Page 21 of Accidentally in Bloom

People who give business and coaching advice don’t get fired. You’re an absolute failure, Parker.

A bubble of anxiety clutched Rose’s stomach, but she ignored it. “Ready.”

“Starting now,” Angela said. “And we’re live in three, two, one.”

Rose plastered on a smile and greeted her listeners. There were already several hundred queued up for the live episode. “Hey, all. This is Rose Parker and Angela Lin. In this week’s live small business Q&A, I’ll answer some of your previously submitted questions, and we’ll see if Angela or I can’t solve some of your problems.”

Rose loved sharing what she’d learned from the inner sanctum of the top companies she’d consulted with. She loved creating a community and an ecosystem of people who believed in themselves and played by their own rules.

“All right, Rose,” Angela said. “First one’s for you. User GottaBeClosin asks: what if I don’t want to have my business forever? Is there some sort of escape hatch if I want to try something else?”

“That’s a great question, GottaBeClosin. There are lots of parachutes for small businesses. Maybe you end up just closing it, and you enjoy your profits. But,” Rose sent the video camera a winning smile, “you could also plan to get acquired, like selling your business to a competitor. This could make you an even bigger profit because you built up an amazing reputation and client base with your hard work, and someone else gets to run with it.”

“Great point, Rose.” Angela added how the caller could think about marketing their business for acquisition.

Oh my god, that’s it. Why didn’t I think of it before?

The flower shop and building were worth nearly nothing now. Both were so out of date that they wouldn’t make much money if they sold it as-is. But what if they cleaned the building? Or hell, re-designed it?

What if the three of them spent a few weeks of blood, sweat, and tears flipping the building? She could make the financials work. Lily had an amazing design eye, and Violet knew enough about what a floral shop would need.

Or… Chills ran down her arms. What if they reopened the shop and sold it to a competitor in a few months?

Rose felt excitement thrum in her chest for the first time in a long time. She’d enjoyed helping her clients, but ultimately, she’d helped somebody else’s business thrive. She’d never had the time, capital, or energy to make something of her own. What if this was her one chance? Her heart beat faster at the possibility.

What if she could use all her experience, save her little sister, and bail her dad out one last time?

Rose quickly answered as many caller questions as she could, counting the minutes until the podcast ended. She spoke faster and faster as she and Angela were batting ideas back and forth off their callers’ questions.

“That’s all for us. Be a badass today and a rich badass tomorrow.” Rose waved, and Angela hit the end recording button.

“What the hell was that, Rose? Did you do a line of coke before we started?” Angela slumped over on the video call, winded.

Rose burst out laughing. “No, I just need to go. I’ll talk to you later, Ang.”

Angela waved as Rose closed her laptop and dove for her phone. She opened her favorite group text.

Rose

I have big news.

Lilybug

oh :poop emoji:

Vi

are u tryinggggg to kill me right now rose

Rose

No - GOOD big news. Meet me at the flower shop at 6.

Lilybug

OUR NERVES CAN NOT TAKE THIS

Vi

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