Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Stephanie Lynn Shapiro Hakun, Owner of Dance Well, located in New York, NY, USA.

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

Dance Well is a woman-owned business of one. The focus is on wedding couples, from bride & groom to the father/daughter & mother/son dances and wedding party flash mobs. The secondary focus is to spread the joy of partner social dance to the public.

Tell us about yourself

Dance Well was started in 2008 after I put in 8 years of training in several styles of partner dancing. After teaching my first wedding couple in one hour on a Wednesday (their wedding was that Saturday) and was successful, I couldn’t imagine myself doing anything but teaching people how to connect and dance.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

My two biggest accomplishments are:

  • At almost 58, I’m still a full-time dance instructor.
  • Never have I repeated choreography over the 1800 couples I have taught since 2008!

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

The hardest thing for me as a business owner is to figure out where the limited amount of money goes to successful marketing.

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

  1. The biggest tip is to really love what you do, or the frustrations will overwhelm you.
  2. Surround yourself with competent people (design, marketing, etc.).
  3. Remember that there will always be highs and lows in the business, and try not to throw in the towel when it is low.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

Keep doing you & enjoy!

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.dancewellny.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DanceWellNY
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dancewellny/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DanceWell_NY
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dancewellny/

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.

Turn your craft into recurring revenue with Subkit. Start your subscription offering in minutes and supercharge it with growth levers. Get early access here.