Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in beauty services but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Elektra A, owner of BOLD, located in Montreal, QC, Canada.

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

I created my company, BOLD, based on one’s who want to be fierce always & step out into the world wanting to feel great every day. Offering cosmetic tattooing, brows/lips/eyeliner, eyelash extensions/makeup. I really do build back people's confidence and I appreciate that the most. My customers are all types of people, and I don’t limit anyone coming to see me. If you're looking to have a dangerous beauty look, you're in the right spot!

Tell us about yourself

As a teen, I was always into fashion and a lot of music videos. I would say my inspiration came from music videos, comics, textures, etc... as time went on, I was creating a lot of looks for myself. And at the same time, I was taking schools for makeup/fashion design. At the moment, I was doing a lot of photoshoots and didn’t want to anymore. So I thought about opening up my own company called Bold. From there, I started practising cosmetic tattooing & lash extensions.

Like any entrepreneur, there are a lot of ups and downs of not having motivation but what keeps me going is my clients. I love working for myself; I love being more in control and just creating looks on others and myself. Also, what inspires me is a lot of people that’ll look us up online, and my team around me, the girls I work with within the salon, are truly amazing. See how far they came and learn from them.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

I would say 100% being self-employed and being successful at it. I came from nothing, so it is awesome to see how you could flip something around and turn your life around. It’s truly possible! It takes time and patience, and just keep going one day at a time.

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

I would say that the hardest thing is sometimes you lack motivation, but you still have to get up and do it. It’s not the type of job that you clock in and out. Even when you’re not in the best place, you still have to figure it out since you’re your own boss.

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

  1. Just keep going even if it feels hard. The little steps give you really big results in the end over time.
  2. Be organized and figure out a system that works for you and stick to it; you’ll be less stressed. Have great customer service, and your clients will thank you.
  3. Learn both sides of your business. There are the services we offer and the paperwork.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

Anyone looking to start their own business and having doubts, I highly suggest you go for it. 100% you just gotta jump in it even if it scares you. It is so worth it in the long run. And even if you failed, that’s OK, at least you tried. Just keep going, and there’ll be other projects throughout your life.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.staybold.ca/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/staybold.staybold
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stay.bold/

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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