Business Advice for female founders
The practical side of building something, from women who've actually done it. How to get clients, price your work, market without burning out, and handle the bits nobody warned you about. Not theory. What actually worked for founders a few steps ahead of you.
EDITOR'S PICKWhy Your Website Isn't Converting (Even If It Looks Gorgeous)
We're living through a trust recession. The gap between what people say and what they do has widened — and audiences are exhausted by the performance. Danielle Thompson on what they actually want instead.
Being yourself is a start — but it's not a strategy. Marketing strategist Giada Nizzoli on what high-ticket clients actually need to see before they trust you with their money.
In a world rewarded for instant success and viral launches, Sarah Dusek makes the case for something more enduring — and explains exactly how to stay focused on it.
Is your business turning 1, 3 or 10? Discover heartfelt, creative ways to celebrate your business birthday and reflect on how far you’ve come.
Nobody teaches you what to do when a client asks for a refund. Here's the law, the mindset, and how to stop folding out of guilt.
Sorting a pension is the task most founders keep pushing to "later." Here's a clear guide to your self-employed pension options in the UK, from personal pensions and SIPPs to NEST, and how to start with as little as £10.
Self-employed women aren't entitled to nothing when pregnant — but the support on offer is explained poorly. On Maternity Allowance, Keeping in Touch days and what to prepare for financially.
Fluctuating income, retained profit, smaller salaries for tax efficiency — the mortgage system wasn't built for how founders operate. Michelle Niziol on navigating it with confidence anyway.
Katharine Sawyer spent a decade in college football before building a global coaching programme for health and wellness professionals. On energy, sales, accidental entrepreneurs and why your business should reflect your five-year ideal day.
The funding gap for female founders is real — but grants are more accessible than most women think. A practical guide to what's available, how to apply, and what funders actually look for.
You don't need to be an expert to build wealth. Financial planner Zoe Brett on getting started with clarity and confidence — even if you've been putting it off for years.
The thing most of us were taught not to talk about. Funding and grants, how to start investing, and managing the money once it's coming in.
Steve Jobs had his turtleneck. Coco Chanel built a legacy on a symbol. Samantha Harman explains how repetition, story and a single piece of jewellery can turn what you wear into a brand people actually remember.
For a long time I thought EVN had a product problem. Every quiet week, my answer was the same: I needed more products. Ten years in jewellery retail should have told me otherwise.
A professional headshot has been doing the same job for sixty years: showing strangers you're a credible professional. The Beautiful Moments founder Hetal Trivedi argues that the job hasn't gone away, but it's no longer enough. Here's what brand storytelling images can do that a headshot was never built for, and how to make every photo on your website earn its place.
Discover the dangers of using AI-generated ads for your small business, plus why human creativity and "homemade" content are the keys to business growth in 2026.
Barbara Ayisi cold-called The Langham, sent seven follow-up emails and landed her first ever brand shoot at one of London's most prestigious hotels. On persistence, preparation and how to approach a luxury venue with a proposal they cannot say no to.
We're living through a trust recession. The gap between what people say and what they do has widened — and audiences are exhausted by the performance. Danielle Thompson on what they actually want instead.
Charlie Terry, Founder of CEEK Marketing, analyses TALA’s £2.6m operating loss, Grace Beverley’s strategy and the wider debate around founder-led UK brand profitability.
A stunning portfolio tells you what a designer can create. It doesn't tell you how they work, how they communicate or whether they'll truly understand your business. Lucy Hoddinott on the questions worth asking before you sign anything.
You don't need to be constantly on camera to build authority. PR strategist Jo Swann on how strategic PR works quietly in the background and what founders need to do to get started.
Too many businesses treat sustainability like decoration. Mia Marks on why the companies worth watching bring it into the room early — and why it behaves less like a conscience and more like a structure.
Reels because everyone says you should. Webinars because it feels like the next thing. Claire Best on why trend-chasing creates distraction rather than direction — and the five foundations worth building first.
Kim Kardashian's MasterClass isn't really about fame. It's about product decisions, audience intuition, and knowing when to move fast. Here are the ten lessons any founder can actually use.
Sales prove demand. Belief builds longevity. Brand architect Rachel Pearson on why the most valuable brands — from Patagonia to Hermès — aren't chasing the market. They're defining it.
Fake reviews affect an estimated £23 billion of UK consumer spending annually. SEO specialist Adam Collins on spotting them, reporting them, and building a genuine reputation that doesn't depend on platforms you don't control.
Making people notice you exist and like what you're about. This is you putting stuff out into the world (your brand, your website, your posts) so people find you and warm to you.
Other people and places vouching for you. Press, features, awards, being known and trusted as the person who does this thing. It's not you shouting about yourself, it's building a reputation that speaks for you.
Steve Jobs had his turtleneck. Coco Chanel built a legacy on a symbol. Samantha Harman explains how repetition, story and a single piece of jewellery can turn what you wear into a brand people actually remember.
For a long time I thought EVN had a product problem. Every quiet week, my answer was the same: I needed more products. Ten years in jewellery retail should have told me otherwise.
Between hybrid working and school runs, most founders have quietly stopped getting dressed properly. Samantha Harman, personal stylist and author of Just Get Dressed, makes the case for putting your wardrobe back to work, and shares the three-step method she uses with clients to get out of a style rut.
She'd rehearsed in the mirror, finished her slides and knew her content cold. Shannon Alter, executive presence coach with over 30 years of experience, breaks down why her client still lost the room and what female founders need to know about the signals they're sending before they say a word.
A professional headshot has been doing the same job for sixty years: showing strangers you're a credible professional. The Beautiful Moments founder Hetal Trivedi argues that the job hasn't gone away, but it's no longer enough. Here's what brand storytelling images can do that a headshot was never built for, and how to make every photo on your website earn its place.
