My own business tools to help with my growth - Lisse Los Angeles

As a freelance designer, working from home on the weekends, I come across tons of questions in my own head like: how? what? when? where?, and this is in regards to getting things done, or making things work for my business. So, I decided to go on the hunt to see what would work best for me. It's hard trying to start up a business alone and being the ONLY person basically doing everything, from creative to production to social and operations.

1. First thing is: STAY CALM.

2. Grab a notebook or a notebook app and write down everything you need to get done in general and for your business. These lists may be different or the same, it all depends on you and how you like to sort your tasks. For me, the app One Note works perfectly.

3. Make sure that you have your PayPal, Cash App, Venmo or QB's (quickbooks) setup. This way there is no excuse to get paid from your clients. Believe me it happens!

4. Come up with a payment plan that best works for you. I do the 50/50 method, 50% deposit & 50% upon delivery.

5. Make sure you have access to make invoices. You need a paper trail or some kind of electronic trail. PayPal offers many tools such as PayPal business, to generate invoices and also PayPal here, an easy way to get paid. It's my go to app (and yes I have all 3). There is also Quickbooks and Invoice 2 go, which I personally used and found very easy to maintain.

6. Social Media - how else, if not social media, will you promote your business. You need a FB, IG and a Twitter account. Check out HootSuite as well, Hootsuite is a Twitter tool, and can be essential for women who work from home and need to promote their business.

7. Pro Bono - I can't stress this enough. I have made custom pieces for some family and friends, in the very beginning, without charging labor as it should be charged or none at all. Now, this only works in the beginning because you want your product out, your name known and what better way to advertise than with friends and family. Now don't get it twisted, it's only happened a couple of times. They need to understand that you're not always going to provide your services and labor for free or at a discounted rate at all times, but sometimes is fair enough.

8. Lastly, accept all criticism as constructive criticism. This will only help you in the long run to push harder, make some much needed changes and learn from it and move forward. In a world filled with different personalities, sizes in my case, you are bound to have highs and lows and that's ok. Not everything will always be a high, you have to take everything you get and flip it. Stay positive, stay strong, stay a Boss Lady!

Written by: Liset Diaz (Instagram: Fabu.lisse)