So, you’ve graduated farrier school or finished an apprenticeship and are ready to launch your own farrier business. You might be thinking, “What are my next steps? How can I stand out from other farriers? What does it take to run my own business?”

You’re not alone. Many farriers have these same questions as they begin their careers. Running your own business may seem daunting, but if you are aware of common business mistakes other new farriers make, you can avoid them and start off on the right foot.

George Goode, director of the Tucson School of Horseshoeing in Tuscon, Ariz., stresses the importance of aspiring farriers attending school.

“A mistake I see is people not going to school long enough, not getting enough hands-on experience,” he says.

It is important to supplement anatomical knowledge with hands-on experience, which shoeing schools provide. The longer the program is and the more you are in school, the more experience you will gain that you can later apply in the real world.

Learning shouldn’t stop after you’ve graduated, though. Many farriers make the…