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50 Quotes for Small Business Owners

Being a small business owner can be both rewarding and challenging. There are so many lessons to learn, decisions to make, and of course plenty of hard work involved in running a successful business.

To help motivate you on the entrepreneurial journey or inspire you to support small businesses, there’s nothing better than some inspirational quotes from industry legends.

This list is the ultimate small business quote & inspiration guide! We’ve got quotes for motivating small business owners, quotes about the importance of supporting small businesses, and quotes for avoiding burn out as a small business owner.

woman small business owner

Consider journaling about these and how they’re relevant to your business or pick on to say out loud to yourself as a daily reminder of why you do what you do! This is an amazing way to remind yourself of all the good things small businesses and entrepreneurs can do!

50 Quotes for Motivating Small Business Owners

It can be exhausting to have your own business. These motivational quotes are great reminders of the great work entrepreneurs do.

  • “Failure is only the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently.” – Henry Ford
  • “The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.” – Walt Disney
  • “I am always doing that which I cannot do, in order that I may learn how to do it. -Pablo Picasso
  • “All our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them.” – Walt Disney
  • “The secret of success is to do the common things uncommonly well.” – John D. Rockefeller
  • “A business that makes nothing but money is a poor kind of business.” – Henry Ford
quotes for small business owners
  • “If you are not willing to risk the usual, you will have to settle for the ordinary.” – Jim Rohn
  • “Every day is a new opportunity. You can build on yesterday’s success or put its failures behind and start over again.” – Bob Feller
  • “The successful man is the one who finds out what is the matter with his business before his competitors do.” – Roy L. Smith
  • “The most important thing about a business is to make sure that it serves others well.” – Bill Gates
  • “It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it. If you think about that, you’ll do things differently.” – Warren Buffett
  • “The most valuable thing you can make is a mistake – you can’t learn anything from being perfect.” – Adam Osborne
  • “If you don’t design your own life plan, chances are you’ll fall into someone else’s plan. And guess what they have planned for you? Not much.” – Jim Rohn
inspirational quote for small business owner
  • “Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it.” – Maya Angelou
  • “The key to being successful in business is to always look for ways to be innovative.” – Richard Branson
  • “You must either modify your dreams or magnify your skills.” – Jim Rohn
  • “The thing you fear most has no power. Your fear of it is what has the power. Facing the truth really will set you free.” -Oprah Winfrey
  • “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” ― Winston S. Churchill.
  • “Most great people have attained their greatest success just one step beyond their greatest failure.” -Napoleon Hill
  • “Successful people do what unsuccessful people are not willing to do. Don’t wish it were easier, wish you were better.” – Jim Rohn
  • “You don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great.” – Zig Ziglar
  • “Don’t worry about failure; you only have to be right once.” – Drew Houston
  • “Successful entrepreneurs know that the only way to make money is to provide value.” – Robert Kiyosaki
  • “The most successful people are those who are good at plan B.” – James Yorke
Maya Angelou Inspirational Quote
  • “Success is doing ordinary things extraordinarily well.” – Jim Rohn
  • “The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today.” – Franklin D. Roosevelt
  • “A successful business does the right thing, not just what it can get away with.” – Richard Branson
  • “Successful entrepreneurs are givers and not takers of positive energy.” – Anonymous
  • “Success isn’t just about what you accomplish in your life, it’s about what you inspire others to do.” – Unknown
  • “Successful people are constantly looking for opportunities to help others. Unsuccessful people are always asking, ‘What’s in it for me?’” – Zig Ziglar
  • “It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it. If you think about that, you’ll do things differently.” – Warren Buffett
  • “Successful entrepreneurs know that the only way to make money is to provide value.” – Robert Kiyosaki
  • “Successful businesses are built on relationships, not transactions.” – Unknown
successful business quote
  • “Successful people are the ones who take responsibility for their own actions and outcomes.” – Unknown
  • “Success is never final, failure is never fatal. It’s courage that counts.” – John Wooden
  • “Successful entrepreneurs are not afraid to try new things and make mistakes.” – Unknown
  • “Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.” – Albert Schweitzer
  • “Successful people never stop learning; they are always looking for ways to improve themselves.” – Unknown
  • “Successful entrepreneurs know that failure is just a part of the process and it makes them better and stronger.” – Unknown
  • “Successful entrepreneurs are risk-takers, but they don’t take foolish risks. They make calculated decisions based on data and research.” – Unknown
  • “Success is not achieved by luck; it is achieved through hard work and determination.” – Unknown
  • “Successful people never give up, no matter how tough the situation may be. They keep working hard until they achieve their goals.” – Unknown
  • “Successful people don’t wait for opportunity to come knocking; they create it and go after it themselves.” – Unknown
successful entrepreneur quotes
  • “Success isn’t about how much money you make; it’s about the difference you make in other people’s lives.” – Unknown
  • “Successful entrepreneurs don’t do everything alone; they surround themselves with the right people and mentors.” – Unknown
  • “Successful entrepreneurs understand that hard work is necessary, but it’s not enough to guarantee success; you also need to be focused and committed.” – Unknown
  • “Successful entrepreneurs are not afraid to ask for help when they need it; they understand that nobody has all the answers.” – Unknown
  • “Success comes from taking the initiative and following up persistently.” – Napoleon Hill
  • “Successful people make mistakes but don’t give up; they use their mistakes as learning experiences.” – Unknown
  • “Success is not achieved overnight; it’s a process that takes time, dedication, and hard work.” – Unknown
  • “Successful entrepreneurs don’t follow the crowd; they create their own path and blaze their own trails.” – Unknown
  • “Success is not about how quickly you achieve something, it’s about never giving up, no matter how long it takes.” – Unknown
successful business owner quote

