When you’ve been in business as long as I have, you start to realise that some things aren’t meant to change so you can grow bigger; they’re meant to change so you can grow wiser.
Somehow, you find yourself reflecting on what really works, what doesn’t, and how to make things feel right again. You begin thinking about new strategies, fresh systems, and creative ways to bring your ideas to life, not out of pressure, but out of purpose.
Over the years, I’ve pressed pause for many reasons — sometimes because life demanded it, and sometimes because my heart just needed space to breathe. Each pause became a lesson, each restart a reminder of why I started in the first place. I’ve learned to rebuild with intention, to let go of what no longer aligns, and to look ahead with clarity about what I want to create next.
For over 27 years, I’ve lived and breathed small business — from late nights baking cakes at my kitchen bench while my children slept, to sending desserts across remote Northern Territory islands, powered by nothing more than passion and persistence. Running a home business has never been easy, but it’s always been meaningful. It’s shaped who I am — not just as an entrepreneur, but as a mother, a wife, and a woman learning to trust her own path.
If you’ve ever found yourself starting over — whether in business or in life — I hope this post reminds you that you’re not alone. You don’t need to have it all figured out on day one; I certainly didn’t. Take this as your gentle nudge, or maybe your loving push, to start rebuilding your home business.
And to help you find clarity in your own path, I’m sharing five things I wish I knew sooner; the insights that gave me strength, direction, and a sense of purpose as I rebuilt my own.
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The first thing you need to remember when starting over your home business is simple: have a written plan. I know, it sounds obvious. But when you’re rebuilding, it’s not as easy as it seems. Sitting down and putting everything on paper can feel heavy, especially when you’ve already been through the ups and downs of running a business before. |
1. Write Your Business Plan
When I started my first business, I didn’t have a plan. Not even close. I had drive, passion, and a dream, and honestly, I thought that would be enough. And for a while, it was. But over time, I learned that without a clear direction, you end up running on empty, chasing things that don’t always matter.
When I finally took the time to slow down and write everything out — my goals, my ideas, my vision — it changed everything. I could see where I was heading and what needed to shift to get there. It felt like I finally took control again, instead of letting the business control me.
If I could go back, here are a few questions I wish I’d asked myself sooner:
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What kind of business do I actually want this time; one that feels right, not just looks right?
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Who am I really serving, and how do I want them to feel when they work with me or buy from me?
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What kind of life do I want my business to give me, not just what income I want to make?
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What challenges could show up again, and do I have the support to handle them differently now?
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Am I rebuilding because it feels aligned, or because I feel like I have to?
Before you share your new business with the world, sit with those questions. Define your why, your who, and your how. Get honest about what success really means to you this time.
Here are a few things that helped me when I finally sat down to write my plan:
Write it by hand first. There’s something about seeing your thoughts in your own handwriting that makes it more real.
Keep it short and simple. Don’t overcomplicate it. Focus on what matters most right now.
Check in often. Your plan isn’t a one-time thing. It should grow and change with you.
Writing your business plan doesn’t have to be perfect; it just has to be honest. And once it’s written, you’ll feel a sense of calm knowing where you’re heading, even if you’re still figuring out the road ahead.
2. Hire Help Even For Part-Time
This one took me years to learn: you don’t have to do everything yourself.
When I first started my business, I wore every hat possible: baker, decorator, cleaner, marketer, accountant, customer service… you name it. I told myself, “I’ll just do it all until I can afford help.” But the truth is, I probably could’ve afforded it sooner. I just didn’t think I deserved the help yet.
Sound familiar?
There’s something about small business owners, especially when you’ve built everything from scratch, that makes it hard to let go of control. You tell yourself it’s easier to just do it yourself, or you worry no one else will do it the way you do. But here’s what I learned: trying to do everything alone doesn’t make you strong; it just makes you tired.
When I finally started hiring help, even just part-time, everything shifted. I could focus on the parts of the business that actually needed me.
Now, in my new business, I have an incredible team — people who bring their own strengths and creativity to the table. There’s someone who keeps our operations running smoothly, someone who brings my design ideas to life, someone who manages our online presence, and someone who quietly makes sure everything behind the scenes stays on track.
If you’re rebuilding, start small but start. Even a few hours of help a week can make a huge difference.
Here are a few things to think about when it comes to hiring:
Know what drains your energy. The tasks you avoid are often the first ones you should delegate.
Start with one thing. You don’t need a full team right away. Outsource a small task that takes time off your plate.
Focus on trust, not perfection. No one will do things exactly like you, but that’s okay. You hired them for a reason.
Think long-term. Think of hiring help as an investment in your energy, growth, and peace of mind.
Ask for help before you burn out. Running a home business doesn’t mean doing everything from home alone.
Even part-time help can give you the balance, focus, and freedom to rebuild stronger than before.
3. Listen To Those Who Have Been There Before
When you’re rebuilding your business, it’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking you have to figure everything out on your own; I’ve been there, too.
