{"id":7831,"date":"2021-10-18T11:45:58","date_gmt":"2021-10-18T10:45:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/?p=7831"},"modified":"2026-07-09T15:35:32","modified_gmt":"2026-07-09T14:35:32","slug":"sound-advice-one-woman-small-business-natalie-bannister","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/sound-advice-one-woman-small-business-natalie-bannister\/","title":{"rendered":"How to be a one-woman small business"},"content":{"rendered":"<header class=\"entry-header has-dark-background-color entry-header--audio entry-header--has-illustration entry-header--has-illustration--audio\">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-header__row row align-center\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-lg-7 col-xlg-6 entry-header__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"component component-single-header\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-header__misc text--subtitle text--uppercase text--small\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/category\/growth-customers\/\" class=\"entry-header__link\">Growth &amp; Customers<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-title-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"entry-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tHow to be a one-woman small business\t\t\t\t\t<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"entry-header__description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"single-post-details container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"col\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"posted-on \">Published <time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2021-10-18T11:45:58+01:00\">18 October, 2021<\/time><\/span><span class=\"reading-time\"> min read<\/span>\n\t\t<button\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\tclass=\"social-share-button button button--icon button--secondary js-social-share-button\"\n\t\t\tdata-share-title=\"How to be a one-woman small business\"\n\t\t\tdata-share-url=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/sound-advice-one-woman-small-business-natalie-bannister\/\"\n\t\t\tdata-share-text=\"Please read this interesting article\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"social-share-button__share-label\">Share<\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"social-share-button__copy-label\" hidden>Copy Link<\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"social-share-button__copy-tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\" hidden>Copied<\/span>\n\t\t<\/button>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<\/header>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-author has-dark-background-color alignfull\">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"col\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"co-authors\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-author-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"entry-author\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/author\/bexburncallander\/\">\n\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2020\/12\/Rebecca-burn-callander-podcast.jpg\" class=\"entry-author__image\" height=\"40\" width=\"40\" fetchpriority=\"high\" \/>\t\t\t\t<span class=\"entry-author__name\">Bex Burn-Callander<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed alignfull is-type-rich is-provider-buzzsprout wp-block-embed-buzzsprout wp-block-sage-buzzsprout-embed\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<div id=\"buzzsprout-player-9368649\"><\/div><script src=\"https:\/\/www.buzzsprout.com\/1422304\/9368649-natalie-poppy-how-to-be-a-one-woman-small-business.js?container_id=buzzsprout-player-9368649&#038;player=small\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n<section class=\"wp-block-sage-podcast-networks\">\n\t<div class=\"container has-dark-background-color on-scroll-highlight__target\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"h4\">Listen to Sound Advice on:<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"unstyled\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/podcasts.apple.com\/gb\/podcast\/sound-advice-get-year-one-in-business-right\/id1544479344\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"660\" height=\"160\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/06\/2-US_UK_Apple_Podcasts_Listen_Badge_RGB.png\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"Listen on Apple Podcasts\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/show\/2yhPIOebSiBpEYek6q2GZJ?si=UWWTKrgIQ2OsUAlnHrzHTQ\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"330\" height=\"80\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/06\/spotify-podcast-badge-blk-grn-330x80-1.png\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"Listen on Spotify\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/podcasts.google.com\/feed\/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5idXp6c3Byb3V0LmNvbS8xNDIyMzA0LnJzcw?sa=X&#038;ved=0CAMQ4aUDahcKEwios_fb8YnuAhUAAAAAHQAAAAAQBw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"76\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/06\/EN_Google_Podcasts_Badge_2x.png\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"Listen on Google Podcasts\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.stitcher.com\/show\/sound-advice-get-year-one-in-business-right\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"558\" height=\"167\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/06\/Stitcher_Listen_Badge_Color_Light_BG.png\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"Listen on Stitcher\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">How do you make your passion project into a profitable small business? Enter the founder of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gutsygirls.co.uk\/womenonlyretreats\">Gutsy Girls<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/gutsygirls_\/?hl=en\">Natalie Bannister<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Nat is an inspiring, creative and outdoors-loving entrepreneur who runs jaw-droppingly gorgeous active retreats for women with the aim of empowering others to get out of their comfort zone, make friends and interact with the natural world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This article is absolutely jam-packed with small business advice, so let\u2019s get into it\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"#bootstrap-anchor-link\">Bootstrap a passion project to snowball into something bigger<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"#make-anchor-link\">Make sure your messaging is inclusive to reach a wide customer base<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"#trust-anchor-link\">Trust your taste and instinct when designing your product<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"#pricing-anchor-link\">Pricing is always the hardest thing \u2013 but here\u2019s what you do<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"#this-anchor-link\">This is when I made my side-gig my main gig<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"#you-anchor-link\">You don\u2019t need to be good at numbers \u2013 but you do need an accountant<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"#tips-anchor-link\">Tips from someone who has dealt with small business-owner-burnout<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"#self-anchor-link\">Self-compassion is a mindset you must take as a business owner<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"#problem-anchor-link\">Problem-solving requires you to be present in the moment<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"#social-anchor-link\">Social media: How to use it for your business \u2013 and a word of warning\u2026<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"#invest-anchor-link\">Invest in Google AdWords, rather than Instagram ads<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"#the-anchor-link\">The secret to retaining clients<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"#dont-anchor-link\">You don\u2019t have to scale your business<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"#gate-6403c820-b6b5-4d8c-bcbc-7b0e39c6a523\">Download your free side hustle toolkit, comprising a side hustle guide, business plan template and cash flow forecast template<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"bootstrap-anchor-link\">Bootstrap a passion project to snowball into something bigger<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Bex Burn-Callander:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I can\u2019t wait to find out how this business came about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Because it\u2019s a bit of a leap from missing something, missing a lifestyle, wishing something would happen, to actually thinking not only I\u2019m going to make it happen for myself, but I\u2019m going to make it happen for loads of other people like me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Do you want to just tell me the origin story?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Nat Bannister:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ok. So yeah, I was living in Portugal for about three years working in a surf camp and I made the move to London to be with my boyfriend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And when I moved, I was suddenly really isolated and I found it really hard to find community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I guess, I worked from home, so all of you now know how it feels to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/help-employees-work-from-home\/\">work from home<\/a> and how isolating that can be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So it was trying to find out about a way to connect with other people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I didn\u2019t have the budget to be able to join a co-working space. So it was how do you find people in London?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And what I did was I joined a rowing club and I learned how to row and it was so much fun and I absolutely loved the mornings on the Thames.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But there\u2019s a huge amount of commitment in a rowing club if you really want to get involved. And I was like, what can we do where it combines adventure with that community experience and bring women together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And so, yeah, it grew from there and it was always just a passion project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It was always about getting women outdoors and active and now it\u2019s just snowballed into something completely different.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Bex Burn-Callander:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You said that Gutsy Girl started as a passion project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So does that mean you had a full-time job at the same time? What were you doing?