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.
Erik Klinger
When we first started Oak Gate Wealth Advisors along with my business partners I realized that we had embarked on an important journey in helping our clients and ourselves to grow past the constraints of corporate agenda. We were developing something that truly reflected the uniqueness of our clients as individuals, families, and businesses. Their unique needs stuck inside of a corporate lens did not reflect the best we could do for them, so we decided to start our own firm to advance our practice in servicing our client’s needs. Some key challenges in the beginning were starting from scratch with new software, hardware and the transition of our current clients to the new firm. People don’t usually like change so making sure that each and every client was taken care of along the way was time consuming and put a pause on our growth for sure. Communication at this stage was key and we had to spend countless hourse communicating with clients to ensure they understood the reasoning behind the move. In the end it was worth it of course and we found out quickly which clients were with us because of our service and which clients were ready to treat us in a transactional manner. Read more>>
Camille Wheatley
When I first decided that I wanted to become an architect, I knew that in the future, I would love to start my own firm. I also knew that I wanted to become a mother some day, and architecture and motherhood seemed like they could go well together, at least in my naive, teenage mind. The journey that guided me to eventually start my own architectural practice took many years. I became a licensed architect, which meant enduring the challenges of undergraduate and graduate studies in architecture school; pursuing jobs as an intern architect at various architecture firms large and small to receive crucial experience in the field; and successfully passing all of my licensing exams. Simultaneously to all of this, I married my husband, and we welcomed four beautiful daughters into the world. Read more>>
Dorothy Horton
One of the main very components in establishing a business is having a starting point. Everyone is different and for me it started with a vision. The vision was created from an experience of past events while working in the medical field. I wanted to be part of a positive change, after seeing what I was exposed to in the healthcare industry. I decided to start my own business, and the first physical step was thinking of a title for my business- at the time I thought of ” Dot s elderly care” in the year 2016. It remained that name without any action behind it for a year. Finally, after getting fed up with where I was at career- wise in my life- I stepped out on faith and invested in my vision. I changed the name to make it more description based. I registered the new name, and went on the government website and followed the steps to legalize the brand, Some of the key challenges in setting up the office was getting to know the area and the type of people in the area to determine if the product would be beneficial and affordable to the economic status in the region of my choice, for example… you wouldn’t want to sell newspapers in a computer store. Read more>>
Traci Medeiros
The decision to start Gather & Grow OC stemmed from a deep-seated desire to create a safe, affirming space for the LGBTQ+ community in Orange County. As a queer therapist, I recognized the pressing need for specialized mental health services that truly understood and celebrated diverse identities. My Co-Director, Jacqueline Plante, and I recently discussed our decision to focus our practice with one of our clinicians. They were concerned about potentially isolating themselves by marketing directly to a niche community. We helped them process the importance of visibility for minoritized communities, how this approach demonstrates their capacity to support diverse individuals, and the value of releasing attachment to clients who might not be a good fit. Read more>>
Liz Morrison
When I first decided to open my own private practice, the immediate response I got from other professionals was that I was too young and did not have enough experience. I started getting in my own head about it questioning all of my decisions and even deciding to apply to other therapy practices as opposed to opening my own. In that process, I met with a therapist named Sean Grover who forever changed my life. He offered me office space and occasional referrals and empowered me to stick with my dreams. Over time, I taught myself how to market, advertise, and engage with other professionals who could help get my name out there. With a brand new website and office phone number I was ready to go! Over the last 10 years, I have grown my therapy practice from having no clients to having other therapists work for me. My advice to young professionals would be to never let anyone convince you that you are not good enough or ready to do something. It might take hard work, but if I was able to do it than you can to. Read more>>
Veronica Stevens
When Veronica first envisioned starting Skin Sanctuary, her goal was to create a space where women struggling with persistent acne could find healing from within. After overcoming her own health challenges, she wanted her practice to provide more than just skin-deep solutions. The journey from vision to reality involved key steps, from choosing a specialized treatment approach to establishing the right environment for her clients. Steps to Establishing Skin Sanctuary: Veronica focused on developing a unique service model centered around DMK Skin Revision treatments, blending clinical expertise with spiritual practices like Reiki and sound healing. This required in-depth training and certification, along with carefully sourcing high-quality products and equipment. Securing a welcoming, calming space was essential for her practice’s holistic philosophy, so she invested in creating an environment where clients could feel nurtured and understood. Read more>>
Faith Diaz
You know, I love doing these interviews because it allows me time to stop and reflect on how far we’ve come as a small family owned business here in San Diego, Ca. I can recall a couple months before we opened on January 11th 2021, mid pandemic my husband and I sitting in our living room and me telling him I want to start a skin studio. I want to start my own business I don’t know how to form my own LLC, I don’t know how to really do much as far as the business side of things but I knew I was excellent at performing facials and making people feel like the best version of themselves. I’ve been practicing skincare for over 17 years and my passion for helping people overflows into my love for providing exceptional services that leave people wanting to come back for more. My husband was so supportive of me, despite the economic uncertainty and unrest COVID19 brought to everyone. He believed in me whole heartedly. Which is so important when starting a business having a support system that believes in you and your vision. Most new business owners do experience uncertain times when building a business. It’s so important to have someone by your side to cheer you on and support you despite set backs every business owner encounters. Read more>>
Marianna Vega
I finally filed my LLC for Mariannaology in 2022 but the creation of my business/practice started about 10 years before that. There were several catalysts to the foundation of my company such as learning how to make body products, becoming a fitness instructor or learning about spiritual gifts and seeing how it affects others. Each experience shaping and molding me but also coming with their own challenges individually. I truly believe that the journey to get to where I am at today went exactly how it was suppose to and that peace allows me to not ponder on how it could have went different. I am very grateful for it all. If anything, the advice I would have needed at the beginning would be to stop abandoning myself for others validation and to trust the journey and my ability to handle everything and anything that comes along the way. Read more>>
Alexandria Lightning
The story of Lightning VIP began with a deeply personal turning point in my life—developing aggressive breast cancer. The experience made me reevaluate my approach to healthcare. I realized how patients, including myself, often felt dismissed and misunderstood by the conventional system, which focused more on symptoms than the whole person. I knew I wanted to practice medicine differently, emphasizing proactive health and truly listening to my patients. With this vision, I transitioned my existing practice, Lightning Medical, into what became Lightning VIP, a concierge-style functional medicine clinic. Establishing the new direction involved several key steps: Clarifying My Vision: I wanted a practice that offered a personalized approach, focusing on uncovering root causes and preventing illness, not just treating symptoms. Understanding Legalities: Being in Nevada, I needed to understand the regulatory landscape for APRNs, which allowed me to operate independently. Read more>>
Lily Vandyk
In 2019, before coronavirus had overtaken our lives, I decided to take the risk, start the business, live the dream. The dream being to help those suffering from mental health issues, specifically teens and young adults. I had spent the last 25 years battling with my own mental health struggles, finally finding solace in adopting a new lifestyle, filled with routine and ritual, peace and tranquility, even in the midst storms. I learned in life, I am not the ocean’s waves, I am not the eye of the storm, I am not the strong winds, I am Lily and I am sitting on the shore, observing. I can chose to engage with the water with the safety of the shoreline all around me. I am made up of many parts, