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.

Conitra Cowans

My friends are very supportive and ready to help promote, My two daughters are so supportive and always pushing me to be better even on the days I don’t have any sales. I feel it is not appropriate, to ask for freebies just because we’re family or good friends(I haven’t had that problem) the reasons why I decided to become a entrepreneur is to profit and help women with being more comfortable, confident and feel beautiful . My story is my oldest daughter Neisha was a big part of my inspiring me ,she started her company Sweet Extensionz Collections along with business she has started. Neisha also helped me with establishing Boujeez steps Boutique. Read more>>

Kenyada Nunn

As a content creator and an independent travel agent it’s definitely hard to get your family and friends to support you. Everyone see your travels and know that you have access to create vacation packages etc. but they rarely use you for travel or like any of your social media post. My family and friends do offer words of encouragement for me to keep going but I do not receive any sales from them. I think that someone having the expectation to always receive a discount especially family and friends is highly inappropriate and that is where I draw the line. In my opinion, anyone who expects you to forgo any type of commission or put you in a position where you are not able to make any money is quite selfish because you are in the business to make money not lose it or give it away. Read more>>

Faith Krakowski

My friends and family have been very supportive of my business from the start. They have given lots of advice and help when I need it. I’m the kind of person who doesn’t like asking for help, but they are always there when I do. Everyone has done so much for me and I appreciate everything. I wouldn’t have gotten by business started and growing without them. Read more>>

Stephanie Burleson

To be honest, asking friends and family to support my businesses and events use to be a point of stress for me. It can be crushing to have people compliment you all your life stating how talented you are, then when its time to buy into that talent or show up for you, they fall short. The blow is even more disappointing when you have gone out your way to show up for them. However, I had to realize something as a creative and entrepreneur. The “vision” was given to me, not everyone else. I cannot expect for others to share my same level of passion when it is not their purpose to. Realizing this has allowed me to refocus my energy, stay positive and push forward. Read more>>

Morgan Dreese

Friends and Family are vital to starting any business, but even more importantly in the art industry. My start originated with a neighbor, who sang my praises to her interior designer connection. She in return gave me my first commissioned opportunity, and thinking if the painting is awful that she would just put it in the bathroom. She loved it and commissioned me for the rest of the offices paintings. You have to have that fan base to convince their connections to give you that chance, and hopefully blossoms from there. Read more>>

Sherry Dial

Thank you, I appreciate the opportunity. When it comes to seeking support, my thoughts are to put family
and friends at the top of the list. I say that because I am here today because of the financial and
emotional support from my own family. Even as a young child of divorced parents, I always felt supported. Read more>>

Krista Prince

When I first ventured into the world of wedding photography, I had this apprehension about sharing my business on Instagram. There was this nagging fear of being ridiculed, and for a while, I kept it under wraps. Interestingly, Meta had different plans and recommended my business to my family within just 30 minutes of its creation. Read more>>