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.

Brittany Gonzalez

I am blessed to have friends and family who have supported me since I first started my business. Modern Mom on the Move started out as a blog and a way for me to vent about my kids being 10 years apart and how everything was so different. From there it grew into an annual conference to bring together all my subscribers and then to selling merchandise and now an annual international retreat for moms. Read More>>

Patricia Guerrero

I have no issue asking friends and family to support my business because I understand the boundaries and dynamics within my relationships. I know who I can ask to spread my name through word of mouth, who I can turn to for help with physical or art-related tasks, and who to reach out to for things like light marketing, such as handing out business cards. It becomes knowing your people and how to approach them with respect for their time and capacity. I also have markers for myself when it’s time for me to reach out for support! Read More>>

Natalia Paulino

A common mistake that people make is the expectation that friends and family should or need to support your business. It’s this expectation like if a friend doesn’t talk to you for a week or months, then they’re not a True friend. The reality is that we all have our own lives. What looks busy to one person may look different to another. We all have our own responsibilities. Read More>>

Kaylah Coghlan

Asking friends or family to support your business is something I feel helps a small business feel supported. Before I started my business, I had many family and friends tell me that they think I should take orders/create an Etsy, ect as many people would love to buy what I create! As I began my journey into starting my business, managing an online presence, and trying to build a reputation I had all of those people ready to support me. Read More>>