In this book review, I’m sharing my thoughts on “Empire – A Step by Step Guide to Starting a Creative Business” by Kim Hendren.
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A Road Map to Success for Creative Business Owners
Kim Hendren has been a creative entrepreneur for more than two decades. She’s a Michigan girl turned Florida transplant, and is a multi-passionate creator. Her new book Empire – A Step by Step Guide to Starting a Creative Business serves as a road map to, well, starting a creative business.
I was fortunate enough to receive an advance copy. While I did receive this book for free, all opinions are my own.
Who’s This Book For?
Anyone who has ever thought about starting a creative business. That is who Kim wrote this book for. Her goal is simple – help you take her years of experience, and put you on the fast track to launching a creative business of your own.
What qualifies as a creative business? It could look like selling:
- Novelty t-shirts, totes, mugs – anything that can have something printed on it
- Artwork (printed photographs, watercolors, mixed media on canvas, etc…)
- Floral arrangements
- Handmade goods (crafts, jewelry, garments, etc…)
- Music
- Websites
- Graphics
You get the idea…pretty much anything that requires creativity that can be bought and sold – that can make up the basis of a creative business.
Related: Read my post 101 Ideas to Make Money From Home.
As she says, “For the sake of simplicity, these steps are geared toward creative home businesses or small maker businesses…” Still, many of the steps can be applied towards any type of business.
Kim’s Steps for Success in Launching a Creative Business
1. Her first step is to “find your bliss.” In the beginning, she gives you a worksheet to come up with your perfect business idea. No complicated business plans – just a few questions to help you get clear on what you want.
The rest of the steps look like this:
2. Choose your business name
3. Choose a niche
4. Business colors & logo
5. Getting a domain
6. Setting up social media
7. Business bank account stuff
8. Legal things to know about
9. Expenses and making money
10. The difference between wholesale and retail
11. Options for selling
12. Pricing your stuff
13. Branding
14. Kim’s marketing strategies
15. Kim’s photography tips
16. Shipping & Supplies
17. Labels & printers
18. Manufacturer advice
19. Business ideas – if you’re stuck about what to do
20. How to gain knowledge
21. Battle cry – It’s time to build your empire, and where to go from here.
What Else is in the Book?
This book is about more than just the steps to launching a creative business. It also features checklists, worksheets, and her battle tested tips for everything Kim has gone through in running her own digital empire.
When you buy Empire – A Step by Step Guide to Starting a Creative Business, you’re buying more than a how to guide. You’re buying the brainstorming and testing Kim has worked on for more than two decades.
One of my personal favorite features of the book is the journal section of it. Why? Keeping a record of our journeys along the way helps us see how far we have come. It helps motivate us to keep going as we chase our dreams.
I won’t lie, running a business – especially a creative business – it’s hard work! There’s going to be good days and bad days and really crappy days. But, I know for me, I wouldn’t change it for the world! I love what I do, and wish I had a book like this when I was first starting out.