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Nat&nbsp;Bannister:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Yeah, so I was a social media marketer. I learned Facebook advertising while out in Portugal and was consulting for lots of different companies and coming up with digital strategies for people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So I <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/sound-advice-bootstrap-tech-platform-alec-dobbie\/\">bootstrapped my whole business<\/a> and just did it off the back of what I was earning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And I was in a really fortunate position that Gutsy Girls didn\u2019t have to make any money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So it was really just about sticking to its core roots and understanding what I wanted it to do and how I wanted it to help people, because I was in that privileged position where I didn\u2019t need it to make money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So for me, it\u2019s really important to create a space where women feel welcome in nature and the outdoors and adventure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And so that\u2019s always been the driving force is trying to remove barriers to get women into new sports, to show everyone that everybody is welcome in nature. And everybody\u2019s welcome in adventure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It doesn\u2019t need to be a really intimidating place and you can give something a try without really putting a huge amount of commitment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You don\u2019t need to label yourself as adventurous or active. You just need to come and try a new activity or go out for a hike and meet women.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So yeah, that\u2019s always been the driving force behind my business for sure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"make-anchor-link\">Make sure your messaging is inclusive to reach a wide customer base<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Bex Burn-Callander:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But how would you do that?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">How would you create a retreat where you\u2019re going to have people of extremely differing abilities?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You might do a surfing trip and some people might be amazing surfers and some people might have never even touched a surfboard before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">How do you create an experience around people that as the different?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Nat&nbsp;Bannister:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So for me, it\u2019s the messaging. It\u2019s understanding that we\u2019re really a welcoming space and we\u2019re really a non-intimidating space and it is a place where you can come if you\u2019ve never even seen a surfboard or you\u2019ve never set foot on a paddleboard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For me, it\u2019s really about creating an experience that shows you don\u2019t need to have any experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The messaging in our social media and our branding is all about inclusivity and making sure that you feel welcomed no matter what your size, ability, your shape, your race.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For us, it\u2019s really about creating safe spaces for women in adventure in nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Bex Burn-Callander:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And tell me about some of these retreats, some of these experiences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Can you tell me about, I don\u2019t know, your top two, where were you went, what happened?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Paint a picture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Nat&nbsp;Bannister:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Oh, it\u2019s so hard. Everyone always asks me what my favourite water one is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And it\u2019s like choosing your favourite child. I don\u2019t have a child, but I imagine that\u2019s really tough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">My favourite ones are the paddleboarding expeditions that we do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So paddleboarding with everything that you possibly could need for five days in the wild and you pack it into a dry bag, put it on the front of your paddleboard. And we go out and explore incredibly remote places, which are really difficult to get to by foot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">What I love about paddleboard expeditions and experiences is that you don\u2019t have to carry anything on your back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So you have space in your bag for the luxuries, like a really decently little pillow or an extra pair of leggings. Stuff to keep you warm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When you\u2019re hiking, you have to strip all of that down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I really like luxury experience of a paddleboarding expedition. But also just accessing these incredible places.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We do one place up in Scotland to Knoydart, which is one of the most remote and wildest places in the whole of the UK.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It has the most remote pub as well, which we have to pop into at the end of the trip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But yeah, we go there and you don\u2019t see a soul for a few days and you really realise how incredible nature is and how much you can learn from those experiences when you have so little with you, apart from your little extras.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But you really don\u2019t need to have much to experience the world and what it shows us in that is incredible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But it makes you really consider what you do and don\u2019t need in your life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And actually what\u2019s more important. Is it actually accessing spaces like this? Or is it the material items.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It just opens your eyes to a different way of thinking and a different way of being.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Scotland is up there as one of my most favourite places.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We\u2019ve been there a lot recently because of the pandemic. But also Norway for me is incredible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So we do paddleboarding expeditions on the fjords and, for me, Norway is special because my mum and my whole family are from Norway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So it\u2019s like going home and it\u2019s such an incredible landscape and yeah, it\u2019s just one of those incredible places where you just feel\u2026 awe-inspiring landscapes where you feel tiny and insignificant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And that is a really powerful experience as well, to feel mini in nature because it takes all of your worries away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You can start to see things in the bigger picture when you\u2019re feeling insignificant in grand spaces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"#gate-6403c820-b6b5-4d8c-bcbc-7b0e39c6a523\">Download your free side hustle toolkit, comprising a side hustle guide, business plan template and cash flow forecast template<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"trust-anchor-link\">Trust your taste and instinct when designing your product<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Bex Burn-Callander:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I\u2019ve been completely transported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I can see fjords boards and snowy topped mountains. That was an amazing description of what you can expect from a Gutsy Girl trip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And how do you pick them?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So talk me through your mindset and your thinking processes when you\u2019re putting together a retreat. Are you constantly researching on your laptop or are you constantly flying to places when such things like flying were possible to check stuff out?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">How are you creating the packages?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Nat&nbsp;Bannister:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A lot of it is selfishness because I want to see them, and I want to experience them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So actually the first Gutsy Girl retreat was this one in Norway. And I actually thought that no one would go at it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I used it as clickbait.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I was like, oh, the fjords of Norway. Paddleboard on the fjords of Norway. No one will really want to do that and camp and all of that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And it sold out so quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So it was what do I want to experience because I\u2019m really fortunate to be my demographic and my audience. I get to experience it the same way as my clients do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So I really think about that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And also, for me, it\u2019s really important to look at sustainable and responsible travel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So all of the people that we work, we always look to improve and share the wealth between the economies that we visit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So when we go to Croatia, we stay on a tiny little island, which only has 240 permanent residents, but we made sure that we use all of their accommodation, their food.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We make sure that we\u2019re really experiencing the cultures and the places that we visit with the locals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And sustainably as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So making sure that we leave no trace, we have a real green ethos and we try and encourage you not to fly to us if you don\u2019t have to fly. If we can try and find you alternative routes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So for us, it\u2019s really, that\u2019s maybe more where we\u2019re shift to in the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Once travel starts to really open up is ensuring that everything that we do is sustainable and has a really positive impact on the communities and the areas that we visit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"pricing-anchor-link\">Pricing is always the hardest thing \u2013 but here\u2019s what you do<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Bex Burn-Callander:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Well, as someone who is half Croatian, I applaud you giving back to my motherland. Thank you very much.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And when you\u2019re deciding pricing, because it must be a real balancing act trying to make the prices accessible, but you still need to make a bit of profit. It needs to be a sustainable business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So how do you decide, where do you put the price?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Nat&nbsp;Bannister:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pricing is always the hardest thing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And I think when we start businesses, we\u2019re always really nervous about pricing too high, but actually it\u2019s understanding your worth and your value, what you\u2019re actually given.