If I Were 22 and Starting a Business, Here’s What I’d Do
Alex is my brother. This week, he decided to launch his handyman business.
That reminded me of when I started my photography business nine years ago. If I could go back and give my 22-year-old self advice (and Alex), here’s what I’d say about starting a business.
When I first started, I made some huge mistakes that cost me a lot of money and energy. By my third year, I was broke and burnt out. And the only person I could blame was myself. I didn't take the time to research or actually grow my business. Like most beginners, I panicked to get work, charged too little, and burned out in the process.
I want to save you from that.
I’ll keep this short and straight to the point.
Part 1: How Much Should You Charge?
This was my biggest question when I started.
The best way to figure it out is to reverse-engineer your income goal.
Let’s say you want to make $80,000 in gross sales. That’s your target.
Now, assuming you take two days off per week, that leaves you with 261 working days per year.
$80,000 ÷ 261 = $306.49 per day
That’s how much you need to make each day to hit your $80K goal.
But that’s gross sales, meaning it’s before taxes and expenses.
Here’s the reality: If you want to take home $80K in profit, you may need to aim for $110K+ in gross sales to cover taxes and expenses.
Yes, it sucks. Welcome to the land of the free.
Track Your Expenses. Don’t Ignore Taxes.
I keep all my business expenses on my business debit card—this makes tracking easy. Every so often, I review my bank statements to ensure I’m making as much as I think I am.
You can use templates or software to track everything, but find what works best for you. In the beginning, tracking every penny is crucial.
The hard truth? New business owners stay broke because they don’t track expenses and undercharge.
I know this because I did it for four years in real estate photography. I was always just barely making it, simply because I wasn’t charging enough.
How Much Should You Charge?
It depends on:
Your location
Your skill level
Demand for your service
Competition in your area
A simple starting point: Look at what others in your industry are charging.
If similar businesses in your area charge $500–$1,000 per job, you could start at $750and adjust as needed.
You can always change your price later—but start with a number that makes sense.
Part 2: You Are Not a Machine
You can work hard in short bursts, but you can’t sustain it long-term. You need to rest. You need to clock out.
For years, I worked 6–7 days a week, and it was not the move.
I was miserable, and my business suffered because of it. If I had prioritized rest, I would’ve had the mental capacity to actually grow my business instead of just running in circles.
Most beginners get stuck being employees in their own business, forgetting that they also have to manage and build the operation.
I ignored this.
I was so caught up working in the business that I wasn’t able to work on the business. And when you’re too deep inside, it’s hard to see the bigger picture.
If I could go back, I would have:
- Hired an editor for my photos
- Raised my prices earlier
- Hired a backup photographer
- Spent more time on client acquisition
My advice? Set a minimum of two rest days per week.
Yes, sometimes there will be exceptions, but stick to it as much as possible. You might think working more means making more money, but the opposite is true—resting makes you sharper, and your work will improve.
And most importantly? You’ll be a much better person to work with.
That’s my message for the week.
Love you. Bye.