Starting a Business: The Challenges Behind the Bubbles

Starting a business is no small feat. For me, creating my products was the easy part—it’s what I love, and it comes naturally. But running a business? That’s a whole different story.
When I decided to turn my passion for soapmaking into a business, I had no idea how much I’d have to learn. I wasn’t just the creator; I had to become the photographer, accountant, graphic designer, and everything else. Every day has been a crash course in entrepreneurship, and I’ve had to teach myself as I go.

Take photography, for example. Capturing my products in a way that reflects their quality and personality felt overwhelming at first. Lighting, angles, editing—it was all new to me. Marketing is another area I’m still figuring out. While I’ve signed up for social media accounts, I haven’t had the time to dive in fully. Between all the other demands of running a business, it’s been challenging to carve out the time to build a strong online presence. I’ve also wanted to create more videos to showcase my products, but I’m still struggling to get comfortable with that process.

Financial management is another challenge I never anticipated. Balancing budgets, managing expenses, and keeping track of taxes were daunting at first, but I’ve learned to appreciate the structure and discipline it brings to my business. It’s not glamorous, but it’s essential.

Graphic design was a whole new world as well. Designing labels, packaging, and promotional materials pushed me to learn new tools and get creative in ways I never imagined.

The truth is, doing everything myself has been exhausting, but it’s also incredibly rewarding. Each challenge I’ve overcome has made me more confident and capable. I’ve learned to celebrate small victories, like nailing a product photo or perfecting my packaging.

That said, I know there’s still so much room for growth. My packaging, photos, and website aren’t exactly where I want them to be yet, but I’m confident they’ll improve over time. Building a business is a process, and I’m learning to embrace the imperfections as part of the journey.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned from this journey, it’s that starting a business is about more than selling products. It’s about growth—as a creator, as an entrepreneur, and as a person.

So, to anyone thinking about starting their own business: be prepared to wear a lot of hats, make a lot of mistakes, and learn more than you ever thought possible. It’s not easy, but it’s worth it.