Rachel McCord’s Top 3 Tips for Bootstrapping Your Brand Like a Boss ✨📈

Rachel McCord at Nasdaq in Times Square for Bloomberg TV

Standing at Nasdaq for Bloomberg TV’s Female Founders, I couldn’t help but reflect on the wild journey of building The McCord List from the ground up. No investors. No trust fund. Just vision, grit, and a whole lot of hustle. If you’re dreaming of launching your brand but don’t have millions in the bank (yet), here are my top three tips for bootstrapping your way to success—because if I can do it, so can you. 💖

1️⃣ Build Your Brand Before You Build Your Budget

Money can’t buy real influence—your voice, your passion, and your unique story do that. Before spending a dime, focus on building your brand identity. What do you stand for? Who do you serve? How do you stand out? Create content, show up online, and let people fall in love with YOU first.

2️⃣ Get Scrappy & Leverage What You Have

No office? Work from your fave coffee shop. No marketing budget? Network like a pro and collaborate with people who share your audience. No designer? Canva is your bestie. Stop focusing on what you don’t have—start maximizing what you do. Resourcefulness is a superpower.

3️⃣ Monetize Early & Reinvent as You Go

Too many founders wait until everything is perfect before launching. Newsflash: Perfection doesn’t pay the bills. Start with a simple offer, test it, and tweak as you go. Whether it’s consulting, digital products, or merch—find a way to make money now, so your brand can keep growing without burning through your savings.

Bootstrapping isn’t easy, but it makes you unstoppable. 💪 Keep the vision clear, the hustle strong, and the confidence unshakable. I’ll see you at the top. 💖🔥