10 Things We Wish We'd Known as Small Business Owners

As Queen Bee turns 10, we’re reflecting on the lessons we’ve learned along the way. Whether you’re a newly qualified florist embarking on a studio career, or an experienced florist opening your first shop, take comfort in the fact that nobody gets it right the first time! Here are 10 things we wish someone had told us when we were starting out:

1. Don't Decide Your Business Name by Committee

We agonised over our business name for months, conducting polls and surveys among family and friends. The outcome? A complete stalemate, confusion, and a lot of doubt. In the end, Queen Bee wasn’t even in the running, but it came to us during a random chat about Mad Men (long live Joan Holloway). Moral of the story: Trust your gut, and don’t overcomplicate it—you know your business best.

2. Fake It ‘Til You Make It

When you’re just starting out, confidence can be tricky—especially when you don’t have testimonials or a shiny portfolio. We had to lean on our previous career experience and, truthfully, ‘fake it’ a bit until we gained traction. Taking on smaller projects for portfolio-building helped, but remember: Your clients want to feel reassured, so project that confidence early on!

3. The Business Plan Will Change (Constantly)

We spent a year (yes, a year!) perfecting our business plan. Guess what? As soon as we launched, it changed. Markets shift, opportunities arise, and you evolve. So while a business plan is useful, don’t stress about getting it perfect—it’s a living document, not a concrete tablet!

4. Perfection? Mythical.

If you’re waiting for perfection, you’ll be waiting forever. Whether it’s your website, your product, or even your marketing strategy - get it good enough, and go for it. Over-servicing or waiting for perfection will eat into your profit margins and keep you stuck in one place.

5. Working on Your Own Brand is HARD

We quickly learned that working on our own brand was way harder than client work. When it’s your baby, you overthink every detail. Our advice? Block out specific time to work on your business every week—don’t let it get buried under client deadlines!

6. Respect Your Boundaries

Yes, your business is your passion, but that doesn’t mean it should take over every minute of your day. Set boundaries early, and learn to say no when it’s necessary. A well-rested business owner is far more productive and creative than a burned-out one.

7. Creative Time-Outs Are a Must

You don’t always have to be ‘on.’ Sometimes, taking a walk, going on a trip, or just spending a day in creative mode can recharge you and your business. We’re big fans of regular creative days and even an annual trip to Nice to reset. It’s time well spent!

8. Find Your Tribe

One of the best things we did was surround ourselves with fellow small business owners. They’ve offered advice, support, and even a shoulder to cry on during the rollercoaster ride that is entrepreneurship. Ignore the naysayers, and find your cheerleaders!

9. Don't Hide From the Numbers

Math isn’t fun for everyone (we still remember driving our teacher nuts in Business Studies with our relentless questions and frustration). But if you avoid your finances, you’ll quickly lose track of what’s working and what’s not. Stay on top of it, whether that’s through a trusted accountant, regular check-ins, or simple forecasting—profit only comes if you’re paying attention!

10. Don’t Wait—Just Go For It

Don’t wait for the ‘perfect moment,’ the perfect look, or the perfect idea. Just. Start. Now. We often talk ourselves out of things because of fear or timing, but success doesn’t wait for the cautious. Make the leap, and learn as you go.

We hope these lessons give you something to think about as you navigate your own business journey. Want more marketing tips, insights, and advice tailored specifically for florists? Sign up for our enewsletter and let us help you bloom!

Helen Burton