Why 2025 is the year you should start your business
The beginning of the year is often when I see folks contemplating big life changes. The blank slate of it all feels like an invitation to start fresh, and while you can start a business at any time of year, I think January is a great time to dive in. If you have a 9-to-5 that slows down in Q1, you’ll find yourself with more mental space to plot your next move, and if you’re like me, after a season packed with parties and holiday events, you’ll be spending most January nights on the couch with a cup of tea without a social obligation in sight. That hibernation mode helps me think big without feeling overwhelmed—making it the perfect time to work on a business plan
But lately, I’ve noticed a lot of fear swirling, both within and outside the small business community. Hesitation is high, with uncertainty about the future looming large. Will tariffs or policy changes make it harder to run a profitable business? Will the rising cost of essentials make it impossible to stay afloat? People see other small businesses closing their doors and think, Yikes, maybe this isn’t the right time to start.
While experts may point out that the stock market looks great and inflation is cooling down overall, you and I both know that means nothing to those of us who have zero investments outside of a 401(k) we’re not going to touch for the next 20-40 years. What we do know is that the weekly grocery bill is getting ridiculous, and the post-Christmas credit card balance? We’re holding space for it because it’s literally defying gravity.
Here’s the thing: when those financial experts talk about inflation, they’re usually referring to an average across a lot of categories. But some of the biggest items in your budget—like groceries, childcare, and insurance—are rising much faster than the overall rate, and you feel it more because they hit closest to home.
From 2022 to now, some essentials, like car insurance, have shot up in price by as much as 50%. Eggs, famously, cost about 80% more than they did pre-pandemic. And groceries? They’re still climbing faster than overall inflation. Childcare is another area where costs are skyrocketing. Families spend about $300 a week nationally, but in some places—like here in Philadelphia, where I live—families are paying up to $2,500 a month per child. Long story short, the financial burden of just living your life is going up. Woof.
I get it. All this adds up to a sense of caution and a desire to play it safe. The stakes feel high. But what do you do when the dream of starting your own business just won’t go away—or when your 9-to-5 is devouring your soul, and you can’t bear the thought of another year in that cycle?
For you, I present: the top reasons why 2025 is the right time to take the leap.
Starting a business is not, not like jumping off a cliff.
Fear of Failure Isn’t the Same as Chance of Failure
First things first, let’s address your fears. Starting a business is stepping into the unknown, and fear of failure is often the loudest voice in the room. That fear can feel like your gut telling you this is a bad idea. And the gut, she’s a powerful friend. Her only job is to keep you safe. When you’re in a nightclub and a stranger offers to buy you a drink, but your gut says, “hmm this guy gives me a bad feeling I think I shouldn’t take his potentially spiked vodka soda.” You should listen because she’s probably right. Besides the fact that not accepting drinks from strangers in nightclubs at all is probably a good policy to have, Your gut is usually spot-on when it comes to physical danger.
But here’s the thing: fear of failure isn’t the same as physical danger. Your gut doesn’t know the difference. She’s treating your fear like a tiger when it might actually be a kitten. She can’t tell, so she plays it safe—because that’s her job. The truth is that fear of failure and actual chances of failure aren’t the same. They’re often not even related.
When you work for someone else, it’s a you vs. them situation—can you get them to approve your PTO? Can you impress them enough for a raise? When you’re running your own business, the game changes. It becomes a you vs. you situation, and the biggest obstacles are often in your own mind. Long story short: you’re the tiger.
I’ve seen talented, capable people trip up not because they lacked skill or a great idea, but because fear kept them from moving forward. Fear asks, What if I fail? The answer is simple: then you fail—and you learn. Failure isn’t an ending; it’s information. It’s an opportunity to tweak your approach, test a new strategy, and try again. For example, if you start an e-commerce business and don’t see sales right away, it’s not the business’s death knell. It’s a chance to ask, Why isn’t this working? Is it the product? The marketing? The customer experience? Fear wants you to stop at failure, but success demands that you pivot, adapt, and keep going.
The truth is, there will always be reasons not to start: tariffs, unpredictable expenses, or the fear that your business won’t replace your salary right away. But those concerns are just part of the landscape. What really matters is your ability to separate your fears from reality and to adapt when things don’t go as planned.
There are More Tools Than Ever to Help You Succeed
Back in 2007, when I started my first job in the events industry, things were… let’s say, “manual.” We made proposals in Excel (don’t ask) and contracts in Microsoft Word, and we put things in the mail. Hard copies of everything! Can you imagine? We only took paper checks. If there were better tools back then, they were for big corporations, and we definitely couldn’t afford them.
Fast forward to today, and I’m running my business solo with an arsenal of tools at my fingertips. I use:
Google Drive for file management,
QuickBooks for invoicing and payments,
ChatGPT for basically everything, including writing the outline for this blog post
Dubsado for proposals and contracts,
Canva for design and printing,
Later for social media scheduling
And countless other apps for everything you can think of from letting clients self-schedule appointments to optimizing my website’s SEO.
This abundance of tools means you can achieve alone what used to require a whole team. With less time spent on operations, you can focus on what matters—understanding your customers, marketing effectively, and building a strong foundation for your business.
