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.

Estevan Reynoso

It’s actually a funny story. I applied and got a gig as a model for a sunglasses company called Foldies. At the time the owner Shea noticed my video work outside of modeling and hired me to make small videos on the side for the brand. Read more>>

Yoon Choi

I got my first clients years back when I was still working as a fashion stylist. She asked me to organize her closet and help me set up fittings at her house the way I did for red carpet clients. Read more>>

Beth Harper

I have a very special place in my heart for my first clients, they’re an incredible group of people doing amazing work called Holistic Life Foundation who teach yoga and mindfulness to kids in underserved communities. At the time (this was about ten years ago) they were mostly just doing work in Baltimore and were starting to get more national attention and needed a stronger web presence. I was side hustling as a server at a vegan cafe where they were regulars at, and it came up in conversation that I was a web designer. Read more>>

Tonita Gray

I got my first client through social media marketing. I continuously marketed my business and services that I was offering. I also shared the training and education I obtained to successfully complete the services offered. One day I received a direct message stating that they loved how I was knowledgeable and wanted to give me a try. We proceeded with the process and successfully completed it. That has been my client since that day! Read more>>

Brandon Hunt

Wow, I will never forgot the feeling I felt when I got my first customer. I remember spending countless hours the night before updating my website with all of the new items. I had finally executed my plan and started an Etsy shop featuring a curated collection of hand-picked vintage items. Read more>>

Mark Hermogeno

In 2004 UC Berkeley extension opened their Interior Design Certificate program in the high rise we lived in in San Francisco. I took an Intro to Interior Design class and I was hooked. Previously I was in the retail furniture side of things as a designer, visual merchandiser and manager for stores such as Smith & Hawken, The GAP, The Disney Store and RH where I got experience in the commercial side of design. Read more>>

Victoire Loup

When I moved to Los Angeles in 2015, I used to work for Le Fooding as Marketing Director. I then received an offer from Airbnb, which helped me transition into the freelance world. Through friends in the French F&B community, I was introduced to Fabien Moreau, a NYC-based consultant who gave me my first solo gigs in Los Angeles — engineering a US launch for Champagne brand Pommery, producing a massive event for Cartier, etc. Read more>>

Briana Benson

My first paying client came from San Francisco in 2018. The painting I had created was of a young Elton John on a 36×36 in Canvas. At the time I had been painting on my off time for fun not intending to sell my work. I had posted the new painting on Instagram and shortly after it was finished someone noticed it and reached out to purchase. I was excited yet suprised someone would want something I had created. The painting sold for $750. Read more>>

Melo Phova

The story of how I got my first client is so special to me because it was completely unexpected. A few years back, I had just started painting. At the time, it was dollar store canvases, paint and brushes – the basics. It ignited this flaming passion to create. As I got better, I decided to share my paintings on Instagram so that I can keep track of my process. Read more>>

Mike Washington-Nava

When I first started trying to write professionally, I took a kind of risky approach by reaching out to websites I respected and enjoyed and laid my cards face up on the table: I was candid about my status as a beginner in the industry. I didn’t have a portfolio at the time, but I was more than willing to work pro bono to demonstrate my work ethic and skill. Many responded with a flat “dude, no,” and most didn’t respond at all (they left me on read). However, a handful replied with a “sure, why not.” Read more>>

Jasmyn Richardson

My first client was actually given to me by the officiant that I was partnered with at the time. It was a couple that she had already booked and she allowed me to take over and officiate their wedding. This was about 6-7 months before I branches off and I was officially Joined By Jasmyn, LLC. At that point, I already had booked weddings under the previous company name, so they just carried over to the new business. Read more>>

Jes Juma

I am the sole Owner and Baker of a small, cottage goods bakery, that I operate out of my home as a side business to my full time job working for the State of North Dakota as the Director of Operations for the Labor and Human Rights Department. I am also the mother of 2 very busy, active sons. When I started my bakery, it was at the encouragement of friends and one specific co-worker. They knew I loved to bake. Read more>>

Brooke Capozzoli

When I first started out, I only had a little red point and shoot camera. I took it everywhere! When my sister and brother-in-law got engaged, they asked me to take a few engagement photos for them and I absolutely fell in love with photography! From there, I bought a real camera and I began photographing their friends and their friends families! Read more>>

Jane McCartney

I started making jewelry as a creative outlet after leaving the garment industry as an evening wear designer and moving to So. FL. After a few months of creating, I met a woman who I immediately clicked with. Upon seeing my jewelry, she was very impressed & proposed hosting a jewelry party in her home, to which she invited her friends whom I did not know. Read more>>

Emani Roberts

Being raised by not only one but two parents who are entrepreneurs I knew going into my career would require for me to grind. Seeing my parents work endlessly to provide the best life for me, to be abled to have the finer things in life and so that I could go to the best schools is what has always motivated me to be the best at whatever career path I decided to take. The thing about entrepreneurship is that you don’t have anyone hiring you into their business and cutting a check for you every other week. Read more>>

Danielle Clarke

One of the best marketing method is word of mouth. After graduating fashion school I was concerned how I’d get my first client/ sale. I started wearing my pieces to events, that’s where the motto for Xandra‘s Style came from “Fashioned to Stand Out”. Read more>>

Marta Sulima

My first client came kind of in the same way that got me to start my elopement photography business, which was actually thanks to starting an Instagram account for my dog! I had really gotten deeper into my photography when I started the account and earned a pretty large following. When I decided to start up a photography business geared towards photographing couples, I put out a call in my Instagram story looking for couples who might want a free photo session. Read more>>

Jody Gonzalez

The first client I had that wasn’t a referral from a friend or family member was through Groupon. I know people have mixed feelings about Groupon, but it worked for me. Some of my best clients came to me through Groupon almost 10 years ago. What people need to understand about Groupon is that you don’t do it to make money. You do it to bring clients in and build your clientele. Read more>>

Tyleene Brown

The first retail client that I obtained was Haven Yoga Studio at the end of 2022. When I moved back home to Atlanta after living in New York building the foundation of my brand, I was determined to get my products on someone’s shelf back in my hometown. I dedicated a lot of time to reaching out and pitching the brand but continued to receive rejection after rejection. Read more>>

Lupe Mora De Marchante

My first client came from an unlike source and when I least expected it. On a Saturday morning, I went into my pedicure appointment expecting to go in and out without interacting with anyone and enjoy a few pages from what I had been reading. I was delighted, however, when my nail technician asked about my book. I put my book down during the appointment, and we discussed our beloved authors, books, and upcoming releases. Read more>>

Nick Silverio

We needed to pivot. We spent a year ideating, branding, and building a “LinkedIn for Artists” product that was in-market, with a small but mighty user base and pretty low engagement. Artswrk was great in theory, but once you joined there was very little to do and little to gain. Ramita, my co-founder, pushed us to do user testing and figure out what was the one key value-add we could bring to freelance artists who needed flexible work and income. The answer was – you guessed it – flexible work and income. Read more>>