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.

Amanda Calderaro

Friends and family can be a blessing and a curse and when it comes to business it could be a grey line.
You can always ask for help writing a review. Some will jump at the chance to leave you a 5 star Google review others are weird. Plus you want an unbiased feedback and some are too afraid to tell you the truth. Read more>>

Kristin Healy

My friends and family played a significant role in supporting me when I began my photography business.

Emotional Support: They provided encouragement and believed in my vision, which gave me the confidence to take the leap and start my business.

Financial Assistance: My parents and husband helped with initial startup costs, such as camera equipment and mentorships. Read more>>

Summer Solano

When it comes to asking friends & family to support your business, It can be really tough to come to terms with the fact that the people closest to you—whether family, friends, or significant others—might not offer the support you need or expect. This realization can feel like a betrayal or deep disappointment. But it doesn’t make it any easier to cope with. Read more>>

Autumn Weyandt

When starting a business, we often look to our family and friends first for support. Within a healthy, intentional family or friend relationship, there is no shame in asking for their support at the start, and our loved ones often are the first ones to ask if they can help in any way. While this is appropriate in most cases, it is our opinion that you should not expect everyone to participate, and that is perfectly okay. Do your best to focus on thanking all those who do support you instead of criticizing those who do not. Although most people view supporting a business as placing an order, starting a subscription, or in our case, booking a photography session, this is not the only way that family and friends can show their support. Read more>>

Ashley Silva

When it comes to family & friends supporting my business. I have taken the approach of showing & then telling. I have worked in sales for so long that I didn’t want to come off as pushy. I ultimately wanted genuine support. I started attending pop up events and festivals, showcasing my products and learning how to create a vibrant environment for new clients. As my social media grew I would pay attention to certain reactions from family and friends. The ones who would give unsolicited advice or input slowly started swallowing their words. Read more>>