Getting your first client is an exhilarating experience, but it’s also an experience that far too many aspiring entrepreneurs never experience. Sometimes, the difference between an idea dying in the idea stage or going on to change the world is getting that first customer – the first tiny win that creates the momentum to make an idea real. So, we connected with some of the smartest folks we could and asked them to tell us the stories of how they got their initial clients.

Latrisha Anderson
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I started my first business in 2007, and it failed tremendously since I didn’t have the proper foundations, tools, and resources. It wasn’t until some years later that I knew I had to give entrepreneurship another try. I walked away from a high-paying director-level position to start VISIONful so I could help entrepreneurs across the globe take action to make their entrepreneurial dreams a reality while also connecting them to grant funding. Read more>>

Elizabeth Alligood

When I got my real estate license, I didn’t have a mentor or a coach. I had to figure out a lot of it on my own, but I didn’t have any fears of asking other experienced agents my questions. I was told by many that it would take me up to 6 months to get a client and that I would primarily be a buyer’s agent. I gave myself 3 months and I ended up getting my first client within a month… and it was a listing. Read more>>

Brenda Cali

I’ll never forget the day because I was pretty proud of myself at the time. I was helping plan a library fundraiser and one day while I was working a woman came in and we started talking. I noticed she had an engagement ring on so I asked her about it. We started chatting about her fiance and how he proposed and then I told her about my business. Read more>>

Hannah LaVigne

In September of 2019, I decided to leave my server job in pursuit of an event planning business. I picked the name, logo, services, and even did a branding shoot for it! When I started the social media account I realized that I didn’t actually want to be an event planner even though friends / family knew me to be the go to “party planner”. Read more>>

Katharine Harris

This probably isn’t the story of my very first client ever BUT this is the story of my largest client to date. I previously worked for a custom home builder here in town as the designer and selections coordinator; I would meet with potential clients, work through their selections with them and build a relationship prior to them signing the contract to build. I met a couple during this phase, and we immediately hit it off, however, during that time, I was already bouncing around the idea of Sixth and Steel and decided to pull the trigger and go off on my own. Read more>>

Yrsina Colangelo

When my son was seven years old, I volunteered as much as I could to help in his art classes, take pictures, helping with projects wherever I could to be the momma bear I am as long as I was closer to him. Read more>>

Isaac Jones

I had always been skeptical about sending out flyers in the mail. But this is how I received my first recurring pest control client. Turns out that this particular customer owns a lot of multi-family rental properties. I have inspected and treated the units for everything from roaches to bed bugs for this client. I am grateful for all of the work. Read more>>

Derek Gaffett

I had just made the decision to go all in on one thing and it was the one thing I should’ve started 10 years ago. I’ve always had a passion for woodworking but it was more of a hobby or something I would practice for fun and others would always tell me I should do it professionally. When I made the decision, to turn woodworking into a business, I started talking to anyone and everyone about wood, trying to find someone interested in having a giant $15,000 live edge dining table in their home. Read more>>

Lily Ly

I started real estate in 2008 when short sale and bankruptcy was the norm. A short sale transaction is when the value of the house is less than the loan amount or debt that is owed. A short sale is usually a sign of a financially distressed homeowner who needs to sell the property before the lender seizes it in foreclosure. These transactions at the time would take minimum 4-6 months to complete. Read more>>

Erica Vellanti

In October of 2022 I was laying face down on the massage table and I had an idea. My husband and I had been talking about getting more connected to entrepreneurs in our local community but none of the local networking groups aligned with what we were looking for. Read more>>

Tyler Kerby

When I was eager to expand my detailing business beyond friends and family, I turned to the Nextdoor app to make my first breakthrough. I posted a detailed listing with pricing and included services for vehicle detailing. The response was beyond my expectations – within a short time, two individuals messaged me. Read more>>

Joy Hsieh

first started my freelancing photography looking for potential client in the Facebook group (I believed). Asking for newborn baby model calls, giving free high resolution photos as gift in return for paricipating for the model call and turned out the clients would like to purchase more edited photos at the end so that’s pretty much how I first started doing my business to do model calls, do more practices and build my portfolio at the same time. Read more>>

Paige Padgett

In real estate we focus on our sphere of influence. These are people who know and trust you. They are friends, family, professionals anyone who you’ve made a connection with. This is usually where you get your first transaction from. It was true for me. Read more>>

Samuel Moses

ou always remember your first deal! Read more>>

LINDA WANG

I had an unused business account on Instagram that was dedicated to a new side hobby of eyelash extensions. I never continued training but switched over to learning how to do permanent jewelry and started posting practice photos with friends and family and I quickly grew a following from there. My inbox was full with questions on when and where I would be offering the service and I was floored by the amount of people interested! Read more>>

Samantha Armbruster

When I began in the mortgage industry, I was fresh out of college and assisting a high producing loan officer with marketing and clerical duties until I earned my loan origination license. While I was content in my assistant role, I began expanding my knowledge base with both loan products as well as client facing interactions. Read more>>

Stefan Munoz

I still remember talking to my first bride about shooting her wedding. She had a very small budget and I was just happy to talk to her, I practically threw the whole kitchen sink at her. I had only been an assistant shooter up to that point and I was so eager to start shooting my own weddings. Read more>>

Mady Hastings

This isn’t a story of my first ever client, but about my first subscriber for my Hastings Harvest Box Subscription. My subscription service is for a weekly or biweekly box of fresh produce from my farm. I had attempted to make this a key part of my business in my second year (2022) but had no customer interest in the idea at the time. Read more>>

Ashley BabiBabi

I Got my first client from outdoor freelancing, I would be out taken photos with family/friends who are my biggest supporters. People were attracted to my work ethic as well as the art of the camera it’s like a magnet, you may catch me in a tree or standing on top of benches at the park to get my shot. I would get approached in question for my contact information. Read more>>

Havannah Goshen

How I got my first client, is a crazy story. So in 2021 after Covid-19 had hit the US. I decided that I needed to do something that inspired me to push myself into my calling and what I always loved to do, which is hair. At the moment I was staying in Arkansas. I made the big decision to move to Houston and go to Barber College to further my skill set and career. Read more>>

Valerie Lozano

My first consignment client was someone that sent me a DM on Instagram. They saw a post about my services, and reached out inquiring about how the process worked. At this time, I had only 1 client which was a good friend of mine. I didn’t have a contract in place, no real system of how everything was going to work, I was just “trying” this whole consignment thing out with my friend who gave me the opportunity to try and sell her clothes. Read more>>

Dr. Suki Stone

Taking a Risk By Suki Stone, Ph.D. Read more>>

Jamie Owens

I had my first “real” client reach out to me via a questionnaire on my website. His wife had put him in charge of planning their honeymoon and he was looking for help from a travel advisor. I didn’t know this at the time, but I wasn’t the only travel advisor he spoke to. Luckily, he chose to work with me and the first step was deciding on a destination. Read more>>

Slutty Beatz

I Got My First Client Going Live On Facebook and Instagram. That’s Where I Go Live Listening To My Beats, Letting People Know I Make Beats, Etc. But Before That It Took A Couple Months Of Consistency And Hard Work To Get Noticed. Also Jus Going To Different Studios Meeting Different Artist. That’s Pretty Much How I Start Getting Clientele. Read more>>

Brooke Baevsky

I was in culinary school and my background in Food Science & Health-Supportive Culinary Arts was the perfect combination for professional athletes. From there, it was a word-of-mouth snowball effect. Read more>>

Sarahy Guerrero

My first client Is by social marketing AND i get my earn by 8 mounts but i need More publicity. I am relax because when get other clients i would be best. Read more>>