Myself

Window Screen Repair

June - August 2019 • Melrose, MA

What I liked

I got to work alone, on my own time, repairing window screens for local people who needed them fixed.

What I wish was different

I wish I started earlier in the year.

Advice

If you would like to start a business on your own, go for it. If you believe people need or will be interested in what you have to offer, you should at least test and find out how it would go.

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Car detailer

May - August 2019 • Smicksburg, PA

What I liked

I liked getting to work for myself. I could make my own schedule and I got to work directly with people.

What I wish was different

Nothing

Advice

Working for yourself is very nice, but sometimes you overschedule yourself. You may feel obligated to work on holidays or other important times.

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Lawn business owner

September 2018 • Murray, KY

What I liked

The work, freedom and overall experience

What I wish was different

Non paying customers

Advice

Be picky about customers you do work for.

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Etsy Seller

April - August 2020 • San Antonio, TX

What I liked

I liked that I was able to work on my own time. I also liked that I was able to gain experience managing money separate from my personal money, since I wanted it to be like I was actually running my own business. It is my goal to run a business (outside of Etsy) sometime after college, so I got to see what it may be like.

What I wish was different

I wish that I had made products all at once rather than making them by order. This did help me not have leftover product, but it was stressful at times when I would receive multiple orders at once.

Advice

One piece of advice that I would give to others who want to run an Etsy business is to not procrastinate. I mean not to procrastinate making the product for orders, to not procrastinate packaging the orders, and even to not procrastinate advertising your business. Staying on top of things and being active is the only way you will have success.

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