In the beginning, I thought asking for advice meant I didn’t know what I was doing. I used to keep my struggles to myself, trying to look like I had it all together. But the truth is, none of us ever really have it all together. And the people who’ve been there before? They usually have the advice you didn’t even know you needed.
When I look back, some of the biggest turning points in my business came from conversations, not courses or books, just honest chats with people who had walked the same road a few years ahead of me. Sometimes they said things that challenged me; sometimes they said things that finally made it all make sense.
After losing my dad, I went through a long period of self-reflection, and that was when I started learning to really listen, not just to others, but to myself. I realised wisdom doesn’t always show up in big speeches, sometimes it’s in quiet advice, a simple story, or one sentence that stays with you for years.
If you’re starting over, surround yourself with people who’ve done it before and who genuinely want to see you win. Find mentors, business friends, or even local small business owners who understand what it’s like to build something from scratch.
Here are a few things that helped me when I started listening instead of trying to do it all alone:
Be open to feedback. Sometimes the advice you resist the most is the one you need the most.
Don’t compare journeys. Learn from others, but remember, your story doesn’t have to look like theirs.
Take what aligns, leave what doesn’t. Not all advice fits; filter it through your own values and goals.
Keep learning, always. The best business owners are lifelong students; humble enough to listen, confident enough to lead.
Listening doesn’t mean you’re unsure; it means you’re wise enough to learn from experience, not just your own.
4. Keep It Simple: Build the Business, Not the Image
If I’m being honest, there was a time when I cared way too much about how my business looked instead of how it actually worked.
I thought if everything looked professional; the logo, the website, the packaging, the social media, then people would take me seriously. I’d spend hours tweaking little details, trying to make everything appear “perfect.” But deep down, I was exhausted. I was so focused on looking like a business that I stopped building one.
When I decided to start over, I promised myself I wouldn’t do that again. I kept things simple. I focused on what actually mattered — my products, my systems, my customers, and my purpose. The fancy extras could wait. And let me tell you, it felt lighter.
I stopped worrying about impressing people online and started paying attention to what was really working offline. I stopped trying to make my business look bigger than it was — and instead, I made sure it was stronger.
Once I simplified things, everything started to flow better. My ideas felt clearer. My days felt calmer. I wasn’t chasing trends or forcing things to look a certain way anymore. I was just showing up, consistently and authentically, and that made all the difference.
If you’re rebuilding, don’t get caught up in the noise. You don’t need everything to look perfect before you start. Focus on building the real stuff, the part no one sees: the systems, the relationships, the purpose behind it all.
5. Keep Reminding Yourself Why You Started
Rebuilding a business can be lonely sometimes. There are days when you’ll question everything; your direction, your timing, even your ability to make it work again. I’ve had plenty of those days.
There were times I’d sit at my desk late at night, wondering if all the effort was worth it, especially after starting over more than once. But every single time I wanted to give up, I’d think about why I started in the first place. That always pulled me back.
When you’re in the middle of a rebuild, it’s easy to lose sight of the bigger picture because all you see are the bills, the long hours, and the trial and error. But each small step you take, even the ones that feel insignificant, they matter. Every email you send, every product you improve, every moment you choose to keep going is proof that you still believe in your dream.
This may sound so easy, or too simple, or even a little cliché, but it’s true, staying connected to your why will carry you further than any strategy or plan ever could. It’s what keeps your heart in the game when your head wants to quit.
What’s helped me most is celebrating the quiet progress — the small wins no one else sees. Because that’s where your confidence grows. Not in the big launches or perfect posts, but in the moments you show up again and again.
And I’ve learned to be kinder to myself through the process. It’s okay to slow down. It’s okay to rest.
So when things feel heavy, pause and remind yourself why you’re doing this. Remember the dream that started it all — the one that still lives inside you. Let that be the reason you keep going, even when it feels like you’re starting from scratch.
A Few Final Thoughts Before You Start Again
Let’s wrap this up where we started — with someone who’s been around long enough to know that business isn’t about getting bigger, it’s about getting smarter. From late nights baking at my kitchen bench to now running a creative business that’s grown into something I’m proud of, I’ve learned that starting over means you’re ready to do it better.
Even now, with everything I’ve built, I still make mistakes. I still have days where I overthink, or try to take on too much because I care so much about what I do. Sometimes I have to remind myself to slow down, breathe, and not make things harder than they need to be. I’m still learning as I go, and honestly, I think that’s just part of running a business.
My hope for you is that you give yourself that same grace. Take things one step at a time and trust that it’ll come together. You’ve done hard things before, you can do this too.
If I could leave you with one best piece of advice, it would be this: make sure your business fits your life, not the other way around. You’ll never regret choosing balance and peace over burnout.
So I’ll leave the rest with you. Maybe this is your sign to take that small step you’ve been putting off, or to start again with a fresh mindset. Whatever it is, just start. Even if it’s messy, even if it’s slow.
So, what’s it going to be, another day waiting, or the day you begin again?
