Natural and Balanced Approach to Health

Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Angie Ng, owner of Acupuncture for Balanced Wellness, located in Chicago, IL, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

Acupuncture for Balanced Wellness is an acupuncture and wellness practice in the Chicago Loop. We treat many health concerns, but we most commonly provide treatments for pain problems, fertility issues, stress/anxiety, weight loss, and facial rejuvenation.

We truly understand the struggles and stresses of work/life balance. We pride ourselves on providing safe, natural, holistic, and highly individualized treatments to our patients. Our office space provides a relaxing oasis where people can receive acupuncture and other natural therapies to help restore health and balance back to their bodies amidst the hustle and bustle of Downtown Chicago.

Tell us about yourself

I have always been a proponent of healthy living and a believer in the body’s innate ability to heal itself if given the right resources. I just never realized I could make a career out of this belief until I witnessed the power of acupuncture firsthand. I started seeing an amazing acupuncturist for some chronic pain and stress I was experiencing.

My acupuncturist helped reduce my pain and calm my emotional stresses by painlessly and strategically inserting tiny needles to help stimulate my body's natural healing processes. The treatments were relaxing, rejuvenating, effective, and had no side effects. I was hooked! Within months, I enrolled in acupuncture school and began the long and arduous journey to becoming a Licensed Acupuncturist.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

As a business owner, building a thriving practice from scratch where I get to not only help people live better, healthier lives but also provide income to those who work with me has been my biggest accomplishment. Every day, I feel fulfilled in the sense that I get to be my own boss, do what I love, and help others do better.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

One of the hardest things I've dealt with was surviving the impact of COVID. Being in the Loop, my business was severely impacted by people not going to their offices for work. While things have gotten better, business still has not returned to pre-COVID levels since many people have switched to a hybrid work model, and some are permanently working from home. This has forced me to look at different marketing avenues and broaden my reach to people who live and work outside of the Loop.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

Start a business in an area you are passionate about. If you love what you do, you will be good at it, and it will show in the quality of goods or services you provide to your customers.
Be ready to constantly grow and adapt to the times. When I started my business, social media was not prevalent, and I relied heavily on word of mouth. While I still get a lot of business that way, putting more emphasis on social media marketing efforts will be key for my business to continue to flourish.
If you're not very good at something, hire someone who is. Again, social media was never really my thing. Spending time trying to grow my brand through social media takes precious time away from what I do best - acupuncture. Hiring someone who will do a better job and be much more efficient as it is necessary for my business.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.acubalancechicago.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/acubalancechicago
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/acubalancechicago/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AcuBalanceWell
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/acubalancechicago/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

Feel inspired to start, run or grow your own subscription business? Check out subkit.com and learn how you can turn "one day" into day one.