Starting a Small Business: Creativity, Craft and Backing Yourself

I started a small service-based business cleaning windows around town. A service business doesn’t immediately conjure romantic notions, but it has become a vehicle for personal growth, creative expression, and discovery.

I enjoyed creating a logo that resonates with my personal style and local vibe, inspired by the tailgate stickers of old 70’s panel vans. The “Framed” logo emerged relatively quickly. A hand-drawn sketch, later tidied up, then printed on flyers and business cards, ready to be applied to the ute and a few shirts.

Signwriting can be outsourced, but vinyl stickers aren’t quite my style. So down the rabbit hole of traditional sign painting I went, sourcing enamel and brushes locally, ready to have a dip at the fading art of sign painting in my garage rather than defaulting to generic vinyl.

Then there are the shirts. Logos can be printed cheaply using DTG methods, but the quality never quite feels right. Screen printing a small batch in the garage becomes the more personal choice for the aesthetically sensitive and budget-conscious business owner.

Finally, there’s the challenge of sourcing work. Inviting friends to give you a go, dropping leaflets, posting on social media. For a long-term employee, taking on the responsibility to charge for services is quite a shift. Even knowing my work has value, promoting it directly in exchange for money can feel uncomfortable. Perhaps I learned not to ask for much, to give freely and be grateful for whatever came in return.

At some point, though, you tire of letting someone else clip your ticket. There comes a time when it feels better to stand on your own feet, to back your work, and to let your creativity, love, and effort flow in a new, tangible direction.