Growing and scaling a business is hard and we wanted to hear from business owners who have successfully scaled a business. Below, you’ll find our conversations on scaling with some very talented and insightful folks.

Peter Marin

When I first started my business, I was just airbrushing all types of different artwork. I was the guy who you can go to, and if you needed something airbrushed, I could do it, anything from body art to murals, to motorcycles, to t-shirts. I even ran a couple of airbrush stores early in my career. When I finally started doing events, I had someone approach me in when I airbrushing at a kiosk in the mall. Read more>>

RaKeisha Smith

I am a big believer that once you launch a business you will lose money before you make any money back. Unless your already rich and have a big platform behind you than it’s easier said than done. Having a purpose and plan on top of a value product is probably the best thing a business owner can do. I honestly believe I scaled up because two different reasons. One of those reasons is social media. On social media I have a lot of people watching me taking my ideas but No actual support. Read more>>

Yazmin Brown

When I first started my business I was working out of the kitchen in my small one bedroom apartment. I did not have a work space or enough counter space to buy everything that I needed. I remember projects were a clean and go style. I had a cheap $20.00 pasta roller, along with some tools that I had in my own personal tool box that I used for sanding. I used baking sheets that I had in the kitchen to lay the clay on for the baking process. My inventory was not as it is today. I did not know where to begin with selling my products. I first sold to my friends and family. Read more>>

Lisa Vazquez

The route I took to scale my business to what it is today started with Farmer’s markets. When I made the decision to start my custom cake business, I knew I had to think of a way to get multiple people to try something I’ve baked. Because once they tried a few things and enjoyed it (& I knew they would!) that’s when I had my portfolio ready! Read more>>

Marci Barker

I started my online fitness business in 2015 and it wasn’t common to pay for personal training on the internet. Even though my programs hit almost every state in the country in the first year of business the model of a cheap program going to the masses wasn’t right for my stage of life. I had 4 young daughters under the age of 6 when I started my business and while social media helped me grow fast, I was losing the face to face connection I really thrived on. Read more>>

Kathleen Cisarik

Like you stated, some people do believe business owner are ‘lucky’ and the success of your business happens overnight. That is not the case in my story! I developed my business idea years ago and finally made the decision to commit full-time to my idea of creating unique and one-of-a-kind handbags different from any big designer that is both affordable and great quality. One of my main goals was to have my manufacturer based in the U.S. Not only that, based in Texas…which we found after several months of calls and research. Read more>>

Krystal McGee

Realistically implementing and putting things into real action is super weird scary. It doesn’t matter how much research you do, or nights you spend watching YouTube videos. Starting a business will bring upon the nerves! When I first launched 1/1/2021 I eased into the boutique world showcasing and providing pieces that were effortless in style and fashion, Taking a little, and looking amazing. Control of inventory is a MUST! Keeping items and pieces in stock will keep the flow of your business. Read more>>

Ashleigh Woolf

We’ve been in business for over 10 years now and for the first 7 years, we only had 1 machine. Personally, it was very intimidating to begin scaling up. We were only being rented several times a month and rarely did we have to tell someone no because we were booked. In 2019, I had accidentally scheduled 2 weddings for the same date. I found the error a few weeks before their actual wedding and I couldn’t bring myself to canceling on either one of them. I didn’t want that image for our business and didn’t want to disappoint our customers. Read more>>

Rebekah Alenduff

Since becoming head coach of the Jax Fire Dragons, our club has grown from 15 members to 50 active club members, with the majority of the growth occurring this past year. Initially, I was the only coach for the club; however, last year I added four assistant coaches, which has given me time to focus on developing our elite athletes. Read more>>

The Action Catalyst

Getting The Action Catalyst from where it started to where it is today was a long process, but with each change came a pivotal step up. The program was a pretty early adopter of the podcasting format, starting in 2013. It began with it’s original host, who sort of started the format, brought in a big social media following, and got things brewing. About 4 years later, that host exited, and a new one came on board, who started doing even more in-depth discussions, really utilizing the fact that there are no time constraints on podcast conversation. Read more>>

Marco Brown.

