Staying Motivated as a Small Business Owner When Things Go Quiet

Running a small business can be like riding a rollercoaster. Some months you’re flying high. Other times, it feels really hard. The enquiries dry up. Sales stall. Your motivation hits rock bottom.

If that’s where you are right now, know that you’re not alone. Plenty of other UK business owners are in the same boat.

In this post I share some practical mindset tips for small business owners and advice on staying motivated as a small business owner, even when things are slow.

Tips for Staying Positive and Motivated as a Small Business Owner

1. First, be honest with yourself

Quiet periods can be mentally brutal. When nothing seems to work, it’s easy to sit at home and spiral. You may be feeling helpless, like nothing you do seems to make any difference.

If you’re nodding along, that’s okay. Acknowledge it. Being honest about how you feel is the first step in changing things.

2. Use the downtime wisely

Instead of fighting the quiet, use it to work on your business. How about updating your website, fine-tuning your service offering, get your finance admin in order, refresh your email marketing templates?

This is the stuff that usually falls to the bottom of the list when you’re busy. Now is the perfect time to action it.

Some more ideas:

• Review your service packages or pricing

• Schedule a content planning session for yourself and create the next few months of social media posts

• Refresh your onboarding or client process

3. Ease the financial pressure

If the money side is causing stress, consider finding a temporary way to relieve it. One idea could be to pick up a part-time or remote working job. It could help give you a sense of purpose whilst your business is quiet.

A part-time job, freelancing, or selling digital products can take the pressure off and give your brain space to think clearly again.

4. Connect with other small business owners

Being self-employed can feel isolating, especially when things aren’t going well. Talking to others who “get it” can make a huge difference. You’re not the only one navigating tough periods—far from it.

Look into:

• Local networking groups – check the FSB and Enterprise Nation

• Online forums like the Reddit threads

• Facebook groups

• Business owner meet-ups - have a look on Eventbrite

5. Look after your existing customers

When things go quiet, you'll probably start to obsess over finding new leads. But don’t forget the people who already have faith in you. Decide to focus on your existing client base for a while and look at ways you could improve/expand your service offering to them. How about you offer existing clients a discount on another service that compliment your existing service offering. You could also reach out to them and ask for referrals if they know anyone who could use your services.

6. Check your strategy

Sometimes you just need to tweak, not an overhaul. Here are a few quick wins:

• Run a basic website health check (load speed, calls to action, messaging)

• Review your Google Analytics or Instagram insights

• Try a targeted promotion to a warm audience

Small improvements can lead to better conversions and more confidence in what you’re doing.

7. Take care of yourself

This one’s key. If you’re feeling mentally drained, everything else gets harder. How to stay positive in business often starts with looking after you.

Block out time for yourself. Set boundaries. Speak to someone if things feel too heavy. A walk, a nap, a break—it all counts. You are your business, so protect your energy.

8. Add a backup plan

Quiet spells happen. The trick is not to panic, but to plan. Could you create a low-maintenance digital product? Offer a mini service or one-off audit? Build a small “emergency income” fund?

Build yourself a buffer, even if you never need it.

9. Keep the bigger picture in view

Slow periods don’t mean your business is failing. They’re just part of the cycle. Zoom out and look at the full year. What’s working? What’s changed? How far have you come?

Staying motivated as a small business owner often means reminding yourself that every step, even the hard ones, is part of the bigger journey.

10. Quick wins to keep going

If you’re feeling stuck, try this short action list:

• Review your finances and cut what you can

• Reconnect with past clients or customers

• Block out time for one self-care activity

• Join a local or online community

• Test a small tweak on your website or offer

• Write down one new idea—just to play with

As a Virtual Assistant working closely with small business owners, I see firsthand how tough it can get behind the scenes. I’ve been through the quiet spells, the confidence knocks, and the moments of “is this even working?”

You’re not alone—and you don’t have to figure it all out on your own either. Whether it’s streamlining your admin, planning your marketing, or simply having someone in your corner, having a support system makes a big difference.

The quiet times won’t last forever, but how you use them can really shape what comes next. Keep going. You’ve got this!