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the first year, I definitely under-priced everything because I was so nervous and I didn\u2019t really know where the business was going and what my audience would like.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But actually now I feel really comfortable and confident in our pricing because we do use the very best guides and we do always eat at the best restaurants and we do provide the best possible equipment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So, actually all of those small things actually do add up to become a much more expensive experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But also when you come and you experience that and you don\u2019t have to check on TripAdvisor where you\u2019re going to eat that night and all of the stress of\u2026 not stress, but all of the admin that goes behind having a great holiday, which you plan yourself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For me, I\u2019m all about removing that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And it\u2019s just like, you just turn up with your suitcase packed and we give you your packing list and you just literally just turn up and relax and I will tell you what you\u2019re doing that day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You don\u2019t need to think about it the day ahead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And for me, being confident and knowing the value that we add and what we offer, has been part of my present strategy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And for me, I really want to pay all of our guides a really sustainable wage. Actually the outdoor industry is incredibly underpaid and undervalued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Qualifications and the training that people go through is significant. And so we should be paying our guides and the people that we share these experiences with a fair wage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So that all comes into the price.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And for me, the pricing strategy just comes from knowing the value and knowing what I need to have for marketing strategy and also to pay my guides and pay my hosts and yeah, so that everybody has a sustainable business going forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Bex Burn-Callander:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Well, I like that as well. Because if anyone pushed back and said, \u201cOh, this is a bit pricey,\u201d you can say, \u201cWell, I pay all my suppliers a fair wage. We invest in every community that we visit.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It\u2019s not that these prices are plucked out of thin air. Everything is based on your strategy as a business, which I think is really great advice to anybody.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Just make sure that your pricing is, it\u2019s clear because this is what you\u2019re doing. This is where the money is going. I love that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Nat&nbsp;Bannister:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Something that I\u2019m working on this winter, is how do we give back and how do we maybe shift towards social enterprise area where we can support other women who can\u2019t financially support themselves to come on these experiences?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Because accessing the outdoors shouldn\u2019t be an exclusive experience and it is unfortunately, and for me, understanding now that the business is in a comfortable position four years in, now I\u2019m looking at how do I actually go back to its core roots and connect all women?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And making sure that\u2019s part of it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So actually, maybe my prices will go up as well because it will actually be contributing to other people within our community who haven\u2019t got the financial needs to join us at the moment, and so for me, it\u2019s about sharing that experience with as many people as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"this-anchor-link\">This is when I made my side-gig my main gig<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Bex Burn-Callander:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">How long did it take before you thought, right, I can take the jump, I can move to Gutsy Girls full time?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When did you stop doing the social media on\u2026 Well, when did that stopped being your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/starting-side-hustle-faqs-answered\/\">side hustle<\/a> and start being your main role?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Nat&nbsp;Bannister:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So I think around year two, I started to really cut back on my social media marketing freelance roles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I still take occasional contracts, it\u2019s hard to turn down, hard to turn down income, but I\u2019ve been really lucky, I had several streams of income when I was first setting up Gutsy Girls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I had a property where I lived in Portugal that I continued to Airbnb out, I was still doing my social media marketing, and I was also running a surf company for students, bringing student groups to Portugal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So there were loads of different ways that I had a lot of income coming in, and slowly, I had to just really realign and be like, what\u2019s most important? And Gutsy Girls kind of\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Yeah, it is a scary thing to rip off the band aid and be like, OK, I\u2019m going all in on this one idea and one way of going forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So yeah, around year two, I started to really cut back and pretty much, I still have a few occasional contracts here and there, but just because sometimes it\u2019s nice to mix it up and to use your brain in a different way, not for your own business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"#gate-6403c820-b6b5-4d8c-bcbc-7b0e39c6a523\">Download your free side hustle toolkit, comprising a side hustle guide, business plan template and cash flow forecast template<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"you-anchor-link\">You don\u2019t need to be good at numbers \u2013 but you do need an accountant<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Bex Burn-Callander:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But the if you had these different income streams, understanding your earnings and your tax must\u2019ve been really complicated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">How did you even tackle that? Did you do it on your own? Eek.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Or did you <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/questions-to-ask-an-accountant\/\">find an accountant<\/a>? How did you handle that?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Nat&nbsp;Bannister:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Oh, so don\u2019t ask me about finances, I\u2019m terrible about finances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But I\u2019m going to be honest, having a great accountant, trusting your accountant and knowing enough about your finances, but also knowing that you won\u2019t know absolutely everything.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And that was one of my hardest thing, I guess with anything, when you start delegating work out and stuff, it\u2019s losing the control, which I found really hard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Turns out I\u2019m a control freak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But yeah, just really having a strong understanding of what your numbers are, but also asking for help because I\u2019m not great with numbers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I learned how to use spreadsheets for the business and I still hate them but also love them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There\u2019s a love, hate relationship with them, but just asking for a recommendation for a great accountant from friends and family and other business owners, and not being afraid to move accountants I guess is probably one of my top tips on that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Knowing when actually your accountant maybe hasn\u2019t got as good a grip of your numbers as maybe you thought they did and going with somebody else.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Bex Burn-Callander:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Did that happen to you where you were kind of like, \u201cHey, why are you not getting this relief?\u201d Or \u201cWhy are you not putting these expenses on?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And you had to be like, that\u2019s it, we need to have someone new?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Nat&nbsp;Bannister:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Yeah. So I think I was really unlucky with one of my accountants who we were using software to monitor our invoices and they duplicated the invoices, so I had double the amount of sales.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And when I was looking at the turnover, I was like, that\u2019s definitely not my turnover.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And then I think the attitude of just like, \u201cOh yeah, we have doubled it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It took them a long time to accept that they had doubled the invoices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So yeah, knowing that you need to know your numbers enough to be able to double-check workings of other people, to that point, and then yeah, it was just a position, it sometimes is painful to move on because you have to do more work and admin involved in that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But it was like, well, this is obviously a clear sign that I shouldn\u2019t stay with this company anymore. So yeah, cut your losses and move on to the next one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Bex Burn-Callander:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">What a nightmare.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Had they already communicated those numbers to Companies House and stuff or did you catch it in time?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Nat&nbsp;Bannister:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I caught it in time, yeah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And that was it, I think that\u2019s an important thing is just to know your numbers enough to be able to be like, wait a second, that definitely isn\u2019t right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Yeah, it was great turnover, just a shame it\u2019s totally fake and it\u2019s definitely not mine, it\u2019s definitely double of whatever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Bex Burn-Callander:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Is this my business?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Nat&nbsp;Bannister:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Yeah. Where\u2019s my profit, where\u2019s my money?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But yeah, no, so just know when you\u2019re having a grip of your own numbers, but then also not being afraid to also ring your accountant, and finding an accountant who doesn\u2019t make you feel stupid and will happily sit there and talk through it for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And for me, I really want to understand as much as I can about it so that I know.