I started a business

Natasa Lekic. Natasa Lekic

Last year, at age 29, We left my work as managing editor of a novel author in New York.

My boyfriend, who had been being employed as a trader, covered every thing while we determined my next step: the apartment, living expenses, health. (A $50, 000 posting income in nyc doesn't allow for much in savings.)

We finished up wasting lots of time. We interviewed for tasks I didn't desire, studied for GMAT halfheartedly, and built my very first start-up within the youngsters' enjoyment industry — which were unsuccessful in five months.

By January 2013, our finances just weren't pretty. We don't have debt, but to stay afloat, I needed to begin making $2, 500 monthly.

I made the decision to spotlight an industry I knew well: book writing. I thought, if self-publishing is the future, what will separate authors need? Advertising and marketing and modifying. I didn't know any thing about marketing and advertising, but We understood every little thing about modifying.

There clearly was a chance when you look at the area. Tons of independent editors are available on line, but just a small percentage of them have any genuine knowledge. Most authors spend thousands for an edit, only to end up unsatisfied using the results.

To work alongside the proper editors, I needed seriously to persuade several of the most well-respected folks on the market to participate a start-up they would never ever heard of.

Each and every time I found an editor at a coffee shop, I expected all of them to laugh at concept of freelancing because of this dinky new web site. These were established editors who had worked on the big books of our time, the NY Times bestsellers and award-winners. The reason why would they associate themselves using this brand new website?

To my shock, practically all the editors wanted to work with us. They weren't strangers to freelancing — they freelanced occasionally for friends of agents or writers. Hence was the situation. Only writers with contacts into literary world had access to these editors.

NY Book Editors had been proposing an even more democratic approach. Through us, all authors could distribute their particular work to the essential sought-after editors. Editors would then determine which jobs had been best fit.

For an editor, the greatest happiness and the best results originate from taking care of jobs they love.

After the editors were agreeable, finding authors became another issue.

Beginning NY Book Editors price about $80. We built your website, paid $20 every month to Squarespace for web hosting, and took an SEO class for $60. Compliment of that class, we created a map to get out of author's block, which went viral, got 46, 000 records on Tumblr, and helped clients discover united states.

Three months later on, the site had a revenue of $8, 000. It absolutely was lower than I'd acquired in writing, and I ended up being working significantly harder than previously. The actual fact ended up being, I didn't know how to prioritize, things to focus on.

Within the angry rush of the early days, I did the craziest thing you can imagine. We spent every dollar I would won on a single training course: Ramit Sethi's $100, 000 Summit, a two-day summit in New York which taught business owners how exactly to arranged and grow their particular company. We all know steps to make a resume thereby applying for jobs, but how on earth do you realy develop a small business? Determining what are the best customers and provide the many value for them needed a practical training from somebody who had done it.

NY Book Editors has become a business that operates smoothly by centering on modifying solutions which help writers development. We now have a network of experienced editors and copyeditors who freelance on jobs they love.

Several of our authors have had six-figure posting discounts, two have received seven-figure movie deals, others go on to self-publish. Our writers have one thing in typical: They hold their particular books to a high standard.

Lekic and her boyfriend, just who helped the girl go after her very own business. Natasa Lekic

It costs between $1, 000 and $7, 000 to obtain an edit, with respect to the length of the guide therefore the sort of edit it needs. Just writers who have finished a draft of their manuscript are set for an edit.

Our consumers tend to be professionals from diverse fields whom know they usually have a book included, from attorneys to real estate agents. A number of our customers awaken at 5 a.m., before their workday, to write for an hour or so. I am in awe of them. They usually have busy schedules and so they find a way to write books inside their spare-time. We have had 215 clients, lots of whom return for another edit.

In 2015, NY Book Editors' income is as much as $55, 000 each month.

I've a normal workweek — 40 hours. It's astonishing just how much you are able to achieve once you don't have many meetings and office chats.

My part will be enhance our systems, from the way we keep in touch with consumers as to the particular solutions currently, to your marketing, promotion, affiliate partnerships, and I also consistently speak to editors to locate the leaders on the market.

What is various nowadays? I am happier today, more comfortable with myself, and confident. I could visit a restaurant and order without determining the bill beforehand. My boyfriend is also absolve to go after their ideas. Nowadays, i am supporting him while he begins his own business.

Ideal guidance I can give anyone who really wants to start a small business is to stop contemplating yourself. Take into account the individual you are wanting to assist, whether it's an author, your pet dog owner, or an ACT student. Take time to really realize their particular problems — after that resolve them. Not only will you wind up with a healthy and balanced business, you're going to be amazed because of the help and appreciation of consumers.

Natasa Lekic could be the creator of NY Book Editors, a book modifying solution in which writers are matched with experienced editors from Big-5 editors. Natasa thinks every author has actually a unique tale that may inform, encourage, and host readers. Follow this lady on Twitter @nybookeditors.