Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in business development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Steph Corrigan, Founder of Steph Corrigan Design, located in Philadelphia, PA, USA.

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

Steph Corrigan Design is a small, virtual design studio that helps small businesses elevate their brand and website through intentional design. We work with clients across a range of industries, including coaching, consulting, law, wellness, e-commerce, and more. We love to work with any kind of business owner who resonates with our style and values.

Tell us about yourself

I've been running Steph Corrigan Design full-time for about four years (since 2018). Before I started this business, I was working a 9-5 administrative job in NYC and feeling a bit lost and uncertain about my future. I decided on a whim to enroll in online courses on branding and web design and development and completely fell in love with the work.

After about eight months of building these skills and a very rudimentary portfolio, I quit my job and took the plunge into freelancing full-time. It was a huge leap of faith, but I haven't looked back since. A big part of what motivates me today is just reflecting on how far I've come and how much more freedom and fulfillment I experience day-to-day compared to four years ago.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

I think my proudest moment as a business owner was when I realized I was earning more from my own business than I was at my former job. Although money isn't everything, the fact that I'm able to make a living on my own terms is still pretty incredible to me.

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

Being a business owner comes with a plethora of challenges. One of the hardest things is the lack of stability. My income fluctuates from month to month, and I can't predict with any accuracy how much I'll be making a year from now, let alone three months from now. I've grown accustomed to this over time, but it can still be anxiety-inducing at times.

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

First, I think it's important to have some kind of business plan, even if it's just a one-page Google Doc with a bunch of bullet points. At a minimum, you should write down what your goals are, what you're offering, who your target customers are, and how you're going to get your offers in front of them.

Second, I recommend doing some market research to make sure there's actually a need for your offers. This is pretty easy to do, thanks to Google.

Finally, my third tip is to commit! It's easy to get discouraged or overwhelmed in the beginning, but it's important to remember that building a business takes time. Give it your all for at least six months, and then see how you feel.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

In addition to my design services, I love supporting small business owners at any stage of their journey through free content on my blog and newsletter. Feel free to follow along if you're interested in learning more about starting and scaling an online business!

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://stephcorrigan.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stephcorrigandesign
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephcorrigandesign/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephcorrigan/

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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