Interview with Sally Helppie, Owner of Advocate Pictures, LLC.

SC: Did you have a business plan when you started your business?

SH: I did not have a written business plan, but I did have an organizational plan in my head.

SC: Do you think business plans are necessary for entrepreneurship? 

SH: It depends on the nature of the business. For Advocate Pictures, LLC, we have two members and we knew exactly how the entity would operate. Our tax accountant handles much of the required paperwork, including the tax returns.   For a business with more members or one that is looking to expand or is looking for capital, then a business plan can be useful. A business plan also can be helpful in focusing the entrepreneur on his/her goals and in setting milestones for reaching them.

SC: Do you think business plans are necessary for entrepreneurship?

SH: Again, it would depend on the nature of the business. But generally, I’d suggest trying to find a mentor. Learn from others’ experience. Even if you believe your business is entirely unique and nobody has ever done what you are planning to do, there are still things that are common across all arts-related businesses.

• A mentor can help you think through issues and make decisions.
• Second, follow your personal passion. I think people are happiest and most successful when they are doing something they enjoy rather than just following a buck. Life is short and uncertain. Spend your time wisely.
• Third, network with others in your field. And by “network,” I mean getting to know others with similar or synergistic interests. Learn about what they do. Help them out. Develop friendships. Spend time with them. Consider how you might work together in the near or far future. This goes for others at your general experience level, those far ahead of you on their own career ladders, and those coming up behind you. Relationships matter. People want to work with people they like and trust. The fruits of your networking will grow over the years.

Interview by Sara Carraway, student of Arts Entrepreneurship at SMU, Meadows School of the Arts