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.

Kimberly Jenkins

If it were up to me, of course I would’ve started sooner. I always felt I had the entrepreneur spirit. I started a hair business back in 2014. Black hair care is something I’m passionate about and I wanted to do something I would wake up and feel good about doing every day. I found a vendor that had the products I needed for myself and it actually gave me the idea to start the business. I did my due diligence securing the vendor, testing the product, and researching business startups. Everything was set to launch my company. I was reaching out to the vendor to make another order and I wasn’t getting responses. They went ghost on me. It took a lot of courage to take the leap of faith in starting my business to begin with because fear was a factor. The fear of failing and the fear of not knowing what I’m doing crept in, so when I couldn’t locate that vendor, my first mind was not to start over. Read more>>

Armando Salcedo

I wish i did start my business sooner, only because I was still working my regular job during the week and picking up events for my business on the weekends. It was very hard to manage both once I got very busy. I was scared to leave my job and start my business. I had job security there. When starting a business you really don’t know when your next client will be coming. I got very busy with my business during the pandemic and I had no choice to leave my job and pursue my business full time. I filed for an LLC in 2021 and I’ve been gratefully busy ever since. Read more>>

Kebrina Kay

I started my branding and marketing business officially in 2020, during the time of quarantining life, but I’ve always had this passion for creativity. At the time I was a full time content creator/influencer due to the schools having to shut down since I was special education paraprofessional. Nonetheless, I’ve been making logos and studying social media analytics for years prior. My friends and colleagues call me “The Brand Whisperer” because I just have that touch. I make brands pay attention to whoever I’m coaching at the time. Starting sooner or later I feel as if it depends on the work you put into it. The grind! I have no regrets in life BUT I do wish I would’ve done it earlier afraid. Fear can set you back but in 2020 I chose to rise above my “what ifs”.  Read more>>

Luvie Smith

I would first like to say to everyone out there…..DON’T WAIT TO OFFICIALLY START YOUR BUSINESS!!! I worked a lot of hours and put hard work into a business starting in 2014 but it took me until 2022 to register They Call Me Luv Productions, LLC. with the state and become an official business. I missed out on multiple opportunities including the PPP loan LOL because the business was not official, there are grants and tax breaks that come along with registering your business with the state. I was in a new phase of life that had me craving the ability to use my gifts and talents, it was a true God push! I didn’t think I needed to make the business official until someone gave me this example: My name is Luvie and they call me luv, so when I am hired for something the paperwork has Luvie on it, but my name is actually Lauren. So when you are hired the payment will be made to your business or name you give……in short….you can’t cash a check with Luvie or They Call Me Luv Productions on it unless you have paperwork and bank accounts to back that up! So lets get legit in this season! Read more>>

Mz. Leebra Clark

If I could go back in time, I wouldn’t change a thing about when I started my career as an author. I wouldn’t change the fact that I was initially under a publishing company either. The reason I wouldn’t change any of that is because all of those lessons were impactful on me becoming who I am today as a self-published author. Read more>>

Jessica Lee

Oh my goodness, 100%! I wish I knew what I know now, back then but everything in life is about the journey and things happen at specific times because you are exactly where you are supposed to be. So I’m trying to not beat myself up over it. Music and live music have always played such a big part in my life since I was in elementary school. When I started taking my passion for photography more seriously in 2016, I was focused on a different genre of photography called Urban Exploration but I always wondered how people were able to get access to photographing concerts and working with artists directly. I thought it was only the latest and greatest that got these opportunities and didn’t bother looking into it more. Read more>>