The old saying "think big" doesn’t always guarantee success. More often, it's the power of small, deliberate steps that propel people toward their goals.
Take Adachi Hiroyuki, for example. Originally from the Kyoto area of Japan, he circled the restaurant industry in his adopted home of Oakland, California before deciding to start his own. With just $5,000 in his bank account, he had a vision: to make Japanese food more affordable.
“Japanese food is usually so expensive, but it doesn’t have to be sushi,” he explained. That idea led him to focus on Japanese-style fried chicken.
Rather than diving in headfirst, Adachi started small — testing his concept as a pop-up. Word spread quickly, thanks to both enthusiastic customers and targeted social media ads aimed at Bay Area locals.
His dedication paid off. Three years after launching his pop-up restaurant, he opened his first brick-and-mortar restaurant, ABURAYA, dedicated to Japanese-style fried chicken. In 2019, he won the Visa Cashless Challenge, securing a $10,000 grant to help him grow his business. But just as he was gaining momentum, the pandemic hit. Instead of shutting down, he quickly pivoted and leaned into online delivery orders, which now make up 60 percent of his business.
While Adachi still enjoys seeing familiar faces in his restaurant, the shift to digital ordering has helped keep labor costs low. His restaurant is also entirely cashless — a decision driven by both security and efficiency. “We don’t have to go to the bank to deposit cash, which saves us a lot of time,” he said.
From a humble pop-up to a thriving restaurant, Adachi’s journey proves that thinking small — at least in the beginning — can lead to big success.
The new face of small business
Visa recognizes that the idea of what constitutes a small business is evolving, thanks to social media and digital platforms. Today, anyone can be a seller, from the owner of a restaurant pop-up or food truck to digital creators driving a new wave of entrepreneurship. But they all face challenges like cash flow and slow payouts like insurance payments or expense payouts just as traditional small business owners. Visa supports businesses of all sizes with financial tools and resources to help them thrive.
Small businesses and creators alike can access capital through Visa Business credit cards or get paid in real-time1 to their Visa Business debit card, available through their financial institution. Visa Direct to Card delivers the option for small businesses to cash out funds in real-time too. For discounts on digital advertising services and other helpful services, cardholders can link their Visa Business card in Visa SavingsEdge to start saving on everyday business purchase.
Spending mindset shift
"Thinking small" isn't just a mindset — it’s a strategy. By focusing on intentional, value-driven spending, small business owners can maximize every dollar, invest where it truly matters and keep their small businesses financially agile. Here are 10 ways to make smart, strategic choices today that pave the way for sustainable growth.
1. Create a realistic budget: Outline all of your fixed and variable expenses and set spending limits for each category. Make sure to regularly review and adjust based on your cash flow.
2. Prioritize essential expenses: Focus on must-have expenses like rent, payroll and inventory, and delay or phase in non-essential purchases like physical store upgrades.
3. Separate personal and business finances: Open a dedicated business bank account. Use a business credit card to keep track of expenses more easily and take advantage of rewards programs like cash back to offset some expenses.
4. Accept digital payments. Accepting digital payments helps small business owners streamline transactions, reduce the risk of theft and improve cash flow. It also enhances the customer experience, speeds up checkout and allows for better financial tracking. In addition, digital payments support online sales, boost credibility and help minimize errors — ensuring your business stays competitive in an increasingly cashless economy.
5. Negotiate with vendors: Build strong relationships with your vendors to secure flexible deals and ask for better payment terms or bulk discounts.
6. Avoid impulse purchases: Stick to your budget plan and sleep on big financial decisions before committing. Do you need to invest in a brick-and-mortar right away or does starting at a farmers' market, online only or shared space work better?
7. Leverage free or low-cost tools: Use free software for accounting, marketing and project management. Tap into free business development resources and grants. Check out Visa’s Small Business Hub for tools, resources and pro advice.
8. Optimize cash flow: Keep track of incoming and outgoing money daily or weekly. Plan ahead for slow seasons to avoid financial strain and use those slow periods to think creatively about how to grow your business without impacting your financial growth.
9. Use business credit wisely: If you’re looking for a loan or line of credit, choose low-interest options and pay off balances quickly to avoid high-interest fees. Shop around!
10. Plan for emergencies: Build a small emergency fund for unexpected expenses. Set aside a percentage of profits to cushion financial downturns because you never know when you might need it.