How to Grow a Business Without a Trust Fund or Yacht Photos
Ah yes, the ultimate startup marketing plan:
✅ Step 1: Launch hot sauce.
✅ Step 2: Rent yacht.
✅ Step 3: Hope nobody asks about revenue.
In the latest episode of “nepo babies doing the most,” Brooklyn Beckham (son of Posh and Becks) drew internet side-eye for promoting his hot sauce brand from the deck of a superyacht like he was the heir to Cholula.
Spoiler alert: the internet wasn’t buying it.
And neither should you.
Because while the pics were shiny, the substance? Questionable at best. And that, dear reader, is the exact opposite of how real small and medium-sized businesses scale. Let's talk about why.
Branding Is Cool. Bank Accounts Are Cooler.
Let’s be clear: good branding matters.
Hell, great branding sells.
But if all you've got is slick photos, fancy packaging, and a vibe-heavy Instagram… and you're not backing that up with a legit financial strategy, then you’re just playing entrepreneur on easy mode.
Brooklyn’s yacht stunt is a perfect example of style over substance…and it's a trap a lot of small business owners fall into. But here’s the thing:
You don’t need a yacht. You need a working capital plan.
Because building a real business isn’t about appearances.
It’s about cash flow, credit, capacity, and growth.
The Problem with Fluff-First Businesses
When you focus on flexing instead of fundamentals, here’s what happens:
You spend more on photoshoots than on production.
You launch faster than you can fulfill.
You prioritize clout over customer retention.
You forget that running out of money is what kills 82% of small businesses. (Yup. That’s the stat.)
Sure, maybe the yacht promo goes viral.
But can you handle 500 orders next week?
Do you have the funds to restock, hire help, pay rent, and keep your books clean?
Didn’t think so.
Working Capital Is the Unsexy Superpower
Look, we get it. “Working capital” doesn’t sound nearly as fun as “luxury boat” or “exclusive launch party.” But if you actually want to grow your business (profitably, sustainably, and without burning out), you need to understand it.
So, What Is Working Capital?
It’s the money you use to run your business daily.
Think: inventory, payroll, marketing, rent, restocks, new hires, vendor payments. All of it.
It’s not long-term investment money.
It’s not retirement money.
It’s not “hope this goes viral” money.
It’s the breathing room that keeps your business alive.
Real Talk: Here’s What You Should Be Doing Instead
If you're tempted to drop your last $5k on a launch party, please read this instead:
✅ Focus on Fulfillment First
You can't sell what you don’t have. Make sure inventory, staffing, and systems are ready to handle growth before you go big on marketing.
✅ Fund the Boring Stuff
Rent, tech tools, bookkeeping… they don’t look good on TikTok, but they keep your biz running. Working capital makes this stuff suck less.
✅ Borrow Strategically (Not Desperately)
Too many business owners wait until they’re drowning to seek funding. That’s when rates are brutal and options are limited. Apply before you need it.
✅ Grow With Margins in Mind
No point scaling if you’re bleeding money on every sale. Working capital lets you order at volume, lower COGS, and increase profit.
So... What Can Brooklyn Teach Us?
Sometimes, the best business lessons come from bad PR.
Brooklyn Beckham reminded us all that flashy branding is not a business plan. It’s a distraction. And it’ll leave you broke if you’re not backing it up with infrastructure, funding, and financial clarity.
Your business doesn’t need a yacht. It needs stability, strategy, and a whole lot of working capital.
Save the yacht for your exit party, not your product launch.
So, unless you’re a nepo baby with access to music and football royalty money, you probably can’t afford to wing it on vibes and yacht photos.
Book a call with a Credit Banc advisor, and let’s talk about actual strategy, real funding, and how to build a business that doesn’t rely on your last name to stay afloat. Book a call here.
