What’s Holding You Back from Starting Your Own Online Business?

You’ve been dreaming of starting your own online business for years. But you never have the time or money to do it, right?  

There are 11 reasons that may be holding you back. These reasons are all very common and they can come from many sources, like your family life, personal beliefs and past experiences. But if you're serious about starting your own online business, do not let these reasons hold you back.

1) Lack of Money

One of the main reasons for not starting a creative business is lack of money. The lack of resources to start the business is a common reason for not starting businesses, but you don't need a lot of money to start an online business.

You can start a creative online store with little investment. You don’t need to purchase a large amount of inventory and you can work from home to save on expenses. You can also limit the number of items you sell until you start making enough revenue to expand your business.

When you start a business, you need to have the necessary resources to be successful, but you can start brainstorming ways to make your business more affordable. Look for solutions to common problems, like the cost of marketing or shipping products. Once you have a plan in place, you can start implementing it and your business will be on its way to success. For ideas on how to get startup funding, see our post on the best types of startup funding.

2) Lack of Time

The second reason people fail to start their businesses is lack of time. They feel they don't have the time to get it off the ground or run it successfully.

But if you're serious about starting achieving your dream, you can start a business while you're still working a day job. When you start small and work part-time will help you grow your business while still keeping your day job.

Although you may feel you don't have enough time to start a business, you can find ways to make the time you do have work for you. Try setting aside some time each evening or on the weekends to work on your business. You can also use tools like social media or email marketing to help you save time.

It's easy to say that you don't have time to start a business, but it's harder to actually take the steps to make it happen. If you're serious about starting your own online business, start by finding a way to make the time work for you.

3) Lack of Knowledge

The third most common reason for not starting a business is thinking you do not know enough to start a business. Many think it's too hard to start their own business or they don't know how to start.

The truth is there are many resources available to help you start your own creative business. You can find online courses, books, blogs (this one), videos and even podcasts that can teach you everything you need to know about starting and running your own business.

In addition to these resources, there are also many people who are happy to share their own business knowledge. You can find online forums, social media groups and even meetups that are focused on helping entrepreneurs start their businesses.

4) Fear of Failure

The fourth reason people don't start businesses is fear to fail. They're afraid that their business will not be successful and they will lose money they invested.

They are also afraid that the crafts they create will not be liked by their target audience or they are not good enough to sell. People that want to turn their hobbies into a business may not do so because they feel vulnerable and they are worried about rejection.

The fear is understandable, but it's important to remember that failure is part of the process and you will get better with practice.

You also have to remember that not everyone will like your crafts. You can reduce the risk of failure by starting small and focusing on a niche market. A niche market is a group of people who share a specific interest or hobby. This will allow you to target your marketing and make sure your products are appealing to your target audience.

5) Lack of Support

The next reason people don't start businesses is a lack of support from friends and family. They're afraid that their loved ones will not be supportive of their new business venture or they won't have the time to help.

Most find that once they tell their friends and family that they have opened their own creative business, they are supportive of their efforts and will go out of their way to help them succeed. You may actually find that your friends and family members are interested in starting their own businesses, so they can be a valuable resource for support.

If you do not believe you can receive the support you need, you can locate support in online communities of entrepreneurs who are going through the same thing. You can find online forums and social media groups that are focused on helping entrepreneurs start their businesses.

6) Lack of Confidence

Many people do not start their business because they lack confidence. They do not believe that they are capable of running their own company.

When you lack confidence, it is difficult to take action. You may feel that you are not good enough or that you do not have the skills to run a business.

The best way to overcome this obstacle is to build up your self-esteem. Start by believing in yourself and your abilities. Remember that only you can create your creative product by using your special skills and unique talents.

You can also gain confidence by getting training and learning new skills. When you have the skills and knowledge, you will feel more at ease at your ability to open your own creative store.

7) Fear of the Unknown

When you start a creative business, there are a lot of unknowns. You may not know how to start, what to do next or even where to find help.

The best way to overcome the fear of the unknown is to take action. Start by doing your research and finding resources that can help you. Next, create a business plan, detailing what needs to be done. Having a list makes it a lot easier to ensure that you know what you are doing.

In addition, find a mentor or someone who is willing to help you. When you have someone to guide and support you, it will be easier to take the plunge into starting your own business. You can also join Facebook groups that will give you advice and encouragement to get started.

When you take these steps, you will find that the fear of the unknown will no longer hold you back from starting your creative business.

8) Procrastination

It is easy to put off starting a business because there are so many things to do. You may feel overwhelmed and not know where to start.

When we procrastinate, it makes it easy to forget our goals and dreams. It's important to remember that starting a business is a process and it will take time to get it up and running.

The best way to overcome procrastination is to break down your goal into small steps. Once you have a plan, it will be easier to take action.

You can also find productivity tools and apps that will help you get organized and stay on track. When you have a plan and the tools to help you, procrastination will no longer be a problem.

9) Perfectionism

When you start a creative business, it is easy to get caught up in the details and make things perfect. This can lead to a lot of stress and can cause you to delay starting your business.

You may feel that your creative products need to be better and as a result, you'll never launch your business. The key to overcoming perfectionism is to set realistic expectations.

The best way to overcome perfectionism is to set realistic goals and deadlines. You can do this by creating a timeline and budget for your project.

Remember that you will make mistakes and it's okay. The key is to learn from your mistakes and move on. The more you try to create perfect products will only lead to frustration and delays.

10) Social Conditioning

Social conditioning is the belief that we need to have a traditional job in order to be successful. We are conditioned to believe that we need to work for someone else and that starting our own business is too risky.

Additionally, we are conditioned to think that we need a college degree in order to start a business. We are also told that the only way to be successful is to have a bunch of money to begin with is the only way we can open a business.

The best way to overcome social conditioning is to change your mindset. Start by believing that you can be successful without a traditional job. Look for examples of entrepreneurs who have started their own businesses without a college degree or a lot of money.

When you have a positive mindset, it will be easier to take action to turn your hobby into a profitable company. By taking small steps, you will be well on your way to starting your own creative business.

11) It's Too Hard

Many people do not start their business because they think it is too hard. They believe that it is too difficult to compete with the big companies or that it is impossible to make a profit.

When you think something is too hard, it will be difficult to take action. You may feel that it is not worth the effort or that you are not capable of doing it.

Running a business is hard work, but if you're willing to put in the time and effort, your business can be successful. The best way to overcome this obstacle is to break it down into small steps. You cannot succeed in a day, but if you tackle a one or two steps at a time, you will eventually get there.

You can also create a business plan and track your progress to ensure you're on the right track. When you have a plan and you're willing to work hard, the fear of it being too hard will no longer hold you back.

12) Why Haven't You Started Already?

Starting your own creative business can be a very rewarding experience. It allows you to be in control of your own destiny, set your own hours and make your own income. It also allows you to spend your time crafting and being creative.

There are many challenges and obstacles you'll need to overcome. But if you're determined and motivated, you can overcome these challenges and achieve success.

Don't let your fear hold you back from starting your own online business. It may be difficult at times, but opening your own creative business may be the best decision you ever make. Knowing that you can look back and see the progress you have made is one of the best feelings for small business owners.

Many thanks for reading, and we hope that you subscribe to our newsletter to learn more about what it takes to be your own boss.