Human trafficking survivor builds a small business with only $400.

It started with just a handful of hundred bucks. Entrepreneur Nakia Vestal escaped human trafficking as a teenager and started doing work at magnificence salons and retailers. Immediately after gaining expertise and disliking her occupation options, Vestal decided to go into enterprise for herself.

In 2017 and with $400, Vestal started DollMaker Lashes, a elegance studio in Houston, Texas, that offers eyelash extension products and services. She commenced modestly, creating her client foundation from her property. But with perseverance, discipline and faith, Vestal transformed her small business into a complete-services lash studio, with her possess products line.

“I begun with just a lash mattress and my instruments that I needed. And I failed to have any promoting,” she claimed. “All the things was term of mouth. I started off from dwelling in my dining room.”

Vestal’s business has been impacted by the financial slowdown of the Covid-19 pandemic, but past year she acquired a $10,000 grant from Verizon’s Electronic Ready system, which she credits as encouraging her develop.

The grant from Verizon can help little enterprises damage by the pandemic, notably in historically underserved communities. Nearly 800 compact businesses have been given grants of up to $10,000 to enable pay back employees, rent and other fiscal needs.

Here are 4 strategies that have assisted Vestal to do well as an entrepreneur:

In accordance to GlobalWebIndex, 54% of typical web users obtain social media to study solutions. And that proportion is only expected to improve.

“Social media is totally free internet marketing. You have Facebook, you have Instagram, now you have TikTok. These are free applications you can use to really concentrate on whatsoever viewers you happen to be trying to get,” Vestal stated.