Most founders think PR isn't working because of the pitch. After 22 years building reputations behind the scenes, Laura Perkes argues the real problem starts much earlier.
Miranda Priestly's takedown of Emily Charlton in The Devil Wears Prada 2 is the sharpest line in the film. It's also the question every female founder should be asking herself.
Barbara Ayisi cold-called The Langham, sent seven follow-up emails and landed her first ever brand shoot at one of London's most prestigious hotels. On persistence, preparation and how to approach a luxury venue with a proposal they cannot say no to.
We're living through a trust recession. The gap between what people say and what they do has widened — and audiences are exhausted by the performance. Danielle Thompson on what they actually want instead.
You don't need to be constantly on camera to build authority. PR strategist Jo Swann on how strategic PR works quietly in the background and what founders need to do to get started.
Want to rest this December and stay booked? Here’s how female founders can create a simple visibility ecosystem that runs on autopilot - so clients can still find you, connect with you and book you, even while you switch off for the holidays.
You don't need to keep pushing visibility right up to the final day of the year. PR strategist Dina Behrman on four small tasks that keep your business top of mind while you actually rest.
Visibility blocks don't announce themselves. They look like procrastination, perfectionism, or just waiting to be discovered. Luana Ribeira on the fear that's quietly holding smart women back — and what to do about it.
You can perfect the content plan and polish the brand voice — but if you're still holding back what you actually believe, it's not a strategy problem. Dr. Christiane Schroeter on the visibility loop and how to break it.
Entering a business award isn't about collecting trophies — it's about backing yourself publicly. The UK awards worth knowing about, and how to write an entry that actually stands out.
Turning all that attention and credibility from your Marketing & PR efforts into actual money in the bank. The enquiry, the conversation, the pricing, the yes. Converting interest into paying work.
Travel retail gives brands access to millions of international consumers every year. But it works very differently from traditional retail. Yvonne Airey on commercial readiness, margin expectations and how to approach the channel strategically.
From choosing the right event to interacting with strangers, Hannah Capocci-Hunt on what product founders need to know before their first market stall and what the experience teaches you that nothing else can.
Being yourself is a start — but it's not a strategy. Marketing strategist Giada Nizzoli on what high-ticket clients actually need to see before they trust you with their money.
Most clients don't leave because of your talent. They leave because they feel unseen, uncertain, or forgotten. Shannon on what actually builds loyalty — and what it costs when it breaks down.
Entering a business award isn't about collecting trophies — it's about backing yourself publicly. The UK awards worth knowing about, and how to write an entry that actually stands out.
Landing a retail deal is the dream for many product founders. But the process is full of missed opportunities and unanswered emails. Here's what buyers actually look for — and how to pitch with confidence.
Most brand stories are technically accurate and emotionally flat. Here's how to write one that actually converts — by making your dream client the hero, not yourself.
Discover the best cities for female entrepreneurs worldwide. From London to Stockholm, explore the ecosystems where women-led businesses thrive.
For women navigating business, leadership, and visibility, networking isn’t about handing out cards - it’s about building genuine, strategic relationships. These 10 tips will help you do it with confidence and clarity.
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The latest articles in business:Steve Jobs had his turtleneck. Coco Chanel built a legacy on a symbol. Samantha Harman explains how repetition, story and a single piece of jewellery can turn what you wear into a brand people actually remember.
For a long time I thought EVN had a product problem. Every quiet week, my answer was the same: I needed more products. Ten years in jewellery retail should have told me otherwise.
Nobody teaches you what to do when a client asks for a refund. Here's the law, the mindset, and how to stop folding out of guilt.
Sorting a pension is the task most founders keep pushing to "later." Here's a clear guide to your self-employed pension options in the UK, from personal pensions and SIPPs to NEST, and how to start with as little as £10.
Looking for a website template that works for your service business? These are the four template shops worth bookmarking.
She'd rehearsed in the mirror, finished her slides and knew her content cold. Shannon Alter, executive presence coach with over 30 years of experience, breaks down why her client still lost the room and what female founders need to know about the signals they're sending before they say a word.
A professional headshot has been doing the same job for sixty years: showing strangers you're a credible professional. The Beautiful Moments founder Hetal Trivedi argues that the job hasn't gone away, but it's no longer enough. Here's what brand storytelling images can do that a headshot was never built for, and how to make every photo on your website earn its place.
Giving back as a small business doesn’t have to be expensive or performative. Discover meaningful, sustainable ways that female founders can create real impact in their communities.
Most founders think PR isn't working because of the pitch. After 22 years building reputations behind the scenes, Laura Perkes argues the real problem starts much earlier.
Miranda Priestly's takedown of Emily Charlton in The Devil Wears Prada 2 is the sharpest line in the film. It's also the question every female founder should be asking herself.
The absence of proper legal documentation can be catastrophic. Commercial lawyer Rebecca Kelly on the documents that protect your business before something goes wrong.
Discover the dangers of using AI-generated ads for your small business, plus why human creativity and "homemade" content are the keys to business growth in 2026.
Barbara Ayisi cold-called The Langham, sent seven follow-up emails and landed her first ever brand shoot at one of London's most prestigious hotels. On persistence, preparation and how to approach a luxury venue with a proposal they cannot say no to.
Travel retail gives brands access to millions of international consumers every year. But it works very differently from traditional retail. Yvonne Airey on commercial readiness, margin expectations and how to approach the channel strategically.
The absence of proper legal documentation can be catastrophic. Commercial lawyer Rebecca Kelly on the documents that protect your business before something goes wrong.