How to Stay Motivated as a Small Business Owner

Staying motivated as a small business owner can be challenging. With long hours and constant pressure to perform, it can seem like an uphill battle to stay focused and driven.

However, there are ways you can keep your motivation levels high and persevere through tough times. Here are just some of the strategies you can use to remain motivated and stay on track as a small business owner.

Set Goals

Setting achievable goals is essential for staying motivated as a small business owner. Short-term goals will help keep you focused and allow you to measure your progress towards your long-term goals.

how to stay motivated as a small business owner

Break down each goal into manageable tasks that can be accomplished within the day, week or month. This helps you stay organized and work towards your goals with purpose.

Celebrate Your Accomplishments…Big & Small

Celebrating successes and milestones is essential for keeping morale high and staying motivated as a small business owner.

Take the time to reflect on how far you have come, recognize the hard work of you and/or your team, and take a break to enjoy the achievements made so far.

Be sure to celebrate the little things! I suggest keeping a journal and writing down accomplishments from each day. Occasionally you can go back and read these to remind yourself of all you’ve accomplished as a small business owner.

Have a Good Network of Other Small Business Owners & Entrepreneurs

Surround yourself with people who have similar goals, values, and visions, as well as those who can offer advice and support. Having a strong network of supporters will give you the motivation to keep going when things get tough.

successful entrepreneurs

For solo entrepreneurs this is especially important. This is something I struggled with as a new small business owner.

For a while I felt like I was in the struggle alone, but once I began to grow my network and meet other small business owners this was a great way to help me feel connected and motivated.

I also found some great mentors in my industry who were able to share their journeys, struggles, and help me grow.

Plan Ahead

Making plans ahead of time is an essential part of running a successful business. Prioritize tasks, create realistic to-do lists and anticipate any potential issues that may arise so you can be prepared.

Take Time for Yourself

Taking time away from your business is essential in order to stay refreshed, motivated, and not burn out. A well-deserved break will allow you the space to relax and recharge, leading to better performance when you return.

This is something I still struggle with. Sometimes I worry that if I step away from my business things will fall apart or I will fall behind.

I think this is a pressure a lot of small business owners face. The truth is in order to be successful we have to remember to take care of ourselves.

By implementing these strategies, you can stay motivated as a small business owner and continue working towards growing your small business.

10 Quotes About Supporting Small Businesses

These quotes serves as great reminders why it is important to support local businesses and independent businesses. Your small purchase has the ability to impact a real person or family when you shop small. So be sure to support your entrepreneur friends or any one with a side hustle!

shop small business quote
  • “The small business is the backbone of our economy; it’s always been that way and will continue to be so.” – Ed Markey
  • “Every time you buy something from a small business a real actual person does a little happy dance” -unknown
  • “Small businesses are the heart and soul of America, forming the cornerstones of our communities and helping families achieve their dreams.” – Tammy Duckworth
  • “Small business is the lifeblood of our economy and provides opportunity for individuals, families, and communities.” – Karen Mills
  • “Small businesses are the entrepreneurs of tomorrow: they’re innovating, creating jobs, and generating economic growth.” – Barack Obama
  • “Small businesses are the backbone of our economy and the foundation of our communities—they deserve our support!” – Elizabeth Warren
  • “Small businesses are essential to creating jobs, encouraging innovation, and spurring economic growth.” – John Carney
  • “Help create an environment where small businesses can thrive. Support your local small businesses and watch them grow!” – Cory Booker
  • “Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, driving innovation and creating jobs across the country.” – Kamala Harris
  • “Small business owners are job creators—they drive our economy forward and make up the heart of our nation.” – Ron Wyden
  • “Small businesses are the fabric of our communities, creating jobs and opportunities for tens of millions of Americans.” – Bernie Sanders

