Building Branchworks

So, here we are, at the end of our first financial year at Branchworks. What a rollercoaster it has been! I've been through it all—excitement, challenges, moments of pure joy, and my fair share of tears too. There've been moments when I've gone from feeling utterly defeated to overwhelming excitement in the span of just five minutes. And truth be told, the learning curve has been steeper than I ever imagined.

A bit about me

Before I dive in, let me give you a quick lowdown on yours truly. I’m from the UK, moved around a bit, and settled for now in SW London. My academic journey took me through Business Development for my undergrad because I had absolutely no clue what I wanted to do, and it seemed “sensible". I graduated still not knowing, and found myself on the phones at Softcat, where I cold called on everything from toner to security software. About seven months in, I fortunately landed a spot in a partnerships position—and that's where my career started to take shape.

Over the years, I've been lucky to work with some fantastic companies of all sizes, working in partnerships of every type imaginable. I've crafted programs, certifications, worked with tiny consultancies to massive GSIs, recruited new partners, turned around the existing ones, and even squeezed in a Business Psychology MSc in my free time.

But even with all that experience under my belt, starting my own business felt like something I would simply never be ready for. There was always another piece of experience I felt like I needed to gain, or another certification I needed to do.?

Readiness aside I had people who believed in me who’s belief inspired mine, and in November 2022 I registered Branchworks Consulting Ltd.

Preparing to start a business

First things first: the branding. I spent way too much time wrestling with the name, colour schemes and designing a logo that was, honestly, atrocious. In the end, I paid someone much more skilled than myself to do it for me. Branchworks—because partnerships help companies branch out, and 'works' because, well, there was already another business named Branch. As for the colour green? It's been my favourite since I begged my parents to paint half my room that vibrant shade at the age of 5.

Then came the crash course in running a business with an incredible business coach. Those 6 months between registering my business and going full time were like a boot camp for aspiring CEOs. I learned to build a business, craft value propositions (and pitch them everywhere from supermarkets to driving ranges), master time management, and keep calm under pressure. All while juggling a full-time job. It was chaotic, but it laid the groundwork for what was to come.

Balancing a stable job and setting up my one-person show was not plain sailing but as someone kindly reminded me - I was not the first, and I definitely wouldn’t be the last person to do it, so I just had to get on with it. It was so worth it, because securing those first few clients before taking the plunge was a game-changer.?

Successes, learnings and challenges?

I feel very fortunate to have worked with 10 incredible clients in our first 6 months of business which I will talk about in more detail when I write a similar blog on behalf of Branchworks. But, if you’re reading this and you’re one of them, know that I will never forget receiving your signature on the contract. I celebrated every single early win and will always appreciate everyone that took a chance on a new business.?

It's a constant learning curve. I frequently face challenges around pricing, juggling client work with business development, business admin, and ensuring I’m still keeping up to date on the latest in the industry. Here’s my top tips based on what I’ve learned so far, and I’d love to hear from business owners about your own learnings from the early stages:?

1. Surround yourself with fellow entrepreneurs. You don't have to ditch all of your friends, but having like-minded people to brainstorm with is gold.

2. Start that CRM early! Trust me, spreadsheets can only take you so far, and you will never feel like you have the time

3. Document everything you're crafting. Playbooks are a lifesaver when you're ready to expand or delegate tasks.

4. Treat yourself like you'd treat your employees. Set rewards for hitting those milestones.

5. Make decisions—quickly. Time spent mulling over decisions is time wasted, and if you make the wrong one you’ll learn from it and make another.

As I look ahead, I'm so excited to keep growing, learning, and delivering the best to my clients. I have no doubt the next FY will come with its own unique set of challenges and I thank you all for the support so far.

Stay tuned for more insights and stories as Branchworks keeps on growing!