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It helps shape decisions for the future, and so just having a really good relationship with your accountant is great.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And if they\u2019re willing to sit down with you and really talk through it, then those are the ones to stick with. But the moment you see massive errors, make sure that you pick them up soon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"#gate-6403c820-b6b5-4d8c-bcbc-7b0e39c6a523\">Download your free side hustle toolkit, comprising a side hustle guide, business plan template and cash flow forecast template<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"tips-anchor-link\">Tips from someone who has dealt with small business owner burnout<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Bex Burn-Callander:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Yeah, that\u2019s the end of that relationship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But Nat, because you\u2019re someone that clearly is very adept at juggling lots of balls and keeping them all in the air, I want to talk about a subject that we chatted about a little bit when we caught up a couple of days ago, which is burnout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Because I can imagine when you have so much going on, it would be quite easy to become overloaded and not even really realise it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Tell me about your experiences. What is burnout, how did it affect you and what did you do about it?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Nat&nbsp;Bannister:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Burnout is something that I didn\u2019t really believe existed, I always thought that you had to just keep going but last year was obviously an incredibly tough year for everybody.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I adapted to the pandemic by just doing more and pushing really, really hard, and finding alternative trips in the UK and finding different events in the UK.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I pushed the business so far forward but didn\u2019t look after myself, and then come September, October last year, I just found it really hard to focus and concentrate, and small tasks that I would normally find really easy were really incredibly difficult, and a huge amount of fatigue and irrational thinking, I guess.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And yeah, my mental health definitely suffered as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I had feelings of anxiety and suddenly, I wasn\u2019t loving what I was doing because I was just so tired and it was so much work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So last year, come the November lockdown, I was like, oh, I can take a week off, one week off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And then I was like, oh, maybe I could take two weeks off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And then I started to panic and I was like, maybe you should take a whole month off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And I ended up taking six months to fully recover and accept that actually, what I\u2019d done was I\u2019d burnt out, I hadn\u2019t looked after myself in the whole process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And I think that\u2019s a lot of things that I would recommend all business owners, is remember that you\u2019re your most important asset in your business and if you\u2019re not well, then your business is not going to do well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You need to really look after yourself, and I didn\u2019t do that for probably the three years that I ran my business, because I love my job and it feels like what I do is an incredible thing, so I felt really bad that I would feel tired or stressed out from it or that it was difficult.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It was like, you\u2019re doing your dream job, you should be loving every moment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And by last year, I realised that actually, I just needed a break and I needed to take some time off for me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For me, I just learned so much in that process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Actually, those six months off have probably been in the most important part of the growth for the business, because now I know how to look after myself, which means that the business can continue to grow forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But also what I can teach other women from the experience that I\u2019ve had and just to make sure that you do look after yourself, and what I\u2019ve learned now, if the business was to go under, it\u2019s not the biggest deal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As long as I\u2019m still happy and healthy, then actually, I can put my mind to something else.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So in my process of going through burnout, I learned how to meditate, which as somebody who\u2019s incredibly active and needs to be moving and have energy all of the time, and always must be outdoors and active in that way, it was really hard to sit still for half an hour, sit with my own thoughts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So now I learned all about self-compassion, which is another word, like self-care, that makes me feel really cringey and like, oh, self-compassion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But actually understanding what self-compassion is will make you a better business owner, because actually, if I\u2019m kind to myself, I\u2019m less likely to beat myself up if I make mistakes because I\u2019m on my own side.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"self-anchor-link\">Self-compassion is a mindset you must take as a business owner<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Bex Burn-Callander:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I love that you\u2019re touching on this because I want to know, when you realise you were going to take some time out, how did you handle that as a business owner?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Did you put a post up on Instagram? Did you email your whole customer base and explain what was going on?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">How do you prepare the outside world for when you need to take a step back?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Nat&nbsp;Bannister:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It was quite a vulnerable subject to talk about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For me I guess, talking about mental health and stuff as a business owner is maybe something that people do need to talk about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And it\u2019s a weird thing as well because you feel like as the leader of something or the entrepreneur, you should be really strong and resilient. I thought resilience was always about, you can do this, come on. This really kind of strong attitude of, it\u2019s OK.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That kind of keep on going, keep on going.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Actually, that\u2019s not really, for me, what resilience actually looks like anymore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Resilience is actually knowing when to stop, and that was my breaking point in November was actually, do you know what? You need to just stop and everything will be OK. Once you\u2019re OK, you don\u2019t have to motivate yourself with critical words. You don\u2019t need to be hard on yourself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Actually. You can just be your own best mate and support yourself. The way that we talk to ourselves is normally, unless you\u2019re compassionate and you\u2019re naturally in that way, we always give ourselves a bit more of a hard time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And when we think about, actually, would we talk like that outwardly to a friend? Maybe we wouldn\u2019t.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And so for me, really understanding self-compassion actually is a really strong mindset to have because actually, you\u2019re not going to be scared about making mistakes or about failure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You\u2019re actually just always going to be there, no matter what. And for me, that\u2019s been a really important part of my journey. I just took a break. I took a break from social media. It was really, really good. I highly recommend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Like that blackout, the most recent one, Instagram and that went down. I was like, oh my God, stay down, stay down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Bex Burn-Callander:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hooray.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Nat&nbsp;Bannister:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Yeah, we don\u2019t need it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And then really, I guess nobody really noticed in a weird way, because I wasn\u2019t out literally making any announcements or anything, it was just an out of office saying, hey, we\u2019re taking a break, and that was kind of it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And the break just got extended and extended because actually, I thought that I only needed a month off and through taking more time off, actually, I was like, do you know what? Maybe I can.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The world is closed down right now, so there\u2019s actually no reason for me to be pushing and planning for the future because we don\u2019t know what the future looks like.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So actually, if you can just pause for the moment and really look after yourself, what can you learn and grow in this situation? And then how will that shape you going forward?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And it\u2019s so important to take time off as a business owner, and as anyone, any employee. We don\u2019t give ourselves enough time off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And if you think, if I \u2026 I\u2019m really bad for it. I\u2019m still, even though I\u2019ve had six months of learning, this year I\u2019ve still definitely worked 10 days straight or 12 days straight, and worked really long hours. And then I start to feel sick.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So right now I feel a bit run down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And it\u2019s like, \u201cActually, if you\u2019d just taken your weekend off, you won\u2019t need five days to recuperate, or you won\u2019t need six months off to kind of get your brain back in action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cActually, if you learn to look after yourself through the whole period of running your business, you\u2019re not going to have these big downtimes where you do just need to just turn off or sell or like get out of the business.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Actually having boundaries and looking after yourself is really important.