Creating a positive impact on your community can be greatly achieved through supporting small business. Whether you need to shop or buy services, always

10 Quotes About Burn Out for Small Business Owners

The best way to fight burn out is to remember to take care of yourself. This can be tricky to remember…especially for new business owners! Here are some quotes to remind you to take a break and appreciate the simple things.

entrepreneur burn out quotes
  • “Burnout is not about workload, it’s about a lack of control. It’s about feeling like you’re stuck in an endless cycle of stress and exhaustion with no end in sight.” – Emma Seppälä
  • “If you don’t manage yourself, the job will manage you, and you will eventually crash.” – Arianna Huffington
  • “Burnout is about a disconnect between what we’re doing and why we’re doing it. We feel like we’ve lost control of our own lives, that the things we’re working on don’t really matter.” – Brene Brown
  • “Burnout means forgetting why you’re doing something and feeling like you have to push yourself through it. It’s when passion turns into a chore.” – Eco Deva
  • “Burnout is the result of ignoring your body’s need for rest and recovery, leading to physical and mental exhaustion.” – Rachel Cusk
  • “Burnout is the feeling of being overwhelmed by stress and anxiety without any hope of relief.” – Dr. Alan Zimmerman
  • “Burnout is a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress.” – Robert L. Leahy
  • “Burnout is a kind of psychological death, where you are no longer invested in the outcome of your work.” – Dr. Ari Tuckman
  • “Burnout is like a state of paralysis in which we’re unable to act because of stress and exhaustion.” – David Kessler
  • “Burnout is when your inner flame has been extinguished by what feels like an endless dark night of the soul.” – Bernie Siegel
  • “Burnout is a state of emotional, physical and mental exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress. It occurs when you feel overwhelmed, emotionally drained and unable to meet constant demands. As the stress continues, you begin to lose the interest or motivation that led you to take on a certain role in the first place.” – Christina Maslach

How to Avoid Burnout as a Small Business Owner

Burnout is a condition that is increasingly becoming more and more common in the entrepreneurial community. With long hours and the stress of running a business, it can be easy to become overwhelmed and feel like you’re constantly treading water.

This can be especially challenging for small business owners who compete with  big box store or large corporations.

Here are some tips to help you avoid burnout as a small business owner:

Set Boundaries Between Work and Personal Life

It’s important to remember that work-life balance is key in avoiding burnout. Make sure you have designated times for both working on your business and taking time for yourself.

This could mean setting regular hours that you will commit to working each day, or it could simply mean making sure you take regular breaks throughout the day.

Take Care of Your Health

It’s important to make sure that you’re taking care of your physical, emotional and mental health.

Take time out of each day for yourself – this could be going for a walk, meditating, or even just reading a book for pleasure. Make sure you’re eating well and getting enough sleep as well.

Delegate Tasks

As a solo-entrepreneur, it can be hard to delegate tasks – but it’s essential if you want to avoid burnout. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, see if there is anyone you can delegate some tasks to, even if it’s just for a few hours. This will help you reduce your workload and allow you some breathing room.

entrepreneur meeting

Prioritize Tasks

Take the time each day to prioritize your tasks and figure out what needs to be done first. You may find that there is a lot that can be put off for later or delegated out.

This will help ensure that you’re focusing on the tasks that are most important and not feeling overwhelmed by every single task.

In conclusion, successful small business owners and entrepreneurs understand that to achieve long-term success, hard work, self care, and dedication are essential.

It’s important to take calculated risks and surround yourself with the right people for support.

Additionally, it is important to stay focused on your goals, values, and always look for ways to improve yourself. By taking these steps and remaining dedicated to the process, it’s possible to reach your goals and watch your small business do amazing things.

If you’re not a small business owner, be sure to send some of these quotes to your entrepreneurial friends!

And remember how much power you have in supporting real people instead of big companies. Share your friends businesses on social media, listen to their new ideas, and encourage them to keep going!