I moved to Lexington to attend graduate school after finishing at Murray State (go Racers!) and I absolutely fell in love with this town and all the creative, kind, hardworking people I met. So many cool entrepreneurs were happy to share insight into their processes, and it’s always been important to me to give that back.
Seeing other people’s workflows, their consistency, and the real behind-the-scenes view of what it takes to bring a creative vision to life is what inspired me the most. It showed me that you don’t wait for some formal moment or magic approval. You just get up and make stuff. Daydream and imagine and sketch out ideas. Then put in the work to back it up.
Behind so many amazing artists, chefs, architects, designers, nonprofit leaders, performers, and more that I’ve been lucky to work alongside, there’s always the quiet, consistent work: cleaning up their spaces, practicing their craft, maintaining their tools, jotting down budgets and ideas, and being resourceful enough to make something cool happen with whatever they have.
I want to give back some of that inspiration by sharing a peek behind the scenes of how we operate: always on a budget, with intention, and like David Byrne said — “never for money, always for love.” Money will always be both a blessing and a problem. But even the money part gets easier to handle when it’s wrapped up in love: love for your craft and tasks, your life, your people, and your community that holds it all together.
To make your dream come to life (and you should!), you need a solid and consistent foundation — one that doesn’t cost you much or require a monthly subscription. Because whether you’re in the middle of a huge success fulfilling orders, or stuck in a tough slump wondering what’s next, you’ll still be using these same spaces and resources every single day: A space to write up a business plan. An area to sip your coffee and brainstorm ideas. A desk to check your to-do lists, follow up on obligations, and sketch out your next move. A tool and systems to keep things organized.
All businesses, big and small, operate on the same core principle: spend as little as possible to keep things going. So here are some tools I use every day since I started girls back in 2016 that are free or nearly free, and help me stay creative and consistent.
There are tons of guides online, and plenty of info from your local SBA office, that cover the bureaucratic steps to start a business: writing a plan, building a budget, forming an LLC, opening a business checking account, etc. And those resources are usually free, so don’t pay for a guide! Ask your local librarian, too. Libraries are incredibly resourceful and librarians are eager to help.
If you’re interested in the restaurant or food truck nuance, like health department logistics, fire code, plumbing requirements, permits (I could go on and on), hit me up! I love to share what I’ve learned to help someone.
This post is more-so about the in-between stuff. Real tools and rhythms that help you navigate that first idea and to-do list (and every to-do list that comes after it) to make your vision come to life and more importantly, to keep it alive.
Our Go-To Tools
- Google Calendars – Every event, deadline, reminder, and to-do lives there past and future. It’s free, easy, and color-coded for sanity. It works for team iPhone and team Android and you know we have both of those here at Team Girls : )
- Email – Old school and proven and free. We use it to manage orders, send thank-yous, build out ideas and brand partnerships, communicate with team Girls. I even email myself documents and reminders. It’s quick, it’s searchable and “live.”
- Canva App – For social posts, menus, flyers, product mockups, and more. Design isn’t an outsourceable niche anymore, it’s a hat all business owners have to wear. So I find Canva to be such a powerful tool as an amateur that needs to in-source most of the marketing and design needs. It’s free and the pay option is an accessible price point for really helpful features (print ready downloads, tons of graphics, my staff can use it, accessible from all your devices, and more).
- Paper Lists + Laminator – My favorite. We laminate reusable checklists and write on them with dry-erase markers. It’s simple, easy for a team to see, satisfying, and keeps our daily flow tight. In the physical restaurant / sales world, we love it for making a quick sign about our hours, for a new special or a limited menu, or a table-top QR code to our online merchandise. In a world of devices, don’t discount the efficiency and power of ink and paper! They don’t sell my exact one anymore but this one is similar and just $20. Mine has worked consistently for 8+ years and is very similar to any basic one you’ll find on a marketplace.
- Our Local Public Library – Free printing. Free WiFi. And many libraries now have maker spaces. Some offer button makers, Cricut machines, Adobe software, large format printing, engraving, lightboxes for product photos, 3D printers, and more. Years ago I saw Cincinnati Public Library’s MakerSpace do this and was absolutely amazed. Now even smaller towns offer it. It’s so useful. If you’re fortunate to live near a university, check out their resources, too! From their libraries, to tech services, food science and more, public universities are a mecca of free and cost-effective resources.
- A Space for Everything, Everywhere – Everything has a home. It helps keep our tools and ideas organized, and clears mental space too. Visual clutter creates mental clutter. I even have dedicated spots for “things we found but don’t know where they go” and “this funny little piece of metal that might be useful someday.”
What Actually Works
- Show up every day. It doesn’t have to be glamorous or perfect. You don’t need to go viral. Just keep showing up.
- Don’t overthink it. There’s not one app, one post, or one marketing agency that will solve it all. No one-size-fits-all. Be consistent and stay curious.
- If it seems too good to be true, it is. In this seemingly always-online world, it’s easy to think a quick success or solve is out there in all those sales pitches and “viral” posts. Stick true to real people and real relationships.
- Support your local community. This is the best marketing there is:
- Leave 5-star Google reviews for local spots
- Show up and spend money at fellow small businesses
- Engage with their social medias
- Donate gift cards to school auctions and local fundraisers
- Host meetups or events if you have a physical space
Because when small businesses support and engage with each other, we all win. For me, trial and error has taught me a lot, and I’d love to know what strategies work for others! Whether you’re already running a creative business or just dreaming about it, please drop your thoughts below or hit me up on email or social. It’s fun to brainstorm together! 💡 Looking forward to your ideas and stories. Let’s help each other grow local!
With love & burritos,
~ Sara & Team Girls
Email me: [email protected]
Hit us up on Instagram @girlsgirlsgirlsburritos
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