Q: I know this might be a bit on the personal side, but I’ve always wondered what goes on behind the scenes when it comes to running a successful blog. I’m sure a lot of readers just think you write up posts and conquer home improvement projects but from owning my own small business I know all about the “maintenance” (like taxes, health insurance, business licenses, etc). I don’t know if it’s something you’re willing to talk about but I’m sure there are a lot of other aspiring small business owners and bloggers who would like to learn about everything that goes into keeping YHL going. Thanks so much for the daily inspiration and all that “eye candy” as you call it! – Miranda
A: This is a great question for our blogiversary—there’s a lot that happens behind the scenes to keep Young House Love running, and most of it involves the business-side maintenance you mentioned. The good news is that, even with all the administrative work, it’s worth it because we get to do what we love. We didn’t start with a business plan; YHL began as a hobby to keep friends and family updated on house projects. Over time the blog grew, and we had to learn both blogging and small business basics as it turned into a full-time job for both of us.
Hosting is one of the first technical hurdles. In the early days we used an inexpensive shared host, which is great for starters because it keeps costs low by sharing server resources. As our traffic increased, though, shared hosting couldn’t keep up. When our spikes in traffic started crashing the site, we switched to a dedicated server designed for higher volume. Moving years of content was stressful—some comments and images needed restoration—but the stability improvements were worth it. Expect hosting costs to rise as traffic grows; that jump in expense is a normal part of scaling a blog.
To keep page speed fast and reduce risk, we also separate image storage from the main site. We use a cloud service for images so pages load more quickly and we avoid having everything in one place. That adds another recurring cost based on storage and bandwidth, but the reliability and accessibility for readers make it worthwhile.
Taxes are a major adjustment when you go from employee to business owner. We pay quarterly federal and state taxes on our earnings, which means setting aside a percentage of income regularly instead of waiting until the end of the year. Hiring an accountant to manage quarterly filings is a huge help—yes, it costs more than an annual tax return, but it prevents mistakes and keeps us compliant. If you plan to treat blogging as a full-time business, engaging a knowledgeable accountant is one of the best investments you can make.
Health insurance is another area that changed. As self-employed people we now purchase our own coverage. Finding a plan wasn’t difficult—searching locally and asking other freelancers for recommendations did the trick—but premiums are higher than employer-sponsored options. Still, having good coverage brings peace of mind, especially with family responsibilities.
Retirement saving also becomes your responsibility once you’re self-employed. Instead of a company 401(k), many freelancers use plans like a SEP-IRA or other self-employed retirement accounts. It’s important to research options and automate contributions so you’re consistently saving. Learning the ropes of retirement planning was empowering for us: once we understood the choices, we set up a plan that works for our business cash flow and long-term goals.
There are also regular business formalities: we maintain an LLC, renew a business license, and pay various annual fees. Even as a small two-person company, those filings and legal obligations matter. If you’re unsure, your county and state business websites are good starting points, and professionals like accountants and lawyers can provide clear guidance.
On the technical side, we sometimes hire developers to fix bugs, optimize performance, or add features. Periodically we also invest in equipment—better cameras, faster computers, or editing tools—to improve content quality. Those purchases are enjoyable but affect the budget and can delay other projects around the house while we save.
Of course, producing regular content means ongoing project expenses. Home improvement posts require materials and tools, even for small tutorials or DIYs. Budgeting for projects—big and small—is part of running a home-focused blog. Over time you get used to balancing content needs with project costs and learning which investments yield the best results for readers and the business.
All told, running a successful blog involves technical infrastructure, financial planning, legal upkeep, and occasional outside help, plus the creative work of producing content. It’s not something that “practically manages itself,” but for us the trade-offs are worth it: we get to create, share, and connect with readers while building a sustainable business. Big thanks to everyone who stops by and follows along—your support makes all the behind-the-scenes work possible.
Update – We often get questions about professionally blogging—how we built the site, grew traffic, and turned it into a full-time job—so we shared details about how to start a blog, grow an audience, and monetize it for those interested in pursuing blogging as a business.