Well over four years ago, Elsie and I wrote a course called Dream Job. We had started working together the year before and our small business (a local vintage store that sold some items online as well) was starting to grow. We began diversifying our business. We had made it through some tough times and we were excited to share the lessons we had learned. I loved writing that course because one of my biggest passions in life is small business. And as you can probably guess, we’ve learned SO much more since writing that first course. We’ve put all those experiences into our new course Start Small / Dream Big.
You can hear a little more about our story and the course in this video:
Elsie and I are so excited to share how we approach business ideas and lots of the lessons we’ve learned over the years as we’ve watched our company grow. While our old course focused mainly on local and online retail, this course is all about helping you go from an idea to launching your own small business.
We’ve approached the format of this eCourse a little bit differently based on feedback we’ve received from students in our program. What’s different?Β Over two hours of videos!Each of the eight sessions in this course has a written lesson (as usual) but also a video lesson. The same information is covered and you also get more explanation, examples and candid (aka real) talk from me and Elsie. We recommend you read AND watch each session:
1. Introduction & How to Use the Course
2. How to Develop Your BigΒ Idea
3. Create a Vision & Business Plan
4. Brand Your New Venture
5. Launch Strategies & Marketing 101
6. How to Evolve With Your Customers
7. Keep Them Coming Back: Customer Service
8. Scaling 101: What Can Scale & How to
What ALL comes with the course?
-Eight sessions plus an ever growing list of resources for entrepreneurs
-Over two hours of lecture videos throughout the sessions
-A sample business plan to help you create your own (from session 3)
-Access to a Q&A board where you can ask me and Elsie questions and also read what other students are asking
-Immediate access and a printable PDF of the entire course so you will always have it
For a limited time, we’re going to be offering $15 off to all our newsletter subscribers! This afternoon you’ll receive an exclusive code that will allow you to get this discount in your email box. If you aren’t subscribed to our newsletter yet, you can still sign up using the big pink box in the right sidebar of our site. Don’t miss out on this awesome offer!
UPDATE: Our email subscribers already got the code, but we don’t want you to miss out and we’re feeling generous. π So just type in ACTFAST when you check out to get $15 off. Code will expire November 19th.
Let us know if you have any questions about the course in the comments. If we get a lot of the same questions, we may post an FAQ later, so don’t be shy! xo. Emma + Elsie
Credits // Author: Emma Chapman and Elsie Larson. Photo and Video: Janae Hardy. Music: Jeremy Larson.
66 Comments
SO excited for this!! I’ve been dreaming of starting my own small creative business for years now and this could be the perfect push for me to actually do it. Love you guys!
Starting is the most exciting and hardest part, if you ask me. This course is totally geared for your situation! Let us know if you have any questions and go get that discount code if you do plan to buy!
Hi Amanda! We don’t have a gifting option for e-courses yet (we plan to in the near future!), but you can definitely purchase the course and then provide the login details to the person you’re gifting it to so they can access the class. π -Jacki
This looks great! Definitely came along at the right time for me! I just have a question about access, though, as I am deaf – do the videos come with subtitles? If not, is there a transcript for them? As I wouldn’t be able to follow them otherwise and I would hate to miss out, I love the work you do π
I love your courses, and cannot wait for my code! I have a couple questions, though: First, will this course be useful if you’re not quite sure what type of business you want to start? In other words: do you need an idea ready to develop further, or do you explore developing a NEW business idea from scratch? Second, is this primarily focused on blogging, or are the lessons applicable to ANY business idea? Thanks!!! Hil
I hope this course is for all business!
The timing couldn’t be better. This whole week I have been very down because I am so lost in all my new ideas and on how to expend our small business (I work with my sister daily too!).
So this course is not particularly for bloggers/social media business and can be related to any businesses?
Elsie, Emma, Laura and the whole team, you all have endless creavity and ideas! It’s a gift!
Thank you for creating this AND for making it affordable! I’ve been looking for an eCourse and haven’t been able to find one for under $300 from people who I regularly follow and by whom I feel inspired. SO SO SO SO grateful for the two of you (and all the others who are a part of ABM) for this and what you do every day!
