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.

Amy Johnson

From the point of dreaming my bakery into existence and actually opening it, I was terrified to put myself and my work out into the universe. I was worried about how everyone would react, would my cake and cupcakes be good enough? Thankfully, my calm has always been my husband and our two littles. they are my biggest fans. Read more>>

Andrea Lee

Asking friends and family for support can be a sensitive matter. Here are some considerations: Appropriate Ways to Ask: It’s generally acceptable to share your business with friends and family and ask for their support, whether it’s through purchasing your product or service, promoting it, or providing feedback. Read more>>

Laura Eleanor Williams

Let’s be honest, it is always uncomfortable to charge friends for a service. Acts of service is a love language so it can feel greedy and selfish to ask for money in exchange for your services. If you work for a company that allows you to give out friends and family discounts, that is taking away from the profits from the company, not you. Read more>>

Cassidy Crawford

I feel beyond privileged that I have such a supportive partner, family, and group of friends to call on for assistance with my small, growing business. Being a one-woman creative business, you have to wear many hats and juggle many things at once, and sometimes those may be far from something I’d consider a strength of my own. Read more>>