In a perfect world, starting a business would be as easy as writing down your business plan on a napkin and having a mysterious benefactor grant you the capital you need and then some. Unfortunately, not everyone can be given such a break. Even if you have an idea like Mark Zuckerberg’s Facebook or David Karp’s Tumblr, other factors can get in the way of your success. Such is the nature of start-ups. But if you do your research and learn from other people’s experiences, you might just get a chance to show the world what you’re made of.

Kat Nantes, current co-owner of Paire Cocktails and Pastries in Quezon City, knows the pressure of a starting your own business very well. From garage sales to mobile bars, and now, to a lovely cocktail and pastry shop, Kat has accumulated a wealth of wisdom that she very generously shared with FN. Scroll through the gallery below for five of her start-up lessons:

(Photo by Myra Mortega-Calulo)