Erin Albert is a multi-talented, multi-tasking pharmacy professor at Butler University (Go Bulldogs! Beat Wisconsin!) who runs a couple of businesses and is pursuing a law degree on the side. Since she obviously has lots of time on her hands, she’s also just written a book.

It’s called Single.Women.Entrepreneurs. And it’s about – wait for it – single women entrepreneurs.  Turns out there are legions of them – though they get far less press than, say, mompreneurs or women who mitigate their entrepreneurial risk by being married to a wage-earning spouse.

The women Erin profiles in her book (Buy it at Amazon, BN, or Indie Bound) have launched some really interesting business – and operate them in smart and savvy ways. So I asked Erin if a few of her subjects would offer advice to Pink Blog readers who are themselves single women entrepreneurs or who are hoping to be. (At least the entrepreneur part. If you’re hoping to become single or a woman, there are plenty of other blogs for that.)

Kristin Kuhlke Cobb, founder and owner of South Carolina-based Cupcake (which sold $1.3 million worth of baked goods last year):

1. Do your homework, be a sponge.

2. Balance knowledge of facts with gut feeling.

3. Work around the crazy.

4. Don’t go in to debt.

5. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes.

Dava Guthmiller, owner/creative director of Noise 13 Design in San Francisco and founder of Pow.wow, a networking organization for business women:

1. Ask for help earlier.

2. Write a business plan.

3. Fire clients if they aren’t the right fit.

Niquelle Allen, an Indianapolis-based attorney and mediator who owns Butterfly Consignment and Mediation Works, LLC:

1. Pray

2. Dream big.

3. Pray

4. Plan purposefully.

5. Pray

6. Take action.

Contribute your own advice in the Comments section.

13 Responses to “14 smart tips from single women entrepreneurs”

  1. Cindie says:

    Dan:

    Thanks for the rec–right up my alley. And a recommendation from you is worth a thousand books.

    Best-Cindy

  2. Ali says:

    You’ve started a discussion over on our website! Others from me would be:-
    – Get a mentor you are prepared to listen to and take advice from!
    – find at least one key differentiator to other businesses in your market (run by women, or men) and live it
    – put yourself in your Customer/Client shoes and learn
    – be passionate about what you do – if it isn’t a passion its not worth doing!
    – in most cases you ARE the brand – realise you are special and have something unique to offer – believe in the BRAND!
    Off to read what the other members think!
    Ali

  3. Carolyn S. says:

    These are good tips for any entrepreneur. I’d add “plan for success” to the list because many of us do not. Interesting timing, coming on the heels of a Forbes post a couple of days ago about the mompreneur “stigma”.
    Go Bulldogs!

  4. Stephanie says:

    1. Keep your FOCUS.

    Everyone will have an opinion on how you should run, launch, market, advertise, etc your business.

    Keep your Focus because it is your VISION.

  5. Julia says:

    So much is said about why or how we are or are not successful as women entrepreneurs…thank you for reminding us how many successful, however you define that, women entrepreneurs are out there!

  6. Antonia says:

    It is so nice to hear of other S.W.E.s … When I started my business, 100% of the business owners I talked to about finances lived off of their spouse’s income during start up. I knew I wasn’t the first unmarried woman, with a mortgage, to start a business; but have yet to meet any others. 1.5 years into the business and I am still craving that camaraderie. Looks like I need to hit the bookstore … and the search button. Thanks for the info.

  7. Ram says:

    At the outset, I agree with the first 5 and the one “Fire Clients if they are not the right fit”. Great tips as a whole.

    Twitter: EPMWORLD_HYD

  8. I must add:

    DON’T GIVE UP.

    If it was hard enough being the “single gal” in your social circle of married friends with kids, it will only get harder when you choose the path less taken to start your own business. It’s hard for your single or married friends alike to understand what you are going through, why you can’t make Sunday night dinner because you are working, why you cringe when they recount their recent “spring break trip” because you can’t remember the last time you took vacation. Entrepreneurship can be a lonely path, but keep your eye on the end goal whatever that might be. Try to avoid getting overwhelmed by day-to-day stresses. Make sure to take time to celebrate milestones. And never, ever apologize for your success.

    @Cal_Works_Leary

  9. Julia says:

    Women in general are agents of transformational change. We take what we’ve learned and pass it on the the next generation of future entrepreneurs and leaders. We pay it forward, whether single or not- It is just our nature. What an exciting project to be apart of and an honor to be giving back!

  10. Renita says:

    – Focus on how you’re going to make a difference in people’s lives (not how long it’s taking)…

    – Believe that things are happening (even when it seems like nothing’s happening)…

    And from my mentor, a single mompreneur: Make a decision to grow bigger than your obstacles.

  11. Paul says:

    Impact the world. Breathe. Repeat.

  12. Amanda says:

    I am curious about Tip 4, ‘Don’t go in to debt’. A ton of very worthwhile and eventually successful start-ups are in the red for years. Prevent it if you can, but I wouldn’t let it stop me/you.

  13. Cher Lury says:

    So great to know a community of single female entrepreneurs exists out there. There is a lot of tension inherent in becoming a pioneer, but that tension is compounded by the complexity of being a single female choosing what is the most risky for her future.

    It is what I call the fight between “fitting yourself” into a situation and cutting the cords to see how far your kite floats.

    Really glad to stumble across this website~

    Cher