‘My plan failed spectacularly’: This 28-year-old from New Jersey gambled her $30K in savings on an idea and managed to turn it into a $9-million business — plus how to secure your own bag

Saving to fund a dream

The path to success wasn’t a straight line for Lei. While she knew she had a good idea, she faced obstacles from the get-go. And because focusing on quality was important to Lei, that made the process even more challenging.

At first, she struggled to find a sample designer who could translate her vision into a prototype. Her first bag sample cost $2,000 and she was immediately disappointed. But she also took ownership, acknowledging that she didn’t give the designer enough direction and regrouped.

When she came back to the table the second time, she landed on a design she was much happier with. All the while, she was unemployed and funding herself from savings she’d earned from a dropshipping business she ran.

Relying on personal savings to fund a new business can be a gamble. According to an analysis by LendingTree based on data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, about one in four (23.2%) new businesses don’t survive their first year.

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Learning from mistakes

While Lei was able to survive the odds, making mistakes comes with starting any new business. But Lei took every misstep as an opportunity to refine her approach — whether it was budgeting, improving the product or rethinking her customer acquisition strategy.

Early on, Lei ran a Facebook ad campaign, collected 2,000 email addresses and was prepared to sell her 300 bag inventory. Feeling confident, she sent out an email blast — only to realize no one purchased a single bag.

Determined to turn things around, Lei focused on acquiring customers. But the process was painstakingly slow for the first two years. From her $300,000 in savings, $100,000 went to living expenses, allowing her to cover essentials like splitting $1,200 rent with her partner at the time and sticking to a frugal lifestyle.

If you’re confident in your business idea but hesitant to rely solely on your savings, there are other ways to fund your dream. A good starting point is exploring a loan or line of credit from your bank.

A more affordable route could be to seek financing through a traditional lender backed by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). The SBA offers various programs, including microloans, larger loans, and support for certain nonprofits, making it a valuable resource for aspiring entrepreneurs.