Would this course cover anything like you opening up your new bar? I have an idea to open an event space in my town and I have no idea really where to start. Obviously a bar and an event space aren’t the same thing but they are somewhat similar. Any helpful tips for a business like that in this course or elsewhere on your blog?
Yes, it’s for any business and not just blogging/social media. Although we do offer lots of tips and advise for using social media to help launch your big idea, whatever it may be.
Thank you for offering affordable online courses for creative businesses, I am in need of some guidance and don’t have the resources to spend hundreds and hundreds of dollars in classes right now to learn how to put my thoughts in motion.
Thank you, Lilly
I signed up to receive the coupon code but haven’t received any email yet. THANK YOU so very much for making it affordable! Seriously, you are changing so many lives and being so generous. I so appreciate it!
This is so exciting! I started my own business in the past couple of months and am eagerly learning as much as I can to grow it to a level where I can support myself and my family, so your course couldn’t have come at a better time. Thank you so much for all you do to continually inspire and educate!!
I love all of you eCourses! They are so easy to use and very affordable! What would be really awesome is an app to access your registered classes! So I can read them on the go!
You should have immediate access through your account when you click on “my classes.” If not please contact our support team on the shop site so they can make sure you can get access soon.
I think this is great! I always love to see bloggers and entrepreneurs who have succeeded reaching back out to share knowledge to those aspiring. Thanks!
I’ve just purchased it, and I’m SO excited to dive in this course! I’ve been working in a small family business for the past 4 years, trying to learn all the ropes of running a business, and I’ve been daydreaming about starting my own company for ages. I just need to get my game together and pull the trigger. I admire you guys so much for what you’ve accomplished over the years, and I can’t wait to see what you have to say about starting and running a small business. Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge and experiences!
Hi, did anyone get a response to this problem yet? I’m in England so won’t get a response till this afternoon probably because I’m too many hours ahead and wanted to get started soon! x
Hmm. No it show up under “my classes” when you are logged into your account on our shop site. Have you emailed our support team already? Their offices are closed on the weekends but if you haven’t heard back by mid day Monday please feel free to email me directly and we’ll see if we can get you set up ASAP. emma@abeautifulmess.com
Thanks for your support and we can’t wait to see how you will do with the info in the course!
Yes, if you emailed or support team (on the shop site) it could be the time difference. Also they are closed on the weekends. If you haven’t heard back by the end of the day on Monday please email me directly and I can see what I can do it help and get you access ASAP. emma@abeautifulmess.com
I enrolled in this class but mmy classroom is empty. I don’t understand how to access the material. I am in the beginning stages of starting a business and am super excited to have access to your information. Truly, you could not have introduced this at a better time.
Hey!
We actually don’t have back end access to fix this for you, so you’ll need to email our support team here- http://shop.abeautifulmess.com/contact/new Thanks!! π Elsie
Hey!
We actually don’t have back end access to fix this for you, so you’ll need to email our support team here- http://shop.abeautifulmess.com/contact/new Thanks!! π Elsie
Hey!
We actually don’t have back end access to fix this for you, so you’ll need to email our support team here- http://shop.abeautifulmess.com/contact/new Thanks!! π Elsie
Here is the email reply that I got regarding access to the class… they’re working on it and it should be available later this week. Good day!
Hello, Thank you for reaching out to us, and I’m sorry you are experiencing issues with this classroom! This is a temporary, systematic error. We are currently looking into it with our team, and we hope to have the class up and running within the week. We appreciate your patience in the meantime! Please let us know if you have questions or concerns, and we will be happy to help. Kaitlin
Hi –
I’m so excited for this class and want to sign up!! I tried to purchase with the promo code today and it already expired π – I thought it was good through 11/19? I also tried to sign into my ABM account (several times) with my info from the DSLR photography course I took last year (and loved BTW!) – every time I clicked “reset password” I never received the email (in my inbox or junk mail). I just went ahead and entered a new account but apparently didn’t ACTFAST enough…so sad!
