Public Relations Entreprenista Experiences Amazing First-Year Success

Members of the Entreprenista League have two things in common: they’re inspiring female leaders, and they all took the chance to launch their own businesses. Kiara McKinney, founder and CEO of Boost Public Relations LLC, joined the Entreprenista League community just a few months ago — and is already a force to be reckoned with. 

She founded her PR firm to provide a holistic approach to brand positioning for small and emerging brands. In its first year, Kiara’s business has seen tremendous success. Not only has she secured her clients’ placements in national outlets such as Entrepreneur, Inc. and Forbes, but Boost PR is already an award-winning boutique agency that has earned $100,000 in revenue in under a year. 

Reaching Her Business Goals

Like most entrepreneurs, reaching her goals hasn’t always been easy. “Financing business expenses is a constant struggle,” she said. “Though my business is service-based, it requires investing in talented employees and many tools and subscriptions that cost money. I’ve bootstrapped my business from the start, which has been challenging at times. I invested nearly $30,000 into my business in the first year.”

This year, around the same time she signed up to be a member of the Entreprenista League, Kiara secured a Chase Ink Business Cash credit card. Doing so has enabled her to separate her personal and business finances and make significant investments, such as software and tool updates, which have been  a game-changer for her business. 

“A publicist is nothing without her media contacts, but databases are extremely expensive — they are essentially the same size investment as paying a part-time employee for a whole year. When I first started my agency, I was solely relying on existing contacts and purchasing industry-specific media lists, which limited my abilities to serve my clients best,” Kiara said. “Using my Chase Ink credit card has allowed me to level up my software and business tools as well as finance a solid database, which has helped provide a better, higher level of service to my clients. My Chase Ink business credit card gives me reassurance that my goals are within reach,” she said.

As a frequent business traveler, Kiara also uses her business credit card to help handle travel expenses, which comes in handy when running a national agency. The monthly cashback rewards Kiara earns on her business spend help to provide a cushion for further business expenses and to reinvest back into her growing company.

Being an Entrepreneur

Kiara told Entreprenista that the greatest struggle in being a business owner has been giving herself grace as she navigates wearing many “hats” as a new CEO.

“There’s pressure to please everyone. As a perfectionist, I want every single person who interacts with my business to have a flawless and seamless experience, but this isn’t always realistic,” she said. “I’ve had to let go of my expectation of perfection.”

However, the benefits of running her own business far outweigh the day-to-day stresses. Kiara says she loves the flexibility and balance that running her own company has brought to her life, as well as the ability to be creative while helping guide other professionals just like her. 

“I love employing young people looking to get their start in PR,” she said. “Mentoring is a huge passion of mine, and I enjoy the connections I’ve made through my business.” 

Choosing the Right Financial Partner

For aspiring entrepreneurs, Kiara recommends researching financing options prior to launching a business.

“Know how much your initial investment might add up to, create a financial plan and begin to set aside money. You don’t need to save it all at once; instead, create a step-by-step timeline and estimate how much you’ll need for each phase,” she said. “Establish a solid track record of bringing in sales/income and ensure your credit is in good shape.” 

Choosing a business credit card is more than just picking which card is right for the business. It’s also about deciding on a financial partner you can trust to help grow your business, according to Kiara.

“I have banked with Chase for my entire adulthood and trust them over any other bank,” she said. “They have so many great options for business banking as well. It was an easy choice!”

To join Kiara in the Entreprenista League community, visit Entreprenista.com/theleague.

Interested in securing a Chase Ink Business Card for your business? Learn more here.