Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Sarah Wayte, owner of Sarah Wayte Creative, located in Agassiz, BC, Canada.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
I'm a creative copywriter and brand photographer providing personality-driven words and photos for creative business owners with a strong personal brand. The majority of my clients are feisty female business owners, too, a lot like me!
Tell us about yourself
As with most things in my life, I kind of fell into what I do now. Back in 2012, I was training to be a paramedic and had been dabbling in photography for a number of years. I got asked to photograph a fellow paramedic's wedding and fell in love with it. So I set up a part-time wedding and portrait photography business! But writing has always been my first love, and as my photography business progressed, I realised the bit I loved most was writing for my business, and I realised this was something I could do for other people. Fast-forward to 2019, when I migrated to Canada with my husband. I ditched the paramedic life, dropped the wedding and portrait photography (but kept brand photography as that fit well with copywriting), and went full-time as a copywriter and brand photographer!
I absolutely love what I do. Being able to dig into other business owners' messages and find the words for them they were struggling to find themselves is pretty amazing. Especially when they start to see the results they get from their words–more clients (especially the ones they love working with!) and more confidence to talk about themselves and what they do. It's the best feeling to know I helped them get that!
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Every time I hear from a client who lets me know what my work has done for them, their business feels like the best accomplishment.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
Keeping up the motivation to keep marketing yourself and find new clients can be hard at times, especially when it seems like your efforts aren't working.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- The first thing I always say is that there's a lot of information out there, and someone will always have an opinion about how you should do something. My advice is to pick and choose only what feels right for you, not just because everyone else is doing it.
- If numbers aren't your strength, get a bookkeeper. It'll save you a lot of stress in the long run. That goes for any part of your business that you find particularly hard or don't enjoy. Outsource it to someone else. You'll feel far less stressed and can focus on the parts you do love and enjoy instead.
- Learn to pay yourself a regular salary as early as you can, even if it's only $50 to start with! I highly recommend reading Profit First by Mike Michalowicz, which will show you how to structure your bank accounts and prioritise your profits.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://sarahwayte.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SarahWayteCreative
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahwaytecreative/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahwaytecreative/
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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