Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and fitness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Kelly Roberts, Founder of Badass Lady Gang, located in Brooklyn, NY, USA.

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

The Badass Lady Gang is a running community made by women for women. We provide women around the world with a community and a place to connect, commiserate, and come together to ditch diet culture. We provide women with paid running plans, group coaching, and free group fun runs in 9 cities in the US and Canada. Our motto is life with a side of running.

Tell us about yourself

I started running the way a lot of people do, my life fell apart, and I was just desperate enough to try running from my problems. But I was never athletic growing up. For me, working out was always something I did to try to lose weight. I like to joke that I used to be the self-proclaimed former president of the I f*cking hate running club. I hated running. I never thought I would or could be a runner until I was. Soon after I started running, I went viral for taking selfies with "hot guys" behind me during a half marathon. With the attention I was receiving, I started a blog to try to give a voice to people like me-unlikely runners. Struggle runners. I wanted to create funnier, relatable content in an industry that felt exclusive and stuffy.

After a few years, our online community formed. We called ourselves Badass Lady Gang because it felt a little rebellious. I don't think anyone in the fitness industry would classify us as Badass. But we are. We show up for ourselves and each other and find time to do things that scare us and challenge us.

It's hard to find friends as an adult. Our community doesn't just provide resources to make movement a joyful part of your life; we facilitate meaningful friendships with women around the world.

So much of fitness culture is expensive, intimidating, and fueled by judgment. We get that running can be the worst sometimes and that even getting out the door to do it can be a feat of mental and physical strength. BALG was created for women to find joy in the struggle. We provide women of all athletic levels with a safe space to have fun and belong.

We're here to make your fitness world one that's fun and inclusive. We believe fitness isn't one size fits all -- it's not even one size fits most. Our mission is to foster a community of badasses who redefine fitness because the best way to be a lady is to kick ass, take names, be strong, and lift each other up.

We're all about accessibility, affordability, and having a Good. Freakin’. Time. We show up for each other to make health a lifestyle — not a look.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

My biggest accomplishment as a business owner is my community. Women have found meaningful friendships, relationships, and life partners through the Badass Lady Gang. I wanted to create a space for women to move through life together regardless of how active they are. We've been around for about 9-years now, and seeing the community grow has been truly rewarding.

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

I never thought I'd be a business owner. So much of what I've learned came from mistakes I made along the way, which was hard. It's never easy to learn by falling on your face. Figuring everything out, from sales tax and negotiating partnerships with brands to forming an LLC it's all been difficult and challenging.

It's terrifying being a business owner. But very rewarding. Whenever I get overwhelmed, I remember that it's ok not to have it all figured out. And to focus on actionable steps or finding the people I can turn to for advice or support. Then, I try to return the favor to those in similar positions. No one should have to do it alone.

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

  1. TALK ABOUT MONEY! A big portion of what I do is content creation with brands. For the first few years, I didn't know what to charge. I was among the first wave of influencers, and I didn't have many people to turn to for advice. Now, I try to help newer influencers in the space by telling them what I charge and how much I make with different brands. Making sure everyone knows how to get compensated fairly is really important to me because I didn't have that when I was getting started. Whether it's paying yourself or figuring out what to charge, talk about money with people in your field. The more you know, the easier it is to make hard decisions.
  2. Find a good lawyer. It is very, very hard to find a good lawyer you can trust, and you will need one eventually.
  3. Don't run yourself into the ground. This one is really, really hard. It's hard to turn off. It's hard to take time off. Especially in the beginning. Set some boundaries for yourself and try to stick to them. Running a business can be a grind. You have to find pockets to recharge. Remember, running a business is all about playing the long game. You can't show up for your business if you're burnt out and exhausted.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.badassladygang.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BadassLadyGang
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/badassladygang/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/badassladygang
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelly-roberts-37375778/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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