The perks of going solo in your early start-up days

Going solo in the early days of the startup phase has its perks, writes Manar Al Hinai.

The second anniversary of the launch of my communications consultancy is coming up, something that has made me reflect on the start-up phase. When I first launched, I did not intend on hiring someone full-time for the first six months. I did not know how the business would perform and outsourced many tasks, working with numerous freelancers on the development and execution of projects or seeking help with administrative tasks. It worked well and the importance of delegating work is something I often stress to friends who are also budding entrepreneurs.

Before one friend started her digital marketing agency with a business partner, she asked me whether it was a good idea to hire an entire team, or wait until business picks up. I advised her to wait, at least for the first year to see how things would pan out. Since her and her business partner were both digital artists and worked in marketing, they did not require professional help in that aspect. I also advised her she could hire temporary administrative assistants and freelancers when she needed to. My advice worked well for her, and now that her business is growing, and she has a proper income coming in, she is looking to hire someone full time to assist her with the workload.

Though it can be stressful at times, working solo when you first start out has its perks:

• You get to keep the profit

There will be many bills to pay of course, but eventually everything else is yours to keep. You do not have to worry about paying employees - pretty key when you are unsure how things will turn out at first.

• Your schedule is yours to control

If you do not like the typical 9-5 working hours and prefer not to work in the same place every day, then this arrangement could work well for you. When I first managed my consultancy I worked from several different locations. If I really needed to concentrate, then a library cafe was ideal; when I needed inspiration, then walking around a busy shopping mall did me wonders. I’d work at home when I needed to, or take a walk when I felt that my mind could not take much more.

• You make all the decisions

Although it might be overwhelming, you get to make every decision from the font for your letterhead, to which vendors are best for the business. If you are practical like me, then it can save a lot of time in the beginning. Of course, I still asked for help when I needed it, but working with myself and for myself certainly speeded up many matters.

• You find new opportunities

With the overwhelming aspect of setting up a business also comes new opportunities. From graphic designers, to ushers for events, to photographers, I had the opportunity to work with different freelancers and agencies to execute different events. Not only did that expand my network, but also my knowledge. I learnt how to interact and deal with different vendors, and it also broadened my creative horizon. This allowed me to switch around different freelancers and agencies for my different clients, and thus expand the network and services I provided without breaking my budget by hiring different talents on full-time contracts.

• You work harder

Last but not least, working on my own pushed me to work harder. If I wanted my business to be profitable then I had to work twice as hard and not depend on anyone to complete a task, because there was no one there but me. Ultimately, I learnt how to properly manage time my to run my business successfully, and I also learnt how to create a balance between my work, my business, and my personal life. The most important thing I discovered was that working alone allowed me to excel beyond what I imagined I was capable of.

Working alone when starting a business might sound horrific to some, and you may think it requires enormous courage. However, going solo in the start-up phase will probably not only will save your business by reducing the financial pressure, but could also push you to be a great business owner in the long run.

Manar Al Hinai is an award-winning Emirati writer and communications consultant based in Abu Dhabi. Twitter: @manar_alhinai