Owning a small business is so many things — liberating, exciting, tough at times and often, lonely. Many of us don’t have day-to-day interactions with colleagues and while the bonds we forge with the folks we see daily (the UPS delivery person, the USPS drop-off clerk) are meaningful, they don’t always translate over into friendships. That’s why today we wanted to touch on potential ways to make friends as a business owner.

The first way? 

Attend events! Many communities host events for small business owners to mix and mingle + while they may seem intimidating at first this can be a fantastic way to meet people walking in similar shoes! Check local Facebook Business Groups as events are often posted there. 

Next up, we’d say to invest in that coaching group or conference you’ve been wanting to go to.

A lot of the times it’s scary to invest in big-ticket items like coaching containers or conferences but not only can they majorly work to expand your business, they make great ways to meet new individuals who would love to go out to dinner afterward, hop on the phone at the end of a long week or potentially fly out for a weekend adventure when needed! These have been the best in our experience.

Lastly, volunteer in your community!

Getting out in your community and volunteering for a cause you're passionate about is a great way to help out and also meet people whose interests line-up with your own. Not sure where to go? We recommend checking out VolunteerMatch.com.

Tell us: How have you made friends as a small business owner?