Jessica Hollingsworth’s desk where she runs her small business. Photo Courtesy of Jessica Hollingsworth

By Jasmine Sanchez Staff Reporter

Walking into the endless sea of potential manufactures with a burning passion for art and creativity, and a dash of courage, the first step to starting a small business is never easy. It’s terrifying and sometimes, isolating. 

The public’s perception of owning a small business doesn’t inspire confidence but rather the fear of failure looms over like a blackened cloud. The common generalization of artists is that they will never be successful to make enough to sustain themselves. This perception trickles down to the people closest and while their intention is understandable, it can also be discouraging.

Jessica Hollingsworth, spirited entrepreneur and owner of Sivryn, owns a small online business primarily focused on selling art prints, stickers and occasionally tackles commissions. Hollingsworth faced doubts from family and friends when she began exploring the possibility of starting her business. Her family was stuck on the “starving artist” stereotype, while her friends wondered if anyone would be interested in her business.

“I chose to ignore this… my family and friends don’t make my business work. I make my business work,” Hollingsworth said. 

However, becoming a small business owner is not all gloom and doom. There are some silver linings that vary depending on the type of small business. For Hollingsworth, being her own boss is beneficial because she can rest more if any pain flares were to emerge.

“I was not able to hold my pen to draw, so instead I gave myself the task to do inventory… Had this been a standard job at a big box store, I would not have been given this luxury,” she said. 

For Hollingsworth, who suffers from chronic pain, being her own boss has been a godsend. An average job would penalize her for taking time off due to her disability. As a small business owner, she can announce the situation to her customers and rest as much as she needs without worry or stress.

Apart from this, running a small business is not as different from a regular job than many might think. There are certain responsibilities that a business owner must tackle to run a successful business, such as working more hours. Increased hours is the standard for most small businesses, and this depends on how busy or slow the day is. 

Dean Grayson, online shop seller and owner of DeanDraws, typically begins his day checking emails and messages while eating breakfast. He then goes to his office to pack packages and ship orders around three times a week. 

On off-days, he’ll be “creating new graphics, negotiating with manufacturers, quality checking products, or a bunch of other little things like creating social media posts.” The amount of work that is necessary for a small business to function successfully often frightens newcomers from the venture.

Starting a business is not a small feat. It requires an immense amount of work and perseverance. Many factors develop along the journey to either dispirit or motivate. It entirely depends on the individual and whether starting a small business is the right path for them. 

Grayson advises aspiring entrepreneurs to “never ever let yourself feel like your work isn’t ‘good enough’. As long as you’re enjoying creating something- if you like it- then there will always be someone out there who enjoys it too.”