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"#gate-6403c820-b6b5-4d8c-bcbc-7b0e39c6a523\">Download your free side hustle toolkit, comprising a side hustle guide, business plan template and cash flow forecast template<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"problem-anchor-link\">Problem-solving requires you to be present in the moment<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Bex Burn-Callander:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It\u2019s really fascinating talking about the pressure that you put on yourself as a small business owner. Because I was thinking about that recently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">My line now, when someone says to me, \u201cOh, do you want to do this thing, or take this break, or come out for lunch?\u201d I\u2019m like, \u201cMy boss won\u2019t let me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And they\u2019re like, \u201cWho is this fiend that you work for?\u201d And I was like, \u201cYeah, it\u2019s me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I\u2019m definitely the harshest boss I\u2019ve ever had, who completely will not let me do that thing. So there\u2019s just no point in asking my boss. Just doesn\u2019t let me do anything.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But it\u2019s true for most people who run their own things, you are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Nat&nbsp;Bannister:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Yeah. I said exactly the same thing to myself, was like, \u201cMy boss is a tyrant. She doesn\u2019t ever let me have any time off. She makes me work on weekends.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And it\u2019s like I\u2019m totally in control of that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But we put a lot of pressure on ourselves to succeed. And I guess understanding what success looks like to you as well, has been an important part of my journey over the six months that I was off, was that actually: what do I want this business to do? And what\u2019s really important?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And actually, if I\u2019m not strong and I\u2019m not looking after myself, what message does that give to my community as well?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And I really want to be encouraging. I can create all of these incredible experiences for other people and show them so many things. But actually if I\u2019m not learning or looking after myself in that same process, then I\u2019m not living my own ethos or ideas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Bex Burn-Callander:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And when you have that time off, were you sort of dreaming about the future of Gutsy Girls?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Did it sort of open up any new avenues that were interesting, or tweak the way that you saw the future unfolding in any way?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Nat&nbsp;Bannister:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To be honest, no. I didn\u2019t want to think about Gutsy Girls. It was a real like\u2026 Yeah, it was a really interesting experience to be like, \u201cActually, it\u2019s OK. Think about yourself now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And that\u2019s the hardest thing about, I guess, being a business owner, is actually your mind just goes off on to the ideas so easily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Even on the weekend, you\u2019re like, \u201cOh, this is a great idea. Oh, I\u2019m on my weekend.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And it would feel almost like your business is robbing you of time even when you\u2019re off. And now it was a really good experience to actually recognise that those ideas are going to come back at some point when I will need them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I don\u2019t need to write them all down right now. Actually just resting and looking after myself is really important.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The things that I did learn from it, I guess, were: how do I teach other women to be self-compassionate?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I already know that from the work that I do. I\u2019m really lucky that I get to experience nature and do all of the adventures with the people who are my clients, because I go on so many of the trips.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And I can see how easily we get wrapped up in our own ideas of ourselves or self critics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And it\u2019s always been part of what Gutsy Girls does is kind of self-compassion and helping women challenge themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But really, in that time I guess, I really educated myself on how you could kind of look after yourself and how you could talk to yourself in a better way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Bex Burn-Callander:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">How did the sort of programming change?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Now that your focus is also on helping women to be a bit more, I don\u2019t know if mindful is the right word given all the context with mindfulness, but like more aware of what they need, more aware of that they have a right to downtime?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Did that change some of the retreats that you put on?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">How did it change your mix?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Nat&nbsp;Bannister:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I guess. So we didn\u2019t change too much. I didn\u2019t change too much about what we did on our retreats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But actually it was more about how do we engage in conversation about this, and how do I share my experience?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And I guess slowly it\u2019s about sharing my experience with guests who come with us on our trips, but also being really open on my social media and sharing things that I\u2019m learning and my insights, and kind of my ideas and helping people unpack kind of the self-critic and having those conversations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mindfulness has always played a massive part of what we do, but I never really understood what mindfulness was. Because when I first learned about mindfulness I thought it was colouring-in books. Like it was that kind of everyone jumped on the back of it being a mindful activity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But actually, mindfulness is really just being really present in that moment and in a non-judgemental way as well, of to what you\u2019re experiencing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It\u2019s definitely bringing, when we\u2019re paddleboarding in an incredible environment, it\u2019s like just a little prompt of like, \u201cHey, are you here now? Make sure that you\u2019re here now. Feel the feet on your board, look around in nature.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And that\u2019s what nature does actually, that\u2019s why so many of us find it such a brilliant respite in how much nature can really heal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It\u2019s such an important part for mental health and wellbeing, is to get out into nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And a lot of it is, it does bring us into that present moment because it\u2019s harder to think about what you need to worry about when you\u2019re\u2026 For me, I found mindfulness when I first learned how to surf.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You can\u2019t be thinking about your to-do this when there\u2019s a wave coming towards you. You really need to be in that moment and be present.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And all of the sports that I\u2019ve always done, like climbing as well, you\u2019re problem-solving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You\u2019re not thinking about what\u2019s happening tomorrow or regretting what you said in that meeting, or anything like that. You\u2019re present in that current moment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And actually nature teaches us mindfulness in a really natural way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You don\u2019t have to sit on a cushion to be mindful. I do highly recommend it though. It\u2019s definitely a great way to improve that kind of moments in nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But yeah, for me, I guess we prompt is what we talk about on our trips a little bit more, and like creating that safe space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And how do I do that as well on our social media? And how do I create space so that even if you can\u2019t join us on a trip and have those experiences, how can we transform that into a community online?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So that\u2019s something that we\u2019ve kind of started on in the last year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"social-anchor-link\">Social media: How to use it for your business \u2013 and a word of warning\u2026<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Bex Burn-Callander:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cool. And tell me about social media then and how you connect to people? Because obviously this is your profession. You know this stuff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And that must\u2019ve been so useful when you were building Gutsy Girls, because it\u2019s the easiest way to reach new customers because you\u2019re plugging into these enormous platforms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But I\u2019d love to know how you reach people. What works when you\u2019re trying to build a business on social media?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Talk to me about what you\u2019ve learned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Nat&nbsp;Bannister:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Social media is evil.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That is the thing that I\u2019ve learned the most.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So I had a really difficult experience at the beginning of the year. So once I closed my business down for the six months, when I came back to starting the business again in kind of April, May and wanted to turn my adverts back on for Facebook and Instagram, I was banned, permanently banned from the platform.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It was probably more stressful than the whole pandemic altogether.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So basically I hadn\u2019t done a verification process, which came through, and my account was like blocked. I think it was something to do with what was happening in the US, like the Trump or the elections or the Capitol Hill riot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But because I hadn\u2019t accessed my account and verified something by uploading a passport, I hadn\u2019t done it within 30 days because my business was closed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">They permanently restricted my account, and I couldn\u2019t unlock it in any way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So it meant that I was unable to advertise on Facebook or Instagram, which was where a lot of my advertising budget went into. So it was an incredibly stressful experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I tried to put through so many appeals. And actually, the really sad thing in the end was that I had to contact somebody who I know who works at Facebook to help me unlock it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And I found that really incredible. It was a real eye-opener to the power that Facebook and Instagram actually have.