Establishing your own firm or practice is an incredibly daunting task. From myriad of legal and regulatory hurdles to the financial and career related risks, professionals who choose to start their own firm have to overcome so much and so we wanted to reach out to those who’ve done it successfully for advice, insight and stories.

Sadaf Qadir

It’s actually still the early days of me establishing my own consulting business! But the journey started much before right now. In fact, all through my college years and early career years, I had kept saying I’ll start a business or I’m going to build something of my own. At first it was product related, specifically cosmetics, because I love cosmetics. Read more>>

Robert Hoban

I was a successful commercial litigation attorney. My Mother was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. I began to explore the Colorado medical marijuana program because the prescribed opiate regime was deleterious. I began to meet various business owners and very knowledgeable medicinal cannabis professionals. Read more>>

Frances Naudé

When I first started my own practice, I had no idea that I would actually be able to turn my “side gig” into my full time career. That had always been the dream, but having zero experience running a business, I never thought I could actually do it. I started small, taking on any clients that were interested in working with me. Read more>>

Amy Giles

My husband and I took over a birth center in 2010. Every step of the way produced all kinds of challenges with growth. Going from paper charting to an EMR, setting up new procedures and guidelines for the practice, hiring challenges with growth, setting up and taking insurance, help with billing, etc. Read more>>

Sophia Oconnor

Being a therapist has been my passion and calling since I was 14. You know how people ask you “what do you want to be when you grow up?”. My answer was “I want to be a therapist who helps people heal”. I never changed my mind and my little girl’s dream persisted. Read more>>

Dr. Emily Siy

I started my practice almost immediately after graduating with a master’s degree in acupuncture and Chinese Medicine. In many ways it was not difficult back then because the costs of running the business were not high. I rented a treatment room from another acupuncturist one day a week and I worked 5-6 days a week at other acupuncture clinics. Read more>>

Olga Belteton

The decision to establish my own corrective skincare practice, Olga Belle Aesthetics, was deeply rooted in my personal journey of overcoming acne. Struggling with persistent skin issues, I was determined to uncover the underlying causes and provide effective, long-lasting solutions that addressed the root of the problem. Read more>>

Lacrecia Dangerfield

The idea of having my practice was there years before I started it. When I was in my master’s program, I had the goal of starting my own counseling and consulting practice. So, years after working in community mental health in direct service and leadership positions, I decided to take the leap. Read more>>

Natalie Hill

There are over 1.8 million non-profits registered in the U.S., so deciding to start another was a big leap of faith and was a call of the heart. I did some research online and spoke to some founders of other organizations. I ran the idea by a friend, who I had produced a play and documentary with many years ago. He had recently received his M.B.A. Read more>>

Ryan Ann LettBrown

I actually never had the intention to start my own practice but the further along I got into my career I realized what the massage therapy industry needed more of and while I was grateful to work for some of the best, I need to institutionalize my ideas into motion. Life is too short for regrets! Read more>>

Heather Roma Wicks

The very first step in moving away from my past life of fashion and marketing was when I saw a photo of two mini burros in front of a vintage trailer. I had to have that for my wedding and when I found it difficult to find beer burros for my wedding, I decided to start my own! Read more>>

Mallorie Rodgers

Freedom, more control over business decisions, flexible schedule, living out our own professional values– These are some of the things we dream of having as therapists entering solo private practice. Prior to attending graduate school for my Masters in Counseling, I dreamt of running my own private practice for many of the reasons above. Read more>>

Natalie Lesnikowski

I started dreaming of my future practice in school. From the beginning, I had a clear vision of what I wanted and who my ideal patient would be. For me, that part was easy. I envisioned an acupuncture practice with a modern aesthetic that could bridge the gaps in our current healthcare system. Read more>>

Jenni Doucet

I’ve always had a dream to help, love, and heal people as much as humanly possible. I decided in undergrad that athletes were my passion, and I obtained my bachelor’s in athletic training and Masters in Exercises Physiology. Read more>>

Lake McCullough

I’ve been interested in making concoctions with plants since childhood. But I didn’t think about turning that into a business until I realized I had literally no ability to be a cog in someone else’s wheel. I was fortunate to have the support of my parents and community as I pursued my Master Herbalist Certificate and created a model of what I wanted my herbal apothecary to look like. Read more>>

Robert Swan

After about 15 years in the medical field, I was getting frustrated with the focus on money rather than on helping people. So with a friend, I decided to open our own practice. Initially we wanted to focus on testosterone therapy. Both of us were testosterone patients, but had very impersonal experiences with online practices. Read more>>

Jilliana Raymond

In 2008 I began a study course in Reflexology. In 2011 I added another protocol to enhance my practice that would identify the underlying emotional triggers that were usually at the core of the presenting discomfort. In 2013 I wrote my own Reflexology protocol and became Nationally Board Certified as well as received Instructor credentials. Read more>>

Brittany Berry

We are a brand new 501c3 nonprofit, so we are in the midst of establishing our organization. Before this I have owned my own business (Grateful Heart Co.) for 5 years. As we switched into nonprofit life things are completely different. You have to establish your mission and vision, find a board of directors who fit your organization and file with the IRS to get your nonprofit status. Read more>>