Starting a business is both exciting and challenging, especially when you’re stepping out in faith and navigating uncharted territory. In 2023, I took the leap and launched my resume writing business, driven by a clear sense of purpose and a vision for helping others. From gaining conviction and updating my website to securing my first clients on Upwork and building a strong Google Business presence, each step was a learning experience. In this post, I’m sharing the eight key steps I took to get started as an entrepreneur, the tools and strategies that kept me organized, and the lessons I learned along the way. If you’re thinking about starting your own journey, I hope my story inspires and equips you to take that first step.
1. I became sure this was the path I wanted to take.
In 2023, after seeking the Lord, I decided to start a resume-writing business. I strongly needed to get that conviction in my heart. Because without it, I would easily be running from one thing to the next, falling victim to shiny object syndrome. Once that was established, it was on to the next phase.
2. I updated my website.
Now, I did this alongside taking whatever free courses I could find. Money was tight, but there’s a wealth of free information out there. I called myself a resume writer even before I felt fully qualified. I do recommend taking the courses first, if you have the patience for it, and then updating your online presence to reflect your new skills. But I updated my website in faith, knowing that it would take time to get clients… and by then I would know enough to be able to help them.
3. I took training.
I took advantage of free trials on popular platforms, YouTube tutorials, and free guides from others who had walked this path before me. I knew without a degree or formal certification, building trust would be more difficult. I figured that if I were a potential client and saw a resume writer who had four or five certificates from different websites, I’d feel confident they had some knowledge on how to update my resume, even without an official paid certification. (I do plan to get that soon, however!)
4. I updated my Upwork profile.
This is where my very first clients found me. My first client was a construction worker who needed a resume with a quick turnaround. Did I feel like I could do it? No. But by then I had had enough training to feel confident to at least try. All he could do was give me a bad review, right?
Well, it worked out. He didn’t give me a bad review; in fact, he came back a year later for another update!
5. I updated my Google Business page.
Updating my Google Business page was a game-changer. The majority of my serious, higher-paying clients came from local Google searches; people in my area searching for resume writing services. They found my business page, saw an offer I was promoting, visited my website, read my testimonials, and entered my funnel.
6. I decided to go all in serving my clients.
I made a decision early on to give my few clients the royal treatment. I wanted them to feel fully supported from start to finish. When I committed to that level of care, my testimonials began to transform from “meh” to “wow.” Those heartfelt reviews became rocket fuel for my business.
7. I set up my business planning through Notion.
To keep everything organized, I created a Notion page to house my to-do lists, goals, workflows, and admin files (like my business plans, mission and vision statements, branding strategy, and content marketing strategy). I realized that without a clear vision and plan and a place to store them, I’d be spinning my wheels and getting nowhere fast.
8. I set up my workflows.
Workflows became essential as I grew my business as a solopreneur. With each new client, I focused on removing bottlenecks and improving efficiency. For example, I would use the Toggl app to time each step of my resume writing process, hunting for ways to save time.
I even had chatGPT create a client strategy guide to help me research before a client consultation by feeding it info from their current resume, desired industry, and their answers from my free discovery call – all this to help with efficiency and free up time so I could focus on the creative part of my job.
Laying a solid foundation.
All of these steps together helped me lay a solid foundation for growing and expanding my business. And the biggest thing I did that helped me more than anything..was to walk in the identity of a resume writer.
I knew God had called me to this and confirmed it over and over again. So, I started calling myself a resume writer and fully embodied that role. That conviction gave me the courage to step out in faith and offer my services.
Now, I’ve set up the systems I need to start looking for new clients, with confidence, letting them know I’m here, ready, and willing to help. Starting a business, or anything new, can be an exciting new venture, full of possibility. And when God is on your side who’s called you to it, know you cannot lose.