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Please don\u2019t ban my accounts. Please don\u2019t do it again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But it\u2019s a real eye-opener, because as a small business I wasn\u2019t even able to transfer that to an agency to advertise. I was just no longer allowed to advertise on the platform at all as a person.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So I couldn\u2019t advertise on social media even if Gutsy Girls didn\u2019t continue. I couldn\u2019t go back into my old profession as a social media marketer, because it was connected to my personal account.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And as a person you\u2019re not allowed to have two accounts, so there was literally no way that I could get around that loophole.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I tried for a whole month without asking somebody that I knew to fix it for me, because I was like, \u201cI think that this, I\u2019m in a privileged position that I know somebody who works for Facebook and who can put in an appeal through their systems, but I don\u2019t want to use that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI want to be the same as everybody else, any other small business owner who was suffering in the same way.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And apparently there were hundreds of people who suffered in the same way and their advertising accounts got banned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And yeah, the only way I could find a way to do it was through a connection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And yeah, it was an eye-opener to be like, \u201cWow, if I can\u2019t advertise on Facebook and Instagram, what does that mean for my business?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And that was a scary, scary moment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It meant that I do need to\u2026 and I still haven\u2019t, I guess\u2026 I managed to open it up, so I haven\u2019t really thought about how do I diversify where I\u2019m putting my money into advertising, mainly because I don\u2019t want to go on TikTok or anything like that, because I haven\u2019t got the time to go on to another social media platform.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But just really understanding how much power those places hold, the social media companies hold, and how the appeal system doesn\u2019t necessarily work for the users.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Because there\u2019s millions, billions of users, and they can\u2019t control anything like that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But it\u2019s just, when you\u2019re a tiny, tiny business and you rely so heavily on your remarketing strategy through Facebook and Instagram, and your content isn\u2019t getting seen, it\u2019s so incredibly frustrating and stressful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And I was just desperate not to go on to like the whole, don\u2019t want to be a influencer and do reels. And it was really not about what I was doing. So yeah, that was an eye-opener for me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Bex Burn-Callander:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And also, you\u2019d just recovered from burnout, and you were just coming back, and then you\u2019re landed with the most stressful thing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That must have felt like such a slap in the face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Nat&nbsp;Bannister:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Yeah. Oh, my personal Instagram account has definitely got a couple of hilarious reels of me losing the plot about being so angry about social media.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But yeah, it was definitely the biggest slap in the face to kind of come back and have to deal with that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But I guess it was my first challenge, and it was like, \u201cActually, how do you ride through this? OK, you\u2019ve done this step. OK. You don\u2019t need to think about it until the next step.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It was a real good chance for me to practice how everything that I\u2019ve learned over the time off, that yeah, it\u2019s resilience, I guess. The resilience, it\u2019s just like going, \u201cWell, you\u2019ll work it out.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"invest-anchor-link\">Invest in Google AdWords, rather than Instagram ads<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Bex Burn-Callander:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Did you try other stuff? I mean, I presume it was just soaking up all your time trying to fix that particular issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But I mean, did you try doing leaflets, or did you do some email marketing, or was there just not time really?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Nat&nbsp;Bannister:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There wasn\u2019t much time. Luckily, it was still in the early stages of restarting the business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I wasn\u2019t ready to turn the adverts on straight away, but I just went into\u2026 So, there was a bit of time lead up. But it was frustrating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I had to cancel a couple of events, because we didn\u2019t get the traction, because the social media had been down for six months and suddenly I was open, and nobody knew about it because if you don\u2019t really pay for it, nothing gets seen on Facebook or Instagram.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So, it was a really frustrating situation and a bit of an eye-opener there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Bex Burn-Callander:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Yeah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Nat&nbsp;Bannister:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So, luckily I have a really engaged mailing list. I can always fall back on Google adverts, AdWords, which I actually highly recommend to any business owner, invest more money into AdWords.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Well, this is from my old days of social media marketing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It\u2019s harder to find new clients on Instagram and Facebook in my opinion, because they\u2019re just looking for things.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You\u2019re just planting a seed with Instagram or Facebook, but actually if somebody\u2019s typing in \u2018adventure retreat\u2019 into Google, they\u2019re going to be looking to book something, they\u2019re in a much more active position to buy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So, actually invest more money into your active buyers, and then just use social media for remarketing and getting your content out there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But also, just don\u2019t rely too heavily on it, I guess, is my biggest lesson learned, and trying to work out how do I diversify where my budgets go and market and spend go in the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Bex Burn-Callander:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Do you know, can you reveal where you might be putting money in the future to try and circumvent just the behemoth that is Facebook and Instagram?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Nat&nbsp;Bannister:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Not so much at the moment. I think it\u2019s something I will have to have a think about in my winter strategies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I mean, I say that, and I don\u2019t have a winter strategy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Bex Burn-Callander:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That does sound really grand. My winter strategy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Nat&nbsp;Bannister:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I know. Winter strategy. When I sit down and pretend that I know what I\u2019m talking about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">No. I\u2019m actually in a really fortunate position at the stage that I\u2019m in at the moment, that our trips sell out in two minutes, less than two minutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So, yeah. I remember the first time I did it, and I was like, oh my God, I\u2019m like Glastonbury. Like, people want go on our stuff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Bex Burn-Callander:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It\u2019s amazing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Nat&nbsp;Bannister:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But it\u2019s absolutely nuts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And because we don\u2019t have a huge amount of space, it\u2019s not a massive business, we only have six to 12 spots on trips, and we only run\u2026 I don\u2019t know how many we run a year on a normal non pandemic year but, yeah. I\u2019m in a really fortunate position actually, not to need a huge amount of advertising anymore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"#gate-6403c820-b6b5-4d8c-bcbc-7b0e39c6a523\">Download your free side hustle toolkit, comprising a side hustle guide, business plan template and cash flow forecast template<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"the-anchor-link\">The secret to retaining clients<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Bex Burn-Callander:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But this is the clever thing about your model, is that people who come, they come back again and again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And when I read the testimonials on your website, it\u2019s like, that\u2019s it. I\u2019m a Gutsy Girl now, I\u2019m going to book again and again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So, is that the secret to the model almost, is that once you\u2019ve perfected these beautiful adventures, people not only want to come back, they\u2019ll talk about it to all their other friends who are interested in the same stuff, and it becomes like a virtuous circle?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Nat&nbsp;Bannister:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Yeah. I wish I had the figures, because I don\u2019t have the time to sit down and look at my figures, or returning guests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But I would say probably around 60%, 70% actually return, or they will be referring a friend. Probably more than that to be honest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some Gutsy Girls who\u2019ve joined us, have been on all of our big trips. They\u2019ve been to Croatia, Sardinia, Norway, which means that I do have to grow the business to find new adventures for the people who\u2019ve done all the big three that we do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So, yeah. It\u2019s about, I guess, once you create incredible experiences that people value and love, then actually look after your community and look after your customers, because they\u2019re going to come back, and they\u2019re the ones who are going to spread the word.