You know how founders love to post about the shiny stuff? The product launches, the big wins, the “we’re changing the world” vibes? Yeah, I did that too. However, almost nobody discusses the financial aspect. The part where your bank account decides whether you eat well, sleep easily, or lie awake wondering if you made the biggest mistake of your life.
I started ITSHEMP at 25. No savings. No backup plan. No rich parents or fancy network. Just me thinking, “Cannabis is cool, marketing can be fun, this could make real money.” Spoiler: It was way harder than I imagined.
Regulations could change overnight. One small mistake could mean a legal nightmare. I had zero clue about the industry, and I made the classic first-time founder move of jumping in blindly because I believed in myself. Now, I understand why most folks pick markets they’re more familiar with, or ones easier to crack.
But what unites us, early bootstrappers? We’ve got endless time, zero cash reserves, and an unshakeable belief in betting on ourselves. That’s the magic spark. Yet, looking back, if I could time-travel and whisper advice to my younger self, it wouldn’t be about chasing funding, hitting revenue milestones, or obsessing over investor metrics. Nope. It’d be this:
“Your personal relationship with money, how you manage expenses, build stability, and treat yourself as the MVP employee is the real foundation for everything”
Since ITSHEMP was (and still is) fully bootstrapped, it doubled as my main income source from day one. As a solo founder, the lines blurred fast. Company money? My money? It all felt interchangeable. Paying myself a salary? That sounded like some corporate formality, not for a scrappy startup warrior grinding 24/7.
It took some solid financial advice from people smarter than me to finally get it:
“Hey, you’re the most important person in this company. You’re working insane hours. You deserve to get paid for it.”
When I finally drew my first “salary”, the feelings were wild. On one hand, proud as hell, “Look, it’s real now.” On the other hand, staring at a number that was like 90% less than my old consulting gigs. I remember sitting there thinking, “Did I really just choose this? Should I just go back to a normal job?”
Every payday became this internal battle. Happy I made it this far. Scared I was screwing up my life.
But things slowly got better. Revenue picked up. I built a small team that could handle the day-to-day. My shoulders weren’t carrying everything alone anymore. My financial advisor pushed me: “Bump up your salary a bit. You’re allowed to live.” And suddenly, my bank account wasn’t screaming “emergency” anymore. And my head? Way clearer. Less stress. That’s when the real growth kicked in.
You’ve seen it on shows like Shark Tank: “Pour everything into your business if you believe in it!” Inspiring, sure, but after my own boots-on-the-ground experience, I disagree.
Blindly reinvesting every penny can leave you stressed, reactive, and one bad month away from burnout.
Personal financial stability as your secret superpower. It lets you play the long game without fear, taking calculated risks that propel your business forward.
Don’t get me wrong, investing in your venture is essential. But prioritising yourself is essential. Treat yourself like any other team member: Set a fair salary based on your contributions.
I started learning more about personal finance, proper budgeting, small savings, and even made tiny investments on the side. This helped me build a cushion for myself. I bought my peace of mind. No more lying awake worrying about bills or “what if it fails?” Instead, you innovate boldly, knowing you’ve got a safety net. And guess what? That freedom fueled ITSHEMP’s best decisions, from creative campaigns to team expansions.
And as I am writing this today, ITSHEMP is showing 30%+ year-over-year growth while still being bootstrapped. A little pat on the back for myself.
You and your business might feel like the same thing when you’re solo. But they’re not. You’re the human behind the vision. You get older. Life keeps moving. You deserve to build something that doesn’t bankrupt your soul.
So if you’re bootstrapping, especially early and solo: Treat yourself like an employee. Pay yourself fairly. Build a little safety net. Maybe some side income, even if tiny. It might slow growth a tiny bit at first. But that freedom? It lets you take the real swings that actually win.
I wish someone had told me this at 25. So I’m telling you now.