There is often more than one right answer, and this seems to be particularly true for the question of whether folks should lean on family and friends for support with the brands. Your circumstances, relationships and other factors can determine what’s right for you – but we wanted to get a conversation going on the topic as it’s something that comes up often in our chats with entrepreneurs and creatives in the community.

Dijonay Brown

When it comes to asking friends and family for support, I don’t feel uncomfortable doing it, especially when it’s as simple as reposting or tagging my business. But over time, I’ve learned to approach it differently. When I first started doing makeup, I would often ask my friends and family to model for me or help promote my work. While the support was there, I realized I was relying on it too much, almost out of desperation to be seen. Asking for support isn’t wrong—who doesn’t want their loved ones cheering them on? The issue is expecting it. Not everyone shares your vision, and they’re not obligated to. I’ve definitely felt hurt when people close to me didn’t show support, especially when I’d see them go all out for others. It made me question myself—was I doing something wrong? But then I realized that strangers often become your biggest supporters because there’s no unspoken competition. It’s taught me to focus less on who’s not supporting me and more on perfecting my craft and building an authentic audience. Read more>>

Ruth Larbi

When it comes to asking friends and family to support my business, I feel incredibly fortunate. From the beginning, they were my biggest supporters, allowing me to practice hairstyling on them and helping me build my portfolio when clients were scarce. Their willingness to model for me laid the foundation for my career, and I truly believe I wouldn’t be where I am today without their support. While many people have stories of friends and family not backing their ventures, that’s not my experience. My loved ones not only model for me, but they also genuinely appreciate my work and often compensate me well, sometimes even more than my regular clients. This reinforces a crucial point: if you want support from family and friends, your work needs to be exceptional. I wouldn’t expect them to invest in something that isn’t of high quality, and I believe that goes both ways. Read more>>

Beau Brighton

I believe it really depends on how you approach asking friends and family for their support. There’s a clear distinction between having them do something that’s mutually beneficial—like being models for your portfolio or writing a review for your services—and asking them to spend money purely for your own economic gain. When I was starting out in photography, I often asked friends and family to model for me. That was a win-win: they got free photos (which they genuinely needed or enjoyed), and I built up my portfolio and experience. Having them leave a positive review afterward—or simply tell people about my work—felt fair and didn’t put any awkward pressure on them to buy something they might not truly want or need. Read more>>

Nicole Edwards

Asking friends and family to support your business can feel like a mix of opportunity and discomfort. On one hand, they are often your first and most supportive network, genuinely wanting to see you succeed. Their support can help you gain initial traction, build credibility, and even provide valuable feedback. On the other hand, some people might feel hesitant, fearing they may come across as pushy or overly reliant. To approach it effectively: Be transparent and respectful: Let them know why their support matters to you and emphasize that there’s no pressure. Read more>>

Alexis Chandler

I never had a issue with asking friends or family to support me if needed but honestly when I did need support I never had to ask. Support is free and genuine, it take 5 minutes at most depending on the task but it isn’t hard. Something so little could take you very far. I model, my sister send me ideas or little tips on types of shoots etc like it be the little things honestly. Read more>>

Travis Tougaw

In my work, as a writer published by a small, independent press, word of mouth is our most effective marketing strategy. That starts with me letting friends and family know about my work and asking them to read it and tell their friends about my books. There can be a strange dynamic to that, though, as I don’t want to “oversell” or make people feel like I’m only reaching out to them because I’m selling something. One boundary that I’ve set is not marketing on my personal social media sites and reserving those activities to my professional profiles. Plenty of my friends and family follow my professional profiles, but I figure they know what they’re getting into, and it’s okay to sell there. Read more>>

Danielle Abbott

When I first started sharing my financial coaching business, I often got puzzled looks and questions such as, “How can you make money helping people who are struggling with money?” or “Why would someone pay for advice when there’s so much free content online about managing money?” I can understand where the confusion comes from, and I empathize with the initial doubts about financial coaching. It’s a new concept for many, and it can take time to see how impactful and transformative it can be. However, these initial impressions often change once people see the real impact coaching can have on creating financial clarity and progress. Many assume that if someone needs help with money, they can’t afford coaching. This couldn’t be further from the truth. For many clients, coaching becomes a strategic investment, even if it means using a credit card to pay for the coaching initially, as it helps them stop the cycle of credit card reliance and create long-term progress. Read more>>

Kaitlyn Uglialoro

Asking friends and family to support my business was probably the most uncomfortable part about starting a business. Naturally, I wanted everyone’s support but wasn’t sure what their reactions would be. I have a very supportive family so why this worried me, I’m not sure. Once I told them, they were excited for me and asked plenty of questions. They share my social media posts and check in on how things are going. I’m grateful for their support. My friends have been my biggest cheerleaders. They are constantly giving me motivation to keep going and pushing my limits. The day my shop opened, my friends were there promoting me across all platforms. It was amazing! Read more>>