05/29/2026
A little perspective from a small business owner…
I’ve seen a lot of posts lately where people immediately take to Facebook to vent about a bad experience with a small business. And while there are certainly situations where sharing an experience is necessary, I think we’ve lost sight of something important: grace.
Small business owners are human. We are perfectly imperfect. We make mistakes. We have bad days. Sometimes things happen that are completely out of our control. Sometimes we simply mess up.
Speaking from experience, there have been times I’ve made mistakes in my business. Some were my fault. Some weren’t. But every single time, I’ve done everything in my power to make it right whether that meant apologizing immensely, refunding, reshooting, or finding another solution.
Something else many people don’t realize is that when a small business owner issues a refund, those funds aren’t always just sitting there waiting to be returned. We constantly pour money back into our businesses. Equipment, software, supplies, insurance, taxes, rent, utilities, advertising, education, and all the behind-the-scenes expenses that keep things running. Five years ago, if someone had told me my business expenses would one day be close to my household expenses, I would have thought they were crazy. But that’s the reality of running a business. The money that comes in often goes right back out. That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t make things right when we mess up, we absolutely should. But many people don’t realize the sacrifices small business owners make when they’re trying to fix a mistake while also keeping their business afloat.
What many people don’t see is the weight small business owners carry. For many of us, there isn’t a team behind the scenes. There isn’t a customer service department. It’s just us. When a client is unhappy, we feel it deeply. The disappointment, the guilt, the fear, the self-doubt…it can be crushing.
A Facebook rant may seem like a moment of frustration to one person, but it can have lasting consequences for a small business. Our name is our brand. Our reputation is often all we have. For many of us, this business is what helps put food on the table, pays the bills, and supports our families.
Before posting publicly, ask yourself: Have I given this person a chance to make it right? Have I communicated my concerns directly? If the roles were reversed, what kind of grace would I hope someone would extend to me?
Again, there are absolutely times when public awareness is necessary. But not every mistake deserves to be thrown to the Facebook wolves.
Social media can be ruthless. People often join in without knowing the full story, and the damage can be far greater than most realize.
So before you hit “post,” just remember there’s a real person on the other side of that business page. Someone who is likely doing their best, carrying more than you know, and trying to provide for their family.
I know because I’ve been there. I’ve made mistakes. I’ve had situations go wrong. I’ve had things happen that were completely out of my control, and I’ve still had to face unhappy clients and the consequences that followed. That’s part of owning a business. But I would be absolutely devastated if one mistake or unforeseen circumstance became the thing that defined me, my business, and years of hard work.
A little grace can go a long way. Sometimes one mistake shouldn’t outweigh years of dedication, sacrifice, and genuinely caring about the people you serve. ❤️
Just something to think about before throwing someone to the Facebook wolves. 🫶🏻
And because every small business owner knows life doesn't stop while you're trying to run a business... this, my friends, is real life. 👀
P.S. No SD cards were harmed in the .3 seconds it took my toddler to have the absolute time of his life and create this chaos. 🫣