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And when things go wrong and people do have a negative experience, it does, it spreads out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So, it\u2019s making sure that you really care, and really invest in your guest experiences. And that\u2019s really important to me, is making sure that people have the best possible time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Bex Burn-Callander:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But has anything ever actually gone wrong?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Because I mean, I know when you are doing something like a retreat, there are so many variables. And all you need is for everyone to get food poisoning, or for a tour guide to turn up drunk on the mountain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Does anything like that actually happen?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Nat&nbsp;Bannister:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I guess we\u2019re really lucky.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This summer we had paddleboards bursting, but luckily not in a really remote location.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I guess with any adventure holiday or experience, you have to have backup plans, and you have to be really flexible and have to have a real adaptable idea. And that\u2019s working with great guides, and we always have a backup plan, no matter what.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Bex Burn-Callander:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Because the weather, the weather might completely send everyone off track. You can\u2019t paddleboard if it\u2019s howling gales.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Nat&nbsp;Bannister:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Yeah, definitely. It\u2019s always knowing your safety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So, yeah. We\u2019ve had experiences where our paddleboarders have been rescued by boats. Rescued makes it a sound like they were in danger, they weren\u2019t in danger in any way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But we have to have a backup plan, and that comes into our planning stages, which goes back to how much planning and how much preparation goes into every experience, is because we need to know all of the variables that could happen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If a board bursts and we are in Scotland, what are we going to do?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Oh, well we\u2019re going to have to make sure that we have a repair kit, we\u2019re going to have to have an easy access out of water. There\u2019s always got to be lots of different backup things.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So, actually adventure planning and working with the best possible guides alleviates anything going severely wrong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"dont-anchor-link\">You don\u2019t have to scale your business<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Bex Burn-Callander:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And then, Nat, I guess I\u2019d just love to know what your dreams are for this business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Would you like to keep it as it is for the years to come? Would you like to start bringing other people in?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Would you like to\u2026 I mean, this is all supposition. What would you like to happen to Gutsy Girls?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Nat&nbsp;Bannister:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It doesn\u2019t need to be a massive business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When I first started it everybody tells you, \u201cOh, this has got a huge potential. You could scale, you could franchise, you could do this, you could do that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And actually, for me, it\u2019s not about that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It\u2019s about ensuring that everybody has a space that they feel safe, and that they can experience things, and everything that we learn in nature, how do I ensure that everyone gets that opportunity?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And shifting more towards being a social enterprise seems the right way forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Working towards getting grants, and maybe working with other charities and ensuring that everybody has the same experience. And whatever we can do to do that, that\u2019s really important to me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And not being pushed forward to drive my profits up and grow, grow, grow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Actually, it\u2019s OK to be small and make a really big impact in a small amount of people\u2019s lives, than be massive and make no impact at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Bex Burn-Callander:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Well, I think that\u2019s such a powerful message and probably a really great place to stop, because, honestly, that\u2019s just a nice note to finish on, and a nice feeling to leave our listeners with.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Nat&nbsp;Bannister:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Oh, thank you so much. I\u2019ve loved being on it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Inspired by this small business story?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Wherever you\u2019re listening or watching, subscribe to <a href=\"https:\/\/podcasts.apple.com\/gb\/podcast\/sound-advice-get-year-one-in-business-right\/id1544479344?_gl=1*6o40wv*_ga*MjA5NDY4NjE4OC4xNjE0NzM4MTI4*_ga_N0V23L0VEC*MTYzMzUwOTU4NS4xOTYuMS4xNjMzNTA5NjA2LjA.\">Sound Advice on Apple iTunes<\/a> here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/show\/2yhPIOebSiBpEYek6q2GZJ?si=UWWTKrgIQ2OsUAlnHrzHTQ&amp;nd=1&amp;_gl=1*1h0trqy*_ga*MjA5NDY4NjE4OC4xNjE0NzM4MTI4*_ga_N0V23L0VEC*MTYzMzUwOTU4NS4xOTYuMS4xNjMzNTA5NzQ3LjA.\">We are also on Spotify<\/a> and anywhere else you get your podcasts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Join our community to share your insights and stories on <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/sageireland\">Twitter @SageIreland<\/a>&nbsp;using the hashtag #SoundAdvicePodcast, on Instagram @SageOfficial or in the comments below!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And for more about Nat, join thousands of other adventurous women and follow <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/gutsygirls_\/?hl=en\">@gutsygirls_ on Instagram<\/a>. And check out the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gutsygirls.co.uk\/womenonlyretreats\">Gutsy Girls website<\/a> too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"single-cta gated-content\">\n\t<div class=\"single-cta__positioner on-scroll-highlight__target\">\n\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__wrapper has-dark-background-color\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"single-cta__title h3\">Side hustle toolkit<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Get your free guide, business plan template and cash flow forecast template to help you boss your side hustle and achieve your goals.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\t\thref=\"#gate-6403c820-b6b5-4d8c-bcbc-7b0e39c6a523\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"single-cta__button button button--primary\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>Download your free toolkit<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1440\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1222451249-1440x810.jpg\" class=\"single-cta__image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1222451249-1440x810.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 33vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n<div class=\"single-cta\">\n\t<div class=\"single-cta__positioner on-scroll-highlight__target\">\n\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__wrapper has-dark-background-color\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"single-cta__title h3\">Subscribe to the Sage Advice newsletter<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Join 1.5 million subscribers and get the best business admin strategies and tactics, as well as actionable advice to help your company thrive, in your inbox every month.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\t\thref=\"#gate-53abbdcc-410c-4c8c-bf97-ca5c6982eebd\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"single-cta__button button button--primary\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>Subscribe now<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"999\" height=\"666\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/04\/z.5E3A0481_All-Uses.jpg\" class=\"single-cta__image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/04\/z.5E3A0481_All-Uses.jpg 999w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 33vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<section class=\"more-topics alignfull has-grey-light-background-color wp-block-sage-post-topics\">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"row\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-12 col-lg-4\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"more-topics__title h2\">Browse more topics from this article<\/h3>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-12 col-lg-8\">\n\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"post-tags__list\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"post-tags__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/tag\/business-finances\/\" class=\"post-tags__link button button--secondary\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBusiness finances\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"post-tags__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/tag\/start-business\/\" class=\"post-tags__link button button--secondary\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHow to start a business\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"post-tags__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/tag\/sound-advice-podcast\/\" class=\"post-tags__link button button--secondary\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSound Advice Podcast\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"post-tags__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/tag\/startup-stories\/\" class=\"post-tags__link button button--secondary\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tStartup stories\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n<div class=\"alignfull wp-block-sage-related-posts\">\n\t<section class=\"related-posts card-grid has-dark-background-color\">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"row\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"related-posts__heading related-posts__heading--featured h1\">Explore more wisdom<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<div class=\"row related-posts__featured\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col card-grid__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<article\n\t\tclass=\"card-post related-post related-post-0 post-17843 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-money-matters tag-business-finances tag-business-planning tag-business-strategy 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class=\"card-post__label\">Recommended<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"card-post__meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"posted-on \"><time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2026-04-10T10:37:52+01:00\">10 April, 2026<\/time><\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"reading-time\">11 min read<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<p class=\"card-post__title h3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"card-post__title-link\"\n\t\t\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/budget-forecasting\/\"\n\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tHow to create accurate budget forecasts: Methods, tools, and real-world examples\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"card-post__description\">\n\t\t\t\tA budget forecast is crucial for any business, especially when facing uncertainty such as unexpected tariffs or market shocks. In this guide, we cover key methods and processes for effective budget forecasting, complete with practical examples.