72 Inspiring Quotes for Small Business Owners

Starting and running a small business is no easy feat. It requires passion grit sacrifice and tremendous commitment. To provide inspiration on the journey, here are 72 motivational quotes for small business owners.

Quotes on Starting a Small Business

Getting a new business off the ground comes with huge challenges These quotes capture the entrepreneurial spirit needed to take the leap and overcome obstacles

• “The secret of getting ahead is getting started.” – Mark Twain

• “I never dreamed about success. I worked for it.” – Estée Lauder

• “The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.” – Walt Disney

• “Success usually comes to those who are too busy looking for it.” – Henry David Thoreau

• “If you’re not stubborn, you’ll give up on experiments too soon. And if you’re not flexible, you’ll pound your head against the wall and you won’t see a different solution to a problem you’re trying to solve.” – Jeff Bezos

• “I knew that if I failed I wouldn’t regret that, but I knew the one thing I might regret is not trying.” – Jeff Bezos

• “You don’t learn to walk by following rules. You learn by doing, and by falling over.” – Richard Branson

• “Don’t worry about failure; you only have to be right once.” – Drew Houston

• “You jump off a cliff and you assemble an airplane on the way down.” – Reid Hoffman

• “Do not be embarrassed by your failures, learn from them and start again.” – Richard Branson

Quotes on Running a Small Business

Once up and running, a small business faces daily challenges. These quotes offer wisdom for managing operations:

• “Any business that gets more complicated than two guys and a suitcase will eventually get crushed under its own weight.” – Gary Vaynerchuk

• “It’s fine to celebrate success but it is more important to heed the lessons of failure.” – Bill Gates

• “Move fast and break things. Unless you are breaking stuff, you are not moving fast enough.” – Mark Zuckerberg

• “Business opportunities are like buses. There’s always another one coming.” – Richard Branson

• “Never give up. Today is hard, tomorrow will be worse, but the day after tomorrow will be sunshine.” – Jack Ma

• “If plan ‘A’ fails, remember you have 25 letters left.” – Chris Guillebeau

• “You have to be burning with an idea, or a problem, or a wrong that you want to right. If you’re not passionate enough from the start, you’ll never stick it out.” – Steve Jobs

• “A small business is an amazing way to serve and leave an impact in the world you live in.” – Nicole Snow

• “Know your communities well! Ask your customers questions and get feedback.” – Andrew Young

• “My advice is to focus on forging long-term relationships with colleagues, partners and customers.” – Sheila Lirio Marcelo

Quotes on Challenges and Growth

Growing a business involves facing challenges and learning from failures. These quotes encourage persistence:

• “When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it.” – Henry Ford

• “Learn from failure. If you never want to experience pain, you’ll never grow.” – Nikki Sixx

• “Just when caterpillar thought her life was over, she began to fly.” – Unknown

• “The hard days are what make you stronger.” – Aly Raisman

• “You must do the thing you think you cannot do.” – Eleanor Roosevelt

• “The secret of life is to fall seven times and get up eight times.” – Paulo Coelho

• “Every expert was once a beginner.” – Helen Hayes

• “If you fell down yesterday, stand up today.” – H.G. Wells

• “Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new.” – Albert Einstein

• “Storms make trees take deeper roots.” – George Herbert

Quotes on Resilience and Perseverance

Tenacity and resilience are crucial for small business success. These quotes inspire determination:

• “Success is not final, failure is not fatal. It is the courage to continue that counts.” – Winston Churchill

• “Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.” – Thomas Edison

• “Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway.” – Earl Nightingale

• “It’s hard to beat a person who never gives up.” – Babe Ruth

• “Fall down seven times and stand up eight.” – Japanese Proverb

• “Never retreat. Never explain. Get it done and let them howl.” – Benjamin Jowett

• “The phoenix must burn to emerge.” – Janet Fitch

• “You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats, so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, how you can still come out of it.” – Maya Angelou

• “Grit is that ‘extra something’ that separates the most successful people from the rest. It’s the passion, perseverance, and stamina that we must channel in order to stick with our dreams until they become a reality.” – Travis Bradberry

• “Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying ‘I will try again tomorrow’.” ― Mary Anne Radmacher

Quotes on Supporting Small Businesses

As a small business owner, it helps to know people value your work. These quotes show that support:

• “Small businesses are the backbone of communities across this country.” – Ellen Kullman

• “Whenever you can, shop local. You’ll get fresher goods and friendlier service.” – Penelope Trunk

• “Support a small business — your community depends on it!” – Unknown

• “Small businesses provide character to communities and important links between citizens.” – David Cicilline

• “Small businesses are vital contributors to our economy. They are the economic engine of our communities.” – Allyson Schwartz

• “Support small businesses so your money stays in your community. Together, we can create jobs, happiness, and hope.” – Kothyza

• “If you truly want to change the big picture, you have to start supporting local businesses and get money out of corporations.” – Solange Knowles

• “If you want to see your community resurrected and your neighbors thrive, you have to fight for local!” – Ann Voskamp

• “We vote with our dollars by supporting small ethical companies that give back.” – José Andrés

• “Small business isn’t for the faint of heart. It’s for the brave, the patient, and the persistent. It’s for the overcomer.” – Anonymous

Final Thoughts

These powerful quotes provide inspiration through all stages of the entrepreneurial journey – from taking the leap to fighting through challenges to celebrating small victories. May they give you strength and determination as you turn your small business dreams into reality!