Almost every entrepreneur has had to decide whether to take the leap now or wait– perhaps they wanted to acquire more capital, experience or connections. Given how common this predicament is, we asked some successful business owners to reflect back on whether they wish they had started sooner or waited for a better time.

Nicole Kepic

I started my business (Nicole Kepic Copywriting) way back in 2010. At the time, it was “just” a side hustle – something I did here and there for “bonus” cash for family trips. I was already working full-time in Corporate as a Senior Copywriter, and never really imagined my freelance gig turning into anything more. Read more>>

Sergio Gonzalez

I like to think that everything in life has its own time and that things will come at the right moment no matter how much you want to rush them or try to delay them. And the reason that I believe that is because life has proven that to me many, many times; Including when we started Crepes-N-Go. Read more>>

Codie Guillory – Bradley

When I became a Mary Kay, IBC my youngest daughter was only about 6 months and I still had a few months left before I received my bachelors. I already started Destiny’s Treasure Box, but didn’t really know how to push it. Also, at this time I felt like my modeling career had moved as far as it could! Now being a new mommy again I couldn’t pursue modeling the way I was before. So, my Mary Kay business came to right on tome! But sometimes I do wish I started/knew about Mary Kay way before! I’ve only been a consultant a little over a year in a half & starting sooner I could have learned about business in a more of hands on manner. Because although I went to school I don’t really feel like I come out knowing what I need to do within my own business! But, I know God has his own timing, so I’m just thankful that I got started. Read more>>

Rachel Cohen

My journey to starting my business began well before I even realized I was on that path. Leading up to it I had purposely been seeking a variety of experiences. I worked in non profits, for profits, government and academia across sectors including aging, community development, environmental conservation, housing, health care, social services and public health. I worked in rural, suburban and urban communities and with each position I would get restless. I’d struggle because each place saw the world as siloed. You could only build housing or only provide long term care not the full person like their social connections, access to food or ability to access parks and more. I have a background in social work and community planning with a specialization in aging and I see the world as a beautiful interconnected web of all the dimensions of our lives. I had spent 20 years working for other people, fulfilling their visions and trying to fit in their boxes. Read more>>

 Jasmine Rene

I started my business after I graduated from college. I worked from home until I could find my first office space which was about 200 sqaure ft. I worked a job for about 8 hours during the day, then I would get off and go to my studio space and sketch and plan out business ideas. I barely had any clientele but I keep marketing myself. There was a Wendy’s drive through next to my office so I used my window like a retail display and would constantly change the one mannequin I had every week. It helped draw in customers who would try to find my office after seeing my window. That’s how I got my first couple of clients. I started taking custom clients and making dresses in 2011. I worked in my office until years later I was able to expand into an actual retail space with over 1200 Sq ft. and multiple employees. I feel like I started my business right on time, I feel like life is a process and everyone has to go through things to get to learn the lessons their life has for them. It’s an interpersonal journey for everyone. I wouldn’t have rushed a thing. Read more>>

Anisha White

I started doing photography my last year in college. I was working at Children’s Medical Center at the time and going to school full time. September of 2017 I quit my job and embarked on my entrepreneur journey. So now I’m a full time student working on starting a photography business. When I first started photography I was working with someone and at the beginning of 2020 I branched out completely on my own. This was right before COVID hit. I had jobs lined up and them boom the world shuts down and I no longer have those jobs that was lined up. This was hard for me because I wasn’t expecting it. As I look back I’m not sure if I would have branched out on my own sooner or later because I learned a lot in that time. I always make it a point to seek God before I make any moves and because I did, I know I didn’t make the wrong move. So to answer the question I would have started at the same time. I wouldn’t change anything because I wouldn’t know what I know now. Read more>>

Bukola Nora

Growing up, my mother (God rest her soul), believed you could get rich by working for someone or a company but can become wealthy only if you ran your own business. Growing up as her child and learning at her feet instilled that knowledge in me and helped me grow a passion for business. Right from my University days, I have always sold one commodity or the other so as to have a source of extra money apart from whatever I got from my parents. I have always had a good business sense. I could call myself a die-hard business woman. Read more>>

Brandon Brooks

Well I enrolled in Culinary school right after I graduated high school. I knew I wanted to be a chef and own something of my own some day. Being 19yrs old when I graduated I felt the time wasn’t right. I had to build stamina under my career belt so to speak. I always wanted to own my own restaurant or establishment. So back in 2010 I started doing small catering gigs on the side for friends and family and one particular event a friend told be I should do this full time as a business so came 2019 I launched my own catering business and a couple years after I opened up my food truck “The Windy Rose” Some ask me if I would go back in time and do this sooner, I always tell them no, because the time wasn’t right. I did not know the ins & outs of the industry. So there’s nothing I would have changed. Read more>>

