12 Motivational & Inspirational Quotes for Small Business Owners

Moments of inspiration and motivation can seem elusive and fleeting when you’re a small business owner. Think of how it feels when you’re on a roll: you’re focused, creative, productive, and you’re making things happen. It’s one of the best feelings in the world! Sadly, we all know these moments don’t last forever. There are times you may hit a wall. Whether it’s a mental block, a physical obstacle, the loss of a sale, or the fear of the unknown holding you back, take comfort in the fact that every successful entrepreneur and business owner has encountered a similar situation.

How do entrepreneurs stay motivated in spite of failures and setbacks? To put it simply, successful people just don’t quit. Ever. Frequently referencing these business motivational quotes can help inspire you when you feel powerless or stuck. In times of doubt, failure, frustration, and fear, pull out some of these famous words, and recognize the problem you’re having as an opportunity to start again.

Do you want to start a new business? Are you unsure how to make your next big idea profitable? If you can’t stop thinking about it, don’t stop working for it. These business owner quotes will motivate you to be persistent no matter what obstacles comes your way as you get your new business off the ground.

1. “Don’t worry about being successful but work toward being significant and the success will naturally follow.”

- Oprah Winfrey -

2. “What do you need to start a business? Three simple things: know your product better than anyone. Know your customer and have a burning desire to succeed.”

- Dave Thomas -

3. “Starting a successful business is not tricky. Starting a successful business does not require above average intelligence. Starting a successful business does require having a pig-headed, purpose-driven tenacity about achieving your life goals and fulfilling your life’s vision through providing products and services that offer uncompromising quality in a scalable and duplicatable way.” 

- Clay Clark, The Wheel of Wealth -

4. “You are the master of your destiny. You can influence, direct and control your own environment. You can make your life what you want it to be.” 

- Napoleon Hill, Think and Grow Rich -

5. “Growth is never by mere chance; it is the result of forces working together.” 

- James Cash Penney, Founder of JCPenney -

6. “Continuous learning is the minimum requirement for success in any field.” 

- Dennis Waitley -

7. “There are no great limits to growth because there are no limits of human intelligence, imagination, and wonder.” 

- Ronald Reagan -

8. “A business absolutely devoted to service will have one worry about profits. They will be embarrassingly large.”

- Henry Ford -

9. “You need to spend all of your time and energy on creating something that actually brings value to the people you’re asking for money!” 

- Gary Vaynerchuk -

10. “Business is not just doing deals; business is having great products, doing great engineering and providing tremendous service to customers. Finally, business is a cobweb of human relationship.” 

- Henry Ross Perot -

11. “Your most unhappy customers are your greatest source of learning.” 

- Bill Gates -

12. “Here is the simple but powerful rule… always give people more than they expect to get.” 

- Nelson Boswell -