Yasmin’s Story

Yasmin Flack, Professional Writing Expert
Lansing, MI

As a sole proprietor, a business loss is a personal loss. I’ve worked hard over the last four years to grow my business, providing writing and editing services to residents in my community. Those services include, but are not limited to: assisting with creating professional resumes, cover letters, professional correspondences, presentations, reports and letters.

If it can be written, I can write it, and my clients know this. As I expanded my workload, the need to hire contract writers to cover an increased demand was necessary—right up until Covid-19 hit. 

Business dropped dramatically in April. A combination of slowing demands as people in Lansing and the surrounding areas were laid off or furloughed, and the difficulty of executing my business model due to public health requirements, brought business to a halt. Much of my work and client-building was conducted face-to-face. As business slowed, I no longer had work for the three contracted writers. I barely had enough work for myself to make it worthwhile.

I needed to pivot my business and invest in the necessary tools to be successful through the pandemic and beyond. That included building a professional website where I could process and deliver orders and services, increase my presence on social media and secure the software and other equipment to allow me to interact with clients virtually. As needs were becoming apparent, my revenue dried up.

I heard about programs to help small businesses. I applied for the EIDL and received $1,000. It was helpful. I invested it in marketing and the business I generated helped me keep a writer on for a short time. Ultimately, this small grant wasn’t enough. I wanted to apply for a PPP loan but a tough financial stretch a few years back while I was the caretaker for my father during his illness put me into financial difficultly. As a sole proprietor, because of these financial challenges this meant I wasn’t eligible to apply for loans for my business, so unfortunately, I missed out on this program.

My business has a proven track record of success. I have the skills to keep it growing, however, the pandemic has upended how many businesses operate, including mine. We need financial assistance adjusting to our new circumstances. I can’t find the financial support I need in the private market, which is why our government should step in to help those who are being left behind. Thus far, the programs put in place aren’t reaching everyone, especially very small businesses like mine.

Maybe at first glance my story isn’t as dramatic as, say, a business with twenty employees. However, it’s been a tremendous setback for me. I know there are many others in similar situations. My business doesn’t need a massive bailout, it just needs a little timely support. Growth for a business my size may seem small, but a small amount of help could make a massive difference, even if that means just going from Professional Writing Expert to Professional Writing Experts. What a difference that “s” would make. I hope I can find the support to make it happen.