Hi Mary! I’m really sorry about that! The offer ended at midnight yesterday. If you have anymore trouble logging in, our customer support team would be happy to help! They can be contacted here: http://shop.abeautifulmess.com/conversations/new – Jacki
I purchased the course yesterday, with the promo code, and now when I click “enter class” it just refreshes the teaser page and doesn’t do anything else. I emailed the shop support team yesterday but still haven’t heard anything. Would like to start it this weekend if possible! Any help is appreciated!!
Hi! So wish you updated the content with extra classes as your new era being multi-business owners! I feel like right now you’re doing SO MANY MORE THINGS and rocking all of them and would love to learn more about how to juggle so many different businesses (you currently have seriously so many! Ouifresh, ABM Courses, A Color Story, apparently another app, renovating an airbnb, creating apparently another app, creating actual content for both ABM and books…) I’m seriously so curious to learn from where you guys are at as of right now (I’m multipassionate and would love to have more than one business but it scares the shit out of me). That would completely seal the deal into buying this course and I honestly think that content would add so much value for your students π Greetings!
So you’d like to learn more about how to split up your time among different ventures? Or how to best use your time/resources on multiple things? I would actually LOVE to update this course with even more valuable content so very interested to hear your suggestions. If it’s easier just email me: emma AT abeautifulmess DOT com
I tried to purchase this using the coupon code and it didn’t work. I got the message “Coupon “actfast” does not exist!” I got the same result with multiple tries. So I am going to hold off on the purchase and see if you can get it to work first.
66 Comments
SO excited for this!! I’ve been dreaming of starting my own small creative business for years now and this could be the perfect push for me to actually do it. Love you guys!
Oooh I’m so so so excited about this!!
<3
Starting is the most exciting and hardest part, if you ask me. This course is totally geared for your situation! Let us know if you have any questions and go get that discount code if you do plan to buy!
-Emma
Is there a way to gift this course? I’m just starting out my small business and I’d love to ask for this for Christmas π
I’m super excited about this and definitely am going to be purchasing it for myself. I cannot wait to get my code!
Hi Amanda! We don’t have a gifting option for e-courses yet (we plan to in the near future!), but you can definitely purchase the course and then provide the login details to the person you’re gifting it to so they can access the class. π -Jacki
This’ll be awesome! Good job guys π
Start small, dream big … or go home! You ladies are great π
This looks great! Definitely came along at the right time for me! I just have a question about access, though, as I am deaf – do the videos come with subtitles? If not, is there a transcript for them? As I wouldn’t be able to follow them otherwise and I would hate to miss out, I love the work you do π
I love your courses, and cannot wait for my code! I have a couple questions, though: First, will this course be useful if you’re not quite sure what type of business you want to start? In other words: do you need an idea ready to develop further, or do you explore developing a NEW business idea from scratch? Second, is this primarily focused on blogging, or are the lessons applicable to ANY business idea? Thanks!!! Hil
I hope this course is for all business!
The timing couldn’t be better. This whole week I have been very down because I am so lost in all my new ideas and on how to expend our small business (I work with my sister daily too!).
So this course is not particularly for bloggers/social media business and can be related to any businesses?
Elsie, Emma, Laura and the whole team, you all have endless creavity and ideas! It’s a gift!
Thank you for creating this AND for making it affordable! I’ve been looking for an eCourse and haven’t been able to find one for under $300 from people who I regularly follow and by whom I feel inspired. SO SO SO SO grateful for the two of you (and all the others who are a part of ABM) for this and what you do every day!
Would this course cover anything like you opening up your new bar? I have an idea to open an event space in my town and I have no idea really where to start. Obviously a bar and an event space aren’t the same thing but they are somewhat similar. Any helpful tips for a business like that in this course or elsewhere on your blog?
