What’s your view on asking friends and family to support your brand? We asked members of the community to open up and share their views on this controversial topic. Check out some highlights below.

Jacob Morales

When I first decided to pursue a creative career, I had very minimal support from my family I had support from my mom and my grandparents.. as I’ve grown more with my business and art now the whole family is a little more on board.. as for my friends at first everyone was on board because I was just doing free photoshoots to get better and keep working on my craft but as I started to get better and I started to charge for my photos and then a lot of that support there disappeared. Read more>>

Chris Hernandez

Asking friends and family to support your business can be a difficult thing. I think most business owners have heard and probably believe the concept that a stranger will support you quicker than friends or family. My personal opinion is that a lot of times, those closest people to you know you as who you were before you started your business, and they can’t justify this “new” you and paying your price. My advice is always to limit or not even set expectations of friends and family, and any support that you get from them is just an added bonus. I believe it’s appropriate to stand firm on your prices and treating family and friends like other customers. I also feel that you operate your business in whatever way makes sense to you. If your business model, profit margins, or schedule allows you to provide discounted work or products to friends and family, then you can do that if you’re comfortable with it. That’s the beauty of running your own business. You are in control. Read more>>

Cade Curtis

Asking friends and family to support your creative ideas can be both rewarding and challenging. They are usually your biggest fans and can give you the support you need. However, it can be disappointing if their responses aren’t what you hoped for, especially if you value their opinions. Whether their feedback is positive or negative, it’s important to approach the request thoughtfully. Read more>>

Gabriella And Christian Soto

We feel both grateful and slightly uncomfortable asking our friends and family to support our business. On one hand, they’re the people who know us best, and we value their support. On the other hand, we don’t want to impose on them or risk straining our relationship if things don’t go as planned. We think it’s appropriate to ask for encouragement, advice, or help with networking. It’s a bit trickier when it comes to financial contributions. We would hesitate to ask for money unless we are confident in our business plan and ability to repay, as that adds a layer of pressure to the relationship. Read more>>

Darcy Harrington

I have been so lucky to be surrounded by so much support from the very onset of starting my business, from both family and friends. I will say that having three sisters came in handy at the start of my ventures, there was always a face to work on and practice on. Asking for support sometimes just looked like demanding someone get in my chair! My family and friends have used social media in such a positive way to support my business by sharing my photos, liking my posts, tagging me in community events, and sharing my profle to those in need of services. It’s a wonderful advantage as a business owner that a single click on social media can have such a ripple affect. I have an enormous amount of gratitude for all who have shared my name and shown unwavering support, without me even asking. believe that providing the best quality experience possible, which is always my main priority, as well as connecting with people as more than a business transaction has created a natural momentum of support and allowed me to reach a much larger clientele. Read more>>