A global pandemic might have been the catalyst that turned small businesses into the new stars, but the revived interest in shopping locally didn’t just prevent many businesses from closing—it also spurred a 24.6% increase in new small businesses since 2020.
As consumers become more aware of the ethical, social, and environmental issues driven by large corporations, they are making more informed choices. Small businesses are often more sustainable, ethically produced, higher in quality, and provide a superior shopping experience!
It Took a Pandemic to Highlight Small Businesses
A global pandemic might have sparked the surge in small business popularity, but the renewed focus on local shopping didn’t just prevent many businesses from closing—it also led to a 24.6% increase in new small businesses since 2020.
As consumers become more aware of the ethical, social, and environmental issues associated with large corporations, they are making more informed decisions. Small businesses are often the better choice, offering sustainability, ethical production, higher quality, and a superior shopping experience!
The Corporate Giants Be Like:
As a former small business owner, I know firsthand the immense effort it takes to build and grow a business from scratch—and how much I wish ClickUp had been available when I was running a one-woman t-shirt shop from my bedroom.
Let’s dive into the ClickUp features that can simplify work-life for the entrepreneurs with no bosses, just business!
When Working Hard Hardly Works
When I was 4, my parents started a small business selling medical supplies. This not only gave me a unique fascination with surgical tools but also nurtured my entrepreneurial spirit.
Being more of a creative type, I launched an Etsy shop selling shirts after design school, with little knowledge of business organization, finance, or time management. Despite my family’s advice, I dove in headfirst because my shirts were popular, and I loved making them.
A year in, my designs were selling out, I had celebrity clients, and my shop was on Etsy’s front page. However, my business wasn’t profitable enough to expand, I couldn’t take days off, and I was overworked. People often say that having too many customers is a good problem, but that’s only true if your business is organized enough to manage it.
HBO Moment:
Looking back, my biggest issue was a lack of organization—no amount of creativity or marketing skills could compensate for it. My design files were scattered across my computer, sales records in a notebook, notes on Etsy, thoughts in a sketchbook, and shirt stock in a TV box. I wasn’t even tracking all the costs and figures.
This is why I tell every small business owner I meet about ClickUp. Seriously.
Key ClickUp Features for Small Businesses
- Create Your Space & Folders
- What it is: When you create a new ClickUp account, the first step is to create a Workspace, which acts as your office building.
- Benefit: Within your Workspace, create a Space for your business and organize it into Folders like Finances, Marketing, and Production.
- Plan Options: Free Forever Plan includes 5 Spaces; Unlimited Plan ($5 per member) includes unlimited Spaces.
- Create Your Lists
- What it is: Lists live in Folders and house individual tasks. Create Lists for sub-categories within each Folder.
- Benefit: Organize tasks by categories such as “Sponsored Ads,” “Social Media,” and “Influencer Partnerships.”
- Plan Options: Free Forever Plan includes 100 Lists per Folder; Unlimited Plan includes 400 Lists per Folder.
- Create Tasks with Custom Fields
- What it is: Tasks can represent actions or individual items, with Custom Fields for detailed information.
- Benefit: Custom Fields like file attachments save time by keeping all necessary information in one place.
- Plan Options: Free Forever Plan includes 100MB of file storage; Unlimited Plan includes unlimited file storage.
- Create a Budget
- What it is: Use Custom Fields and Formula Fields to track expenses and revenue.
- Benefit: Simplifies financial planning and ensures accurate tracking of costs and profits.
- Plan Options: Free Forever Plan doesn’t include column calculations; Unlimited Plan includes unlimited column calculations.
- Create an Order Tracking System
- What it is: Track orders from placement to delivery with Custom Fields for all necessary information.
- Benefit: Ensures smooth order fulfillment and helps manage inventory.
- Plan Options: Free Forever Plan includes 100 uses of Custom Fields; Unlimited Plan includes unlimited uses of Custom Fields.
- Add Helpful Views to Your Folders
- What it is: Add different views like Calendar to your Spaces and Folders for better task management.
- Benefit: Helps you track due dates and manage your schedule efficiently.
- Plan Options: Free Forever Plan excludes Box and Board views; Unlimited Plan includes all views with unlimited usage.
- Create Time-Saving Automations
- What it is: Automations perform repetitive tasks automatically.
- Benefit: Saves time by automating status changes, notifications, and more.
- Plan Options: Free Forever Plan includes 100 Automations per month; Unlimited Plan includes 1,000 Automations per month.
- Grow Your Team
- What it is: ClickUp supports team collaboration with features like Comments, Assignees, and Chat views.
- Benefit: Facilitates seamless communication and delegation as your team grows.
- Plan Options: Free Forever Plan includes 100 uses of Chat view; Unlimited Plan includes unlimited uses of Chat.
One Big Dream, Many Small Steps
Starting a small business doesn’t require a massive upfront investment. Success hinges on smart organization, planning, and meticulous tracking. I started my t-shirt business with $100 and quickly turned a profit, but without a solid system, I couldn’t sustain that growth.
ClickUp would have been a game-changer for my business. While no platform can guarantee success, a good tool can certainly set you on the right path. And sometimes, all it takes is a little more time and the right resources to grow.
It’s fantastic to have a vision and bring it to life. It’s rewarding to gain customers and receive praise for your work. But to truly unlock your full potential, you must be willing to step out of your comfort zone, take risks, work hard, and listen to those who know more than you—while always trusting your gut.
Now, go out there and make that bread.