Hi Sarah! This is something that we don’t currently have but we are working toward this for the future. <3 -Jacki
Hi Hilary! The course will help you if you’re still trying to develop your business idea, and it’s for any business- not just blogging. π -Jacki
Hi Jordan! The course is geared toward starting any business! We’ll eventually share posts about the bar and the opening process though. π -Jacki
Might buy the course, as you girls have done a fantastic job creating your business!
Oh! I could really use help with a business plan. Awesome!
Is this the kind of thing where you can access the lessons at your own pace?
Hi Kristina! Yes, the course is self-paced and you can access it anytime you want. π -Jacki
You guys are so inspiring!!! Thank you for sharing. Grabbing my business partner and signing us up!
β₯ Heather
Thank you for replying! I’ll hold on until a later date then π
I’m on this train! (β°Λβ‘Λβ°)
Yes, it’s for any business and not just blogging/social media. Although we do offer lots of tips and advise for using social media to help launch your big idea, whatever it may be.
-Emma
Thanks Ginaβreally appreciate your words. We want to keep ABM stuff as affordable as possible and I always appreciate when people notice this! π
-Emma
I’m an email subscriber but I can’t find my code anywhere in my emails! Any idea what I can do to receive the code?
Hi Lauren! Contact our support team here: http://shop.abeautifulmess.com/conversations/new and they can help π -Jacki
Thank you for offering affordable online courses for creative businesses, I am in need of some guidance and don’t have the resources to spend hundreds and hundreds of dollars in classes right now to learn how to put my thoughts in motion.
Thank you, Lilly
Aah, how generous to offer a discount code for the course! I can’t wait to get it!! <3
Is it too late to get a code, if we just signed up for the mailing list today?
I signed up to receive the coupon code but haven’t received any email yet. THANK YOU so very much for making it affordable! Seriously, you are changing so many lives and being so generous. I so appreciate it!
Hi! Thanks for signing up! The email was just sent. π -Jacki
This is so exciting! I started my own business in the past couple of months and am eagerly learning as much as I can to grow it to a level where I can support myself and my family, so your course couldn’t have come at a better time. Thank you so much for all you do to continually inspire and educate!!
Just bought the course! When will I have access to it? I don’t see it listed under courses in my account.
Hi. After purchasing how long before i can access it? There is nothing listed in my classroom page.
I love all of you eCourses! They are so easy to use and very affordable! What would be really awesome is an app to access your registered classes! So I can read them on the go!
I purchased this class but can’t access it yet, today would have been the perfect day to get started. I can’t wait until I can, so excited!!!
You should have immediate access through your account when you click on “my classes.” If not please contact our support team on the shop site so they can make sure you can get access soon.
-Emma
Just a heads up, the link to the ecourse is missing from the video description on Youtube. Congrats on this new course!
I think this is great! I always love to see bloggers and entrepreneurs who have succeeded reaching back out to share knowledge to those aspiring. Thanks!
http://thequirklife.com/
Hello! I just purchased this class but it is not showing up under “my classes”
Am I missing something?
Thanks,
Jill
I’ve just purchased it, and I’m SO excited to dive in this course! I’ve been working in a small family business for the past 4 years, trying to learn all the ropes of running a business, and I’ve been daydreaming about starting my own company for ages. I just need to get my game together and pull the trigger. I admire you guys so much for what you’ve accomplished over the years, and I can’t wait to see what you have to say about starting and running a small business. Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge and experiences!
Hi, did anyone get a response to this problem yet? I’m in England so won’t get a response till this afternoon probably because I’m too many hours ahead and wanted to get started soon! x
Hmm. No it show up under “my classes” when you are logged into your account on our shop site. Have you emailed our support team already? Their offices are closed on the weekends but if you haven’t heard back by mid day Monday please feel free to email me directly and we’ll see if we can get you set up ASAP. emma@abeautifulmess.com
Thanks for your support and we can’t wait to see how you will do with the info in the course!
-Emma
Yes, if you emailed or support team (on the shop site) it could be the time difference. Also they are closed on the weekends. If you haven’t heard back by the end of the day on Monday please email me directly and I can see what I can do it help and get you access ASAP. emma@abeautifulmess.com
Thanks!
