Cracking the Entrepreneur Code: 'The Small Business Expert'

QR TIGER’s Cracking the Entrepreneur Code is a series of entrepreneur stories on how they started, and their all-too-relatable journey of defying the odds and challenges in their business.

Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur or simply interested in learning about the journeys of those who have already made it, this series is for you.

Hi! My name is Louise Barnard-Owen, aka The Small Business Expert.

Launching my business The Small Business Expert came very organically. I was doing a mixture of jobs at the time, including retail and merchandising, but I realized I often cared more about the success of the business than the owner.

They were usually people who opened the business to make money, but there was no passion or heartfelt purpose for the business.

I knew I was destined for a career instead of working a standard job, so I took a leap!

I’ve always been drawn to fashion and beauty magazines and so I looked for intern jobs at local publishers but the only job available was a marketing apprenticeship. “At least it’s a foot in the door,” I thought!

While I was on this apprenticeship, it became apparent quickly that the program was hugely outdated, and so were the people running it! Social Media wasn’t even a topic!?

Social media for businesses has just become a thing, but I knew it was going to change everything! I then began thinking that there are business owners out there who have never even heard of Instagram and they’ll benefit so much from being a part of social media. It was then that I started helping people and building my business.

The biggest challenge I had when starting out, I’m still dealing with now. It’s pricing myself just right.

I always want to be affordable for people setting up a business on a budget—the single mums with kids who have full-time jobs but they want to pursue their dream on the weekends, for example. But I have to make money. I have to put myself first and be realistic. My relationship with money is always going to be evolving, I think, I’ve learned only recently just how valuable I am!

When it comes to software and tools, I keep it simple. I refuse to spend money on CRM systems and analytical tools that are designed for “hustle culture” types. My business is just me, I don’t manage a huge team or have a long list of tasks to track. The tool I use without fail though is Google and everything they offer, it’s the best, most inexpensive tool out there!

For the creative side of my business, I use a mixture of ProCreate, Illustrator, Canva Pro, and MailChimp.

And then I use QR codes on business cards, flyers, posters, etc.

My advice is to keep it simple and don’t go out of your means for expensive software, as more often than not you won’t see any cost-effective benefits.

For anyone just starting out, my first piece of advice is this—trust yourself! If you know what you’re talking about and you have a genuine passion for it, your customers will see that and buy from you.

“People buy from people.” As much as you can, put yourself out there! My second piece of advice is to invest in clear, quality branding—the difference this makes is insane!

It doesn’t have to be hugely expensive, but don’t DIY! Ask an expert!

Thirdly, don’t “fake it until you make it”. This could potentially get you into trouble. If you give wrong advice, mislead, or sell a product under false pretenses, you could regret it later.

If you’re unsure of something it’s best to say so or check, your customer is likely to appreciate your honesty. It’s better to do this than to receive a bad review!

My last piece of advice is simple, be yourself! Whatever you do, don’t try to mimic. Do your best to be a creator and a leader, and be the best at what you do.

Let us know in the comments if you can relate to Louise’s story as well. By sharing your experiences, we can learn from each other and build a stronger, more supportive entrepreneurial community.

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