When I initially came up with the idea to start my business. I started by selling plates out of my apartment in Daytona Beach. I created the LLC, got an email address, and made an instagram and Facebook strictly for the business. I figured I have to get my name out there some type of way! So I advertised to friends, family, co-workers, fraternity brothers, anyone that would give me a chance. I would either sell brunch plates on Saturday’s or Soul Food plates on Sunday’s. Read more>>

Constance Nelson

Growing up with a learning disability I had to really work twice hard to level the playing field at all times to succeed. This gave me the drive and the initiative to be an entrepreneur, someone who really wants to make a difference. In order to do this, I had to push myself and find a creative way to study. I needed to accept the limitations that I had and use them for myself. This is where I learned that life is happening for me—not to me. I had to accept what life had given me, but use it to my advantage. This was also my journey to ask for help. Accepting my disabilities and getting tested, I was able to get accommodations for my college classes. Read more>>

Erin Allice

I started out in 2019 with an idea to sell my ceramics on Etsy simply as a way to make room for making more ceramics. I think this is something most people who make ceramics start out doing. What better way to fund a hobby right? After a time I realized that I was happiest making my ceramics vs going into a 9 to 5 job. This was especially more obvious to me after the COVID quarantine happened and we all got set into a work from home situation for almost 2 years. Read more>>

Marie Moreau

Prestige Massage had a few predecessors. I did not know what I wanted to call my business. One name I came up with was, “Deep Forest Escape.” After being ridiculed and mocked by family I quickly let that name go. Another idea was “Pain Relief and Solutions.” That name was so plain and boring. I wanted the name to have life. Something unique that wasn’t a tongue twister. Many therapists include words like, touch, angelic, therapeutic, pain, or knead in their business name. I wanted something different from the masses. Read more>>

Daniela Sanchez

well, scale up in the real estate industry its a little bit hard for people that think is pretty easy to sell house, especially in this market where you find a lot of colleague, but for me another colleague is not a competition for me the competition is with me. in the beginning every step is very important for your advance, you need to believe in yourself, because in the way you will going to find people that they will tell you there are many realtors in the industry or you waste your time, or find a full time job, Read more>>

James & Joshua

It is true what is said, “Rome was not built in a day.” With any great enterprise there are years of hard work and struggle that take place to make anything “great.” Constant dedication and strategic foresight are necessary to grow and adapt. So too is business. We were fortunate enough with Twinkle Trees to find a diamond in the rough, but it took many years of polishing and will take many more to build this business to what we dream it can be! So far, our greatest asset has been our character, ambition, and expertise in customer service. Since we began this adventure, Read more>>

Shayna Simone

Back in 2014, I was a solopreneur and rented a suite. It was just me. One of the things that I specialize in is healthy haircare and a lot of people said I had the growing touch. I ended up attracting a lot of professional women and found myself suddenly booked out six weeks in advance. They would call me, trying to schedule appointments and they would ask, “Do you have someone there that could do my hair?” At that moment is when I realized I needed to hire my first employee. I went on to hire my first commissioned stylist and from that point on both of our chairs were always full. Read more>>

Diana Bianchini

This year in May, my agency, Di Moda Public Relations celebrated 20 years in business. I have spent a lot of time recently thinking about how I got here and what defines success for me now. When starting a business, you naturally want to “scale up” and be able to grow. Good work in my industry helps companies and individuals scale up because it gets noticed. Happy clients bring in new clients. Meaningful relationships deliver referrals. Read more>>

Bria Allure

A lot of people on the outside looking in think that having your own business is consistent in the beginning. There are some days where you’ll make a large amount of money, then the next day you could make zero dollars. In the beginning those days would discourage me! When I first started my business I had my one small box of inventory, my box of small mailers, and my mini printer. I would try to get as many orders as I could finished while still working my full time night shift job. Read more>>

LaTashia Mitchell

I was able to scale up my business by creating a hair product line called Something Natural Hair! During the pandemic I had to temporarily close my business during that time and it forced me to become even more creative to help support my family. I started to research a chemist, Ingredients, manufactures, label companies and other sources I needed to complete the product line. Finally I was able to create Something Natural Hair Care which I created to help support my clients in need of hair care products, when all salons and most stores were closed or sold out of the products they needed. Read more>>