Managing a Small Business During a Pandemic

I would be lying if I told you that I didn't think about throwing in the towel. When I first started Expressive Design Agency, I was met with a lot of support from friends and family, but there were some people who didn't support me whatsoever. Unfortunately, sometimes this got the better of me but my passion and dedication persisted.

During the first year of running my agency, we slowly built up a list of clients. We had a handful of loyal clients and others fell through - but that's okay. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), approximately 20% of new businesses fail during the first two years of being open, 45% during the first five years, and 65% during the first 10 years. Only 25% of new businesses make it to 15 years or more.

Expressive Design Agency turned one-years-old approximately one month prior to the state and much of the country locking down due to COVID-19. Clients just were not looking to spend money anymore, which is understandable. Small businesses suffered from mass layoffs and closures just a few weeks into the crisis. Already financially fragile, small businesses had to shut their doors for an extended period of time - or even permanently as 38% of businesses viewed it as unlikely or only somewhat likely that they would be open as of the end of 2020.

Inspired by the great Michael G. Scott's book "Somehow I Manage," we persevere. Though the pandemic is a public health and economic crisis, it is a time for all of us to support one another. As a consumer, please consider shopping small and local businesses to help keep your community afloat. As a business, please consider incentives to help out the community when they need it most. You never know who may need the help, so it is best if we all work together to overcome the hardships.

I'm not giving up on my business. If anything, these times just make me more passionate and dedicated to achieve success.

What about you? Are you in?