How to Support Your Friend’s New Business

So your friend has started a business, and you are excited for them. But you have never started a business, so you’re not really sure how to support them or show you are there for them. There aren’t social norms for how to express excitement and care for entrepreneurs. Don’t worry; in this article, we will share some of the ways you can let them know you are there for them and support them.

How Can I Talk To My Friend About Their Business?

The first rule of being a supportive friend to a new business owner is to never give advice if you do not currently own a successful business. We know you mean well, but a lot of the common advice people give is incorrect and often harmful. You may be worried for your friend because they are starting a business without a safety net, but your friend is worried too. They need more people encouraging them rather than echoing the doubts they are having. Instead, ask them if you can buy them a business book for a present. Ask if there is one they particularly want or research good books for new business owners.

Ask questions about your friend’s business and show you are interested. Approach the topic with positivity and listen. Starting a business is a huge undertaking, and it will consume most of their time and energy. Just like a new parent will talk mainly about their baby for the first year or so, a new business owner will talk mainly about their business for the first year or so. Be patient, listen, continue inviting them to things to ensure they leave the house every once in a while.

I Want to Support My Friend With Their New Business But Don’t Know How

It can be hard to know what you can do to help them. First, try asking them. “Hey, I admire you for starting your own business; please let me know what I can do to help.” Follow that up with offers for things to show you are serious about helping them. Here are some ideas:

• Follow their social media and engage with their social media content
• Send people their way if you know people who may be interested in their products/services
• Consider purchasing their product or service (if you have the means and are interested) – leave a review or testimonial if you do. ALWAYS insist on paying full price.
• Offer to read over or test things if needed
• Share their social media content
• Ask them how you can best help promote their new business
• Celebrate their successes, even small ones like website launch and first sale
• Join them with wine after the bad days
• Share interesting content or books you have come across that may be of interest to them on the topic of business or related to their industry
• Offer to teach them something that may help them (video editing, writing, how to use particular software, etc.)
• Refer them to quality freelancers you have used in the past
• Ask if they need an extra set of hands for a few hours
• Reach out to them often; they may be too busy to actively maintain friendships, so you will need to take on the work of maintaining communication

This list provides a range of things you can do to help, many of which are free and can even be done from afar. Your friend will appreciate any support you give them; do not underestimate how much help liking or sharing a social media post can be.