Starting a Creative Business: Roses as Humans Case Study

I’ve always wanted to create things. I’ve always liked the freedom to do what I want and not be told what needs to be done. I love working for myself and making things happen. I love to be able to get things done in my own timing. I don’t enjoy having to wait for others to catch up to me or to have to rely on people for me to continue my project. These are things that have both helped me and have made things difficult when trying to be on a team.

I want to bring you along on my journey of trying to start a creative business. My journey is far from over so trust me when I say this is not going to be a step by step guide for you follow to start your own but maybe you can learn from some things I’ve been through and learned so far on this journey.

The Point of A Business

The point of any business is to solve a problem or to help people by providing value to their lives. This may seem like an impossible task as a creative especially if we suffer from imposter syndrome (let me know in the comments if I should write a blog post about dealing with imposter syndrome.) We don’t feel like we can provide value to others lives. Our work feels like it is never good enough to actually make an impact.

There are many different reasons people want to start a business. They have a really good idea they want to monetize, they want the freedom to make their own schedule, they don’t like having a boss, or they want to create something new for the world. Part of me has a bit of each of these and that is what intrigues me so much about building Roses as Humans.

The Why Behind Roses as Humans

I have a mission of wanting to help other creators share their story because I see how important story telling can be. I want to provide content that can motivate and inspire people to get the most out of their creative journey. I believe that by empowering creators, we can make the world a more vibrant and expressive place. Everyone has a unique perspective and talent to share, and I want Roses as Humans to be the platform that helps bring those talents to light.

Building a community of creators from all different genres that can then collaborate with one another and support each others dreams and goals is why Roses as Humans exist. I have a hard time putting things to words when talking in conversation but I’ve found my music and poetry helps me put my thoughts into the world. If art can help me with my mental health then I know it can help others as well. I want to enable others to be able to use their art to help themselves out as well and find their place in this noisy cruel world.

Finding Your Market Niche

Finding your spot in the market can be a challenging adventure. As a creative who wants to turn your art into a business it is so important to define your niche well. Without a clear message and a clear target audience you get stuck in the dance of trying to appeal to everyone. This as it might seem like the right strategy to gain the most traction can actually do you more damage than good. A successful creative business is one that focuses on a specific audience and serves them well. It is better to have a quality fanbase than to have a quantity fanbase that doesn’t do anything to support your mission.

Take time to research and understand who your ideal clients or customers are. What problems do they face that your creative skills can solve? What unique perspective can you bring to the table that others in your field might not offer? Finding this sweet spot between your passions and market needs is crucial for building a sustainable creative business.

Building Systems That Scale

Another important lesson I've learned is the value of creating systems that can grow with your business. As creatives, we often focus on the product or service itself, but neglect the operational aspects that make delivering that product sustainable and scalable. If you don’t build systems that are sustainable you will spend all your time working for your business instead of work with your art. You want to be able to have your business work for you so you can spend more of your time in your art and talking with your people instead of trying to find clients and run your business.

Some things you can do to get started is documenting your creative processes, even if they seem obvious to you now. You want a place to go back to in a few years to reference how you do things and don’t be afraid to make tweaks down the road. Create templates for common tasks, establish clear client communication protocols, and find tools that can automate repetitive aspects of your work. As your business grows not having to do these repetitive tasks can save you so much time. Things that seem fine to do when doing 1 project a week will be tedious when you are trying to juggle 10 projects in a week. While things are slow you want to work to set yourself up for success when you find that success.

Conclusion

Starting a creative business is both an art and a science. It requires passion for your craft, a clear vision of the value you provide, and systematic approaches to make your work sustainable. My journey with Roses as Humans has taught me that finding your niche, understanding your audience, and building scalable systems are fundamental to creating a business that supports your creative vision rather than draining it.

Remember that every successful creative business started somewhere. The path isn't always straightforward, and challenges will arise, but staying connected to your "why" will help you navigate through the difficult moments. I haven’t arrived to my final destination yet, but we are all on this journey together. As you embark on or continue your own creative business journey, be patient with yourself, celebrate small wins, and remain open to evolving your approach as you learn.

I'd love to hear about your own creative business experiences or aspirations! We would love to support your journey as you try to figure out who you are. Share in the comments one system or process you've implemented (or plan to implement) that will help your creative work become more sustainable. Your insights might be exactly what another creator needs to hear.