We’re at the Dawn of a New Era
Speaking of ChatGPT—welcome to the AI era. I know feelings about AI are mixed. There are obvious upsides; for instance, I used ChatGPT this morning to fix a CSS code mistake on my website. But there are also concerns, ranging from the extreme—think Skynet from The Terminator, to the more mundane but practical: Will AI eventually get so good that it replaces the work I’m doing right now? And to that, I will say that while it’s hard to predict exactly where this wave will take us, one thing is clear: Major shifts create major opportunities. Think back to the dot-com boom of the late ’90s. The people who were brave enough to build that first Geocities website were positioned for success as the internet transformed the world. And all I know for sure is that AI will transform the world.
Having your business set up now means you’ll be ready to capitalize on opportunities as they arise. Sure, there’s fear that AI could replace certain jobs, but every disruption also brings new possibilities. Early adopters often win big, and 2025 is your chance to ride this wave. And hey, if the machines get smart enough to take over, you won’t have to worry about running your business anymore because you’ll be running for your life! (kidding! Sort of!)
Learning Something New is Easier Than Ever
When starting your first business, you can’t possibly know everything there is to know about running it. Say goodbye to your comfort zone because you’re about to be a beginner at a lot of things. Whether it’s business budgeting or SEO, you’re going to have to learn something new. In the past, this would have been a barrier to getting into business, but today, you’re just a Google search or an AI inquiry away from figuring out what you need to know. Learning new skills has never been more accessible—or flexible.
Free learning resources are all over the internet. With a bit of patience and willingness to comb through blogs, Reddit forums, TikToks and YouTube videos, you can find troves of free tutorials, tips, and real-world advice. From step-by-step guides to quick hacks, you can find content tailored to your specific needs, often created by people who’ve been exactly where you are. Once you’re ready to take a deeper dive, affordable options like Coursera, Udemy, and Skillshare offer comprehensive courses on almost any topic imaginable, often taught by industry experts.
What makes today’s learning landscape especially empowering is its flexibility. Self-paced learning allows you to fit education into your life—on your terms and your time. Got a full-time job? No problem. Only have a couple of hours after the kids are asleep? That works too. Unlike traditional classes, which require strict schedules and commitments, online learning lets you move at your own speed. It’s education designed to work with your life, not against it.
Digital Marketing Levels the Playing Field
Before the internet, marketing was a game for businesses with big budgets. Billboards, bus wraps, and TV commercials were standard fare, and small businesses had to hope their newspaper ad or shop sign caught someone’s attention. The reach was limited, and the costs were high.
Today, digital marketing has rewritten the rules. Social media is now a cornerstone of marketing for businesses of every size and the emphasis on this particular channel just keeps going up. Sure, big businesses still dominate when it comes to ad spend, but organic content—unsponsored, genuine posts that connect directly with your audience—has the power to resonate in a way that money can’t buy. A single well-crafted post can reach thousands, even millions, of people. Going viral isn’t something you can plan for, but with creativity and persistence, small businesses have more opportunities than ever to connect with their ideal customers.
And it’s not just about social media. Easy-to-use drag-and-drop platforms like Mailchimp, Klaviyo, and Flodesk make email marketing affordable and accessible for small businesses. Email remains one of the highest-performing marketing channels, with a return on investment (ROI) that’s hard to beat. These tools let you build and nurture customer relationships on your terms.
Content marketing is another game-changer. From blogging to newsletters on platforms like Substack, small businesses can use storytelling to build trust and authority in their niche. Writing valuable, engaging content not only attracts your target audience but also keeps them coming back for more. Whether you’re sharing how-to guides, industry insights, or behind-the-scenes looks at your business, content marketing creates a deeper connection with your audience.
In 2025, the tools and platforms available to small businesses are powerful and plentiful. With creativity, consistency, and a willingness to experiment, the playing field is more even than it’s ever been. Big budgets aren’t required for big impact—you just need to show up and make your voice heard.
People Want to Support Small Businesses
As more people question the impact big corporations have on our communities and the planet, the desire to support small businesses is stronger than ever. Sure, lots of us can’t afford to boycott the big guys completely (I am personally guilty of a very significant Amazon habit), but there’s a growing movement to shop small whenever possible. People are actively seeking out ways to support businesses that align with their values and priorities.
If you’re worried about competing with the low prices of products made overseas, here’s the good news: customers are often willing to pay a premium for something they feel good about buying. It’s not just about the product—it’s about the story behind it. When you show people the team, the craftsmanship, and the effort behind your product, it creates a connection. Customers don’t just see a price tag; they see the value of supporting something meaningful.
Small businesses have a unique advantage in this area. You can offer the authenticity and humanity that big brands often struggle to replicate. Share your journey, showcase the faces behind your brand, and be transparent about why your business matters. When people feel like they’re part of your story, they’re more likely to invest in what you’re selling.
The Best Time to Start is Always Now
And last but not least, there will never be a perfect moment to start a business. Waiting for one might mean never starting at all. Success comes from a combination of resilience, luck and what I like to call “fuck-it-ness”—the ability to jump headfirst into uncertainty.
So if your dream keeps calling, I think you should listen. Be smart, and make plans but also, fuck it. If not today, when? And hey, if you get stuck, I’m just an email away.