Rachel Vogtmann

If I could go back in time and start my business sooner, absolutely. That’s the short version haha. About 8ish years ago I got my first DSLR Canon Rebel t5i series camera. I knew nothing about photography. I just figured out how to use the body by googling everything. After high school, I went straight to work. I didn’t bother with college because I really wasn’t a fan of school and I had no idea what I wanted out of life so I didn’t want to waste money to flounder through college. The peer pressure from my parents, friends, family members, my now husband, was grueling. But there’s one thing about me; I’m stubborn as hell. Became really good at customer service by serving tables/bartending for 10ish years on and off. I have had SO many jobs!! Like more than I can remember. It’s kind of embarrassing but now that I think about it… I didn’t settle for something that didn’t light my soul on fire, you know? I’m stubborn, see? Definitely not perfect though. Anytime I would pick up my camera, my soul just felt alive. I get to create something so sentimental for another person to cherish for the rest of their life. That’s pretty freakin’ cool if you ask me. So fast forward 8ish years to today. (I skipped a bunch but I talk a lot so) I am successful, I have a studio space, I run my business with my husband. We are booking weddings for this and next year already – Funny thing about it is, I have never once shot a wedding by myself to this date. Read more>>

Bria Lancaster

It’s human nature to feel as though we need to prepare or be as prepared as possible walking into something new or unfamiliar. The truth is ….. you never really are prepared until you just START. Read more>>

Jenny Head

My business has provided me with many opportunities to learn and grow, and I wish I had started it sooner

As a consultant, I always dreamed of owning my own business, and I also needed flexibility in my schedule when I started my business. I started my business the year my husband and I moved around the country ten times for his job, so outside of work I was packing the house and traveling by myself to various places. Read more>>

Shitaye Morrison

I started my business in 2020 right in the middle of the pandemic. I was creeping up on a year since I left my job to become an entrepreneur. At the time, I was renting a very small office space on the Northside of Pittsburgh where I did Body Contouring Services. I used pandemic relief money from the government and all of my savings to fund my business. Looking back, I wish I would’ve waited to open my business. I needed more time to learn all the small details of business. I never got a chance to properly map things out. I feel like I rushed into things and I was also juggling too many hustles at one time. Read more>>

Shannon Jones

If I could go back in time, I 100% wish I would have opened my photography business earlier than I did! I started in 2015, when my 3rd baby was 1 year old… and I was already in my 30s. Read more>>

Greg Kornowa

We found the franchise and are happy we started it when we did. We are into our second year and have developed a following from local residents and a couple of large corporate clients. Read more>>

Joy Nault

Covid came one month after I signed my lease… I often wish my store would have been more established prior to Covid.

But I do believe, everything has a reason, this being said I may not have been quite so entrenched in my Veterans products if not having to find a product & meaning for the store to exist. Read more>>

Katie Wallace

As a luxury portrait photographer and business owner, I’ve been doing some reflection on my journey. You know, sometimes I wonder if I should’ve started my business earlier to get more experience under my belt, or maybe started a bit later with all that hindsight wisdom. Read more>>

Melissa Levenson

I’m really glad I made the decision to start my own graphic design studio when I did. It wasn’t an easy road, and it took years of learning through trial and error, finding my unique style, and proving my concept to potential clients. But looking back, it was the right time for me to take that leap. What really helped was that I had a stable full-time job before making the switch, which gave me the peace of mind to approach my business with a level head and reduced the overall risk. By the time I quit my job, I had already learned from so many mistakes and gained valuable experience. So, my advice to anyone thinking about starting their own business is to use the time wisely, build your skills, and establish your proof of concept while still having a steady income. It will help you pave the way to success and make the journey a lot smoother. Read more>>

Seung Szczechowski

I started my permanent makeup business in 2008. We moved to Frisco in 2006, just prior to my husband retiring from the Air Force. I was working for the owner in a successful, moderate-sized salon with a group of other estheticians, beauticians, and hair stylists, and had established a fairly nice clientele, doing mostly facials. Surprisingly, right around Christmas, the owner of the salon gave notice that he was closing his business. And just like that, I no longer had an office, or a job! I was stunned and anxious at first, but quickly focused on what I could do to continue my career aspirations and to help to provide needed income for our family. Never one to submit to despair – or to sit still – I quickly regrouped and looked for a way to move forward. Within a matter of days – which is pretty remarkable to me, when I look back on it – I had walked into Imagique Studios in Plano, leased a small studio there, and began furnishing it from scratch. I started focusing on permanent makeup services, while still providing facials and other skincare services to my wonderful clients, who loyally followed me to my new start at Imagique – and to whom I will be forever grateful. Read more>>

Jerome R Shuler Jr

If I could go back and time I would have definitely started my business sooner. I started my business right before the pandemic hit in February of 2020. Life wise, I was at a dead end job where I had no intention of staying. Career wise I was still trying to navigate the film industry here in Atlanta and wasn’t actively auditioning for acting roles. Read more>>