-Emma
I enrolled in this class but mmy classroom is empty. I don’t understand how to access the material. I am in the beginning stages of starting a business and am super excited to have access to your information. Truly, you could not have introduced this at a better time.
Bought it yesterday and it’s not showing up at all under “My Classes.” Any idea what’s going wrong?
I purchased the course but it’s not showing up in my classroom? Is it not available yet?
Hi, will we be able to access the videos more than once or download them. or is it a one time thing?
Yes- you can watch them as many times as you like. π
-Elsie
Hey!
We actually don’t have back end access to fix this for you, so you’ll need to email our support team here- http://shop.abeautifulmess.com/contact/new Thanks!! π Elsie
Hey!
We actually don’t have back end access to fix this for you, so you’ll need to email our support team here- http://shop.abeautifulmess.com/contact/new Thanks!! π Elsie
Hey!
We actually don’t have back end access to fix this for you, so you’ll need to email our support team here- http://shop.abeautifulmess.com/contact/new Thanks!! π Elsie
I’m in Colorado and haven’t got an answer yet either. (sent first request last night, second request today).
Thanks for getting back to me so quick, your customer service is ??
The problem is sorted now incase anyone else was having the same ? Thanks! X
buying this RIGHT now!!!!
exciting!
Here is the email reply that I got regarding access to the class… they’re working on it and it should be available later this week. Good day!
Hello, Thank you for reaching out to us, and I’m sorry you are experiencing issues with this classroom! This is a temporary, systematic error. We are currently looking into it with our team, and we hope to have the class up and running within the week. We appreciate your patience in the meantime! Please let us know if you have questions or concerns, and we will be happy to help. Kaitlin
Hi! I just purchased the course and I am SO excited to start it. Thanks for creating such amazing things!
Hi –
I’m so excited for this class and want to sign up!! I tried to purchase with the promo code today and it already expired π – I thought it was good through 11/19? I also tried to sign into my ABM account (several times) with my info from the DSLR photography course I took last year (and loved BTW!) – every time I clicked “reset password” I never received the email (in my inbox or junk mail). I just went ahead and entered a new account but apparently didn’t ACTFAST enough…so sad!
Hi Mary! I’m really sorry about that! The offer ended at midnight yesterday. If you have anymore trouble logging in, our customer support team would be happy to help! They can be contacted here: http://shop.abeautifulmess.com/conversations/new – Jacki
I purchased the course yesterday, with the promo code, and now when I click “enter class” it just refreshes the teaser page and doesn’t do anything else. I emailed the shop support team yesterday but still haven’t heard anything. Would like to start it this weekend if possible! Any help is appreciated!!
Hi! So wish you updated the content with extra classes as your new era being multi-business owners! I feel like right now you’re doing SO MANY MORE THINGS and rocking all of them and would love to learn more about how to juggle so many different businesses (you currently have seriously so many! Ouifresh, ABM Courses, A Color Story, apparently another app, renovating an airbnb, creating apparently another app, creating actual content for both ABM and books…) I’m seriously so curious to learn from where you guys are at as of right now (I’m multipassionate and would love to have more than one business but it scares the shit out of me). That would completely seal the deal into buying this course and I honestly think that content would add so much value for your students π Greetings!
Hi Camila,
So you’d like to learn more about how to split up your time among different ventures? Or how to best use your time/resources on multiple things? I would actually LOVE to update this course with even more valuable content so very interested to hear your suggestions. If it’s easier just email me: emma AT abeautifulmess DOT com
I tried to purchase this using the coupon code and it didn’t work. I got the message “Coupon “actfast” does not exist!” I got the same result with multiple tries. So I am going to hold off on the purchase and see if you can get it to work first.
Did you try FLASH20? The other code has expired.
Thanks for your help Jacki. It says above that ACTFAST works until November 19th, but I couldn’t get it to work. Yours worked though, so thanks.
sorry! that post is from a couple years ago.