How to Start a Creative Business from Scratch (Even in a Small Town)
Starting a creative business can feel overwhelming—especially if you live in a rural area where opportunities seem few and far between. But here’s the truth: your small town might be the perfect place to launch your dream.
In this post, I’ll walk you through how to start a creative business from scratch, no matter where you live, what resources you have, or how much money is (or isn’t) in your bank account.
1. Start With What You Know (and Love)
The best businesses are born from passion + purpose.
Ask yourself:
What do I love doing that others don’t?
What do people ask me for help with?
What can I make, teach, design, build, or sell?
Whether it's painting signs, making soaps, designing digital downloads, or building chicken coops—your skills are your seed money.
2. Keep It Simple to Start
Don’t overthink it. You don’t need:
A full website
A logo
Business cards
What you do need:
Something to sell or offer
A way for people to pay you (Venmo, PayPal, Cash App)
A way to be found (Facebook, Instagram, word-of-mouth)
Start messy. Just start.
3. Use Local to Your Advantage
Small towns may not have traffic—but they do have trust.
Start by:
Selling at local farmer’s markets or pop-ups
Leaving business cards at the feed store, café, or hair salon
Talking to friends, church members, and neighbors
Offering “friend & family” rates to get testimonials and momentum
Your town might not be your whole customer base—but it can launch you.
4. Build Online One Step at a Time
Even if you're rural, your customers can be global.
Start with:
A Facebook Page (free, fast, and powerful for rural reach)
Instagram for visuals and reels
Etsy, if you make shippable goods or digital products
A simple website or Linktree to connect your info
You don’t need to be everywhere. Just pick one or two platforms you’ll actually use.
5. Set Your Own Pace
Some people build in a month. Some take a year.
You don’t have to quit your job or go full-time tomorrow.
Try this:
Start on weekends or evenings
Use profits to reinvest into tools or supplies
Set small goals (Ex: 5 sales this month)
Every step forward is success.
6. Trust That There’s Room for You
You don’t need a big city, a perfect brand, or 10,000 followers.
You need boldness to begin and faith to keep going.
God gave you creativity for a reason. You’re not too late. You’re not too small. You’re not too far out in the country.
You're exactly where you need to be.
✨ Ready to Begin?
Leave a comment or share this with someone who needs a little push to start. I’d love to hear what kind of creative business you’re dreaming up!