With nearly half of Brits wanting to start their own business, it seems as though many are dropping the corporate lifestyle to pursue their personal dreams.
However, with only 80% of small businesses surviving their first year and many shutting their doors due to the rising cost of living, it seems as though becoming a business owner is harder than ever.
Despite this, one teen has defied all odds and decided to venture into the business world and open up her very own sunbed shop.
Darcy Lloyd-Williams, from Prestatyn, Wales, UK, sees hundreds of customers every day and says her business is a success despite doubts about her age.
Darcy said: “At the start I had a few people doubting me due to my age and I do occasionally have the odd person now and again but I’ve just learned that not everyone is going to be happy for someone else’s success.
“I had a lot of savings and I decided to just go for it.
“I came up with a plan and started looking for locations.
“When I was thinking of the idea I just knew I’d be able to do it better than the rest.”
Darcy said: “At the start I had a few people doubting me due to my age and I do occasionally have the odd person now and again but I’ve just learned that not everyone is going to be happy for someone else’s success.
“I had a lot of savings and I decided to just go for it.
“I came up with a plan and started looking for locations.
“When I was thinking of the idea I just knew I’d be able to do it better than the rest.”
After eight weeks of strenuous work, she turned the empty shell of a building into a fully-fledged sunbed shop, full of eye-catching signs and artwork.
She initially found that customers would doubt her due to her young age, but Darcy proved that she could get the job done and achieve her dreams.
Now, she has hundreds of customers a day and works tirelessly to make her shop a hit success.
Darcy said: “I decided to start my own business because I was unhappy in the job I was previously in.
“I applied for jobs working in offices but I just knew it wasn’t the right fit for me and at the time my mum asked me if I could have any job, what would it be? I said, having my own sunbed shop.
“I put in an offer for the shop that I had found and I received a call back a week later saying it was mine, it felt like the longest week of my life!
“I also applied for a business grant and I put that towards it with my savings.”
She added: “It was an exciting process but definitely a stressful one, the day before opening, I was so worried that no one would turn up and I was so worried hoping I made the right decision.
“I had an idea of an opening date in mind so I only gave myself eight weeks to renovate the shop.
“I am now in my second year of business and it’s the best year yet.
“I’m constantly busy and welcoming new and regular customers.”
Darcy explained how rewarding it feels to have her own successful business and be her own boss.
She said: “I’m so grateful that I was in a position to be able to open up my own business and I wouldn’t change anything.
“The shop is a 24/7 thing so I work six days a week but when it’s my day off or I’ve just finished work, I’m either out buying stock for the shop or replying to messages.”
Darcey’s full focus is her shop and her goal is to get her head down and graft for a better future.
This successful business woman really does prove that age is just a number when it comes to success.