National Small Business Day 2026

May 10th was National Small Business Day, and it reminded me of the time I woke up to find a public hearing sign planted in my front yard. 😅

A few years earlier, the city had told me I couldn’t teach music lessons from my home without a business license. So I went to get one… only to be told I lived in a residential area and couldn’t operate a business there. After quite a bit of back and forth, we left believing I would have to shut down immediately.

The very next day, they called back and said they had researched it further and determined that music lessons fell under “fine arts and tutoring,” meaning I could continue teaching and receive a license after all.

So after moving to a new home and receiving HOA approval to teach there, I was more than a little surprised to discover my property was going before the Board of Adjustment. It was listed publicly in the newspaper, and a few sweet friends came with me to the hearing for support.

One concerned citizen stood up and announced that she had driven past my house, noticed how close the homes were together, and declared that she would NOT want to live next door listening to “plink, plink, plink” on the piano all day. 🎹

(We later learned she didn’t actually live near me — she simply attended meetings regularly to voice concerns.)

When the board asked if I wanted to respond, I explained that I had been teaching for over 20 years and had never once had a neighbor complain about music or noise. They also asked whether I hosted recitals or large events at my home, and were quite satisfied with my answer: no.

In the end, they approved my license, and it still hangs proudly in my studio today.

​Running a small business often involves far more behind-the-scenes challenges than most people ever realize.