I use it for marketing. I use it for showcasing my work and my content writing and even booking my appointments for when I was taking in salon clients. I need things that are going to be easy and that I don\u2019t have to think too much or too hard about because I\u2019m a busy chick and I just need to go about my day.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n The hard stuff is already going to be hard, so why make the easy stuff difficult too? Squarespace, for example, has ready-to-use and easy-to-use website templates and design options. <\/span>Squarespace<\/span><\/a> also features tools that allow your site to adapt to the changes of your business, including e-commerce options.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n 5. Believe in yourself: <\/b>one thing all entrepreneurs can agree on is that there is no perfect time to start your business. And chances are, you won\u2019t ever feel ready, financially or otherwise. Instead, that confidence grows with time.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t think I ever felt financially ready,\u201d Gracie admits. \u201cI still, on a day-to-day, never really feel financially ready. I feel like when you start a business, the same way a parent compares [having] children with \u2018never being ready,\u2019 starting a business is like your baby since it\u2019s something that you\u2019re passionate about. So you\u2019re never truly ready to start. The only thing you\u2019re ever really ready for is taking that leap of faith.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n If you\u2019re ready to get started building your own personal website, head to <\/b>Squarespace <\/b><\/a>for a free trial. With our offer code \u201cFINANCIALDIET,\u201d you can save 10% off your first purchase of any website or domain.<\/b><\/p>\n Image via Unsplash<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/s14354.pcdn.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/christian-lambert-GA3RibgYFds-unsplash-2.jpg\")
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