Sarah Croud, owner of The Garden Revamp Company

What first drew you to starting your business?

Independence and flexibility to work around family life.

What is the best thing about being your own boss/your current role?

I am in control of how I work, what systems I use, how I promote myself and what direction

 

What's your advice to other women going into business?

Start small and be patient. Do not compare yourself to other businesses like yours that have more experience and have been established for longer. Stay strong to your knowledge that you are good at what you do and don’t let yourself be swayed by comparisonitis.

Accept that you do not and cannot know everything and take comfort in the fact that you have set up your business because you know more than your clients!

What is your top tip for success?

Be honest and let your passion shine through.

Find yourself a good group of like-minded businesswomen, such as WIBN (not a sales pitch, I’m talking from my own experience) and invest time in that group. Nurture relationships. It can be a lonely time running a business on your own and having a good support group is essential.

Build trust in you and your brand and let the word of your skills gently filter out into the wider community. It is not about hard selling.

Tell us something about yourself we might not expect?

One of my ambitions, when I was younger, was to be an HGV driver! I never applied for my license, but maybe one day…