\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"row related-posts__non-featured\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-12\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"related-posts__heading related-posts__heading--more h4\">More on this Topic<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-6 col-lg-3 card-grid__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<article\n\t\tclass=\"card-post related-post related-post-1 post-17838 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-free-guides-templates category-money-matters tag-business-finances tag-ecommerce tag-electronic-payments business_type-small-business business_type-medium-sized-business 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class=\"card-post__meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg role=\"presentation\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" class=\"card-post__meta-icon svg-icon\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\"><path d=\"M11.988 2.989a.75.75 0 0 0-.739.761v10.689l-1.72-1.72a.75.75 0 0 0-.957-.099.75.75 0 0 0-.315.776c.031.146.104.28.211.384l3 3a.75.75 0 0 0 1.06 0l3-3a.76.76 0 0 0 .231-.533.74.74 0 0 0-.22-.538q-.108-.106-.247-.164c-.139-.058-.191-.057-.291-.056s-.198.022-.29.061-.174.097-.243.169l-1.72 1.72V3.75a.76.76 0 0 0-.22-.541.76.76 0 0 0-.542-.22zM5.75 8.5C4.24 8.5 3 9.74 3 11.25v7C3 19.76 4.24 21 5.75 21h12.5c1.51 0 2.75-1.24 2.75-2.75v-7c0-1.51-1.24-2.75-2.75-2.75h-3a.76.76 0 0 0-.537.216.74.74 0 0 0-.223.535.76.76 0 0 0 .223.535.74.74 0 0 0 .537.216h3c.699 0 1.25.551 1.25 1.25v7a1.24 1.24 0 0 1-1.25 1.25H5.75a1.24 1.24 0 0 1-1.25-1.25v-7c0-.699.551-1.25 1.25-1.25h3a.76.76 0 0 0 .537-.216.74.74 0 0 0 .223-.535.76.76 0 0 0-.223-.535.75.75 0 0 0-.537-.216z\" \/><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"posted-on \"><time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2026-04-10T10:12:46+01:00\">10 April, 2026<\/time><\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"reading-time\">12 min read<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<p class=\"card-post__title h5\">\n\t\t\tA guide to subscription billing\u00a0\t\t<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-6 col-lg-3 card-grid__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<article\n\t\tclass=\"card-post related-post related-post-2 post-17836 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-money-matters tag-bookkeeping tag-business-finances tag-payments business_type-small-business\"\n>\n\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\tclass=\"card-post__link\"\n\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/accounts-payable-management-best-practices\/\"\n\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t<figure class=\"card-post__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"684\" height=\"384\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-1400801126-684x384.jpg\" class=\"card-post__image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-1400801126-684x384.jpg 684w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-1400801126-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-1400801126-1215x810.jpg 1215w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 250px, (min-width: 30em) 100vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"card-post__meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"posted-on \"><time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2026-04-10T09:25:32+01:00\">10 April, 2026<\/time><\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"reading-time\">7 min read<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<p class=\"card-post__title h5\">\n\t\t\tAccounts payable management best practices\u00a0\t\t<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-6 col-lg-3 card-grid__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<article\n\t\tclass=\"card-post related-post related-post-3 post-17791 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-money-matters tag-business-finances tag-cash-flow tag-payments business_type-small-business business_type-medium-sized-business\"\n>\n\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\tclass=\"card-post__link\"\n\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/invoice-factoring\/\"\n\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t<figure class=\"card-post__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"684\" height=\"384\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-1409751960-684x384.jpg\" class=\"card-post__image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-1409751960-684x384.jpg 684w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-1409751960-768x513.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-1409751960-1214x810.jpg 1214w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 250px, (min-width: 30em) 100vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"card-post__meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"posted-on \"><time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2026-04-09T16:16:52+01:00\">9 April, 2026<\/time><\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"reading-time\">9 min read<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<p class=\"card-post__title h5\">\n\t\t\tWhat is invoice factoring?\u00a0\t\t<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-6 col-lg-3 card-grid__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<article\n\t\tclass=\"card-post related-post related-post-4 post-15901 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-money-matters category-people-leadership tag-bookkeeping tag-business-finances tag-hr-process tag-hr-processes-medium-businesses tag-payroll tag-tax business_type-small-business business_type-medium-sized-business business_type-accountants\"\n>\n\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\tclass=\"card-post__link\"\n\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/payroll-changes-irish-employers\/\"\n\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t<figure class=\"card-post__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"684\" height=\"384\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1192884896-684x384.jpg\" class=\"card-post__image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1192884896-684x384.jpg 684w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1192884896-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1192884896-1440x810.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 250px, (min-width: 30em) 100vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"card-post__meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"posted-on \"><time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2026-01-30T10:42:44+00:00\">30 January, 2026<\/time><\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"reading-time\">6 min read<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<p class=\"card-post__title h5\">\n\t\t\tPayroll changes for Irish employers to know about in 2026\t\t<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>How do you make your passion project into a profitable small business? Natalie Bannister, the founder of Gutsy Girls, shares some top tips.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1161,"featured_media":8589,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"audio","meta":{"_yoast_wpseo_is_cornerstone":"","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-noindex":"","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-nofollow":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-title":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-description":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-image":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-image-id":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-title":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-description":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-image":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-image-id":"","_yoast_wpseo_schema_page_type":"","_yoast_wpseo_schema_article_type":"","_sage_video":false,"_yoast_wpseo_focuskeywords":"","_yoast_wpseo_keywordsynonyms":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":"162","post_featured_image_hide":false,"sage_hide_published_date":false,"sage_hide_read_time":false,"sage_hide_share_buttons":false,"_pwl_sage_podcast_buzzsprout_src":"https:\/\/www.buzzsprout.com\/1422304\/9368649-natalie-poppy-how-to-be-a-one-woman-small-business.js?container_id=buzzsprout-player-9368649&player=small","footnotes":""},"categories":[162],"tags":[107,132,332,153],"business_type":[5],"lilypad":[],"context":[],"industry":[],"persona":[232],"imagine_tag":[230,234],"coauthors":[439],"class_list":["post-7831","post","type-post","status-publish","format-audio","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-growth-customers","tag-business-finances","tag-start-business","tag-sound-advice-podcast","tag-startup-stories","post_format-post-format-audio","business_type-small-business"],"sage_meta":{"region":"en-ie","author_name":"Bex Burn-Callander","featured_image":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2022\/04\/Blog_Header_Image_23.jpg","imagine_tags":{"230":"Small business","234":"Start-up business"}},"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"Sage Advice Ireland","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog","push-errors":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7831","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/users\/1161"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7831"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7831\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/media\/8589"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7831"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7831"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7831"},{"taxonomy":"business_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/business_type?post=7831"},{"taxonomy":"lilypad","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/lilypad?post=7831"},{"taxonomy":"context","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/context?post=7831"},{"taxonomy":"industry","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/industry?post=7831"},{"taxonomy":"persona","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/persona?post=7831"},{"taxonomy":"imagine_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/imagine_tag?post=7831"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=7831"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}