Having a “build-it-and-they-will-come” attitude may show true entrepreneurial spirit, but you also have to be realistic about some of the challenges you’ll most likely encounter along the way. Kat Nantes, co-owner of Paire Cocktails and Pastries knows a thing or two about start-up problems herself. Since starting the business with her sister Abby in 2011, she has met and surmounted many of them as she builds her brand. Here, she offers more insight for those who are thinking of starting their own business from scratch.

1. Marketing issues

Introducing your concept store to the community is easier now thanks to social media web sites like Facebook and Twitter, but it’s still a challenge for most start-ups. For Paire, Kat says, “We really just [needed] time to introduce ourselves.” It wasn’t a problem of whether the market would embrace Paire or not—she and her family strongly believed in their business idea—it was how quickly the potential customers would adapt to it.

2. Monetary supply

For start-ups, there’s always that pressure to break even and earn profit. After all, it’s one of the ways by which you can gauge whether your business is doing well or not. Kat, who borrowed money from her parents, certainly feels the need to succeed. While her restaurant is doing better than some (they reached breakeven status in less than two years, a feat for most restaurants), she still has to pay her parents back and make money out of the business.

3. Translating likes into sales

New businesses stem from an entrepreneur’s bright idea, but what most of these neophytes have trouble doing is transforming that bright idea into actual profit. How do you increase your sales? Kat, whose pretty little restaurant has earned a lot of oohs and aahs from customers, says that she has no trouble booking orders for events but sees a need to boost her walk-in customers. “Hindi ko pa na-re-reach ‘yung sales goals ko (I haven't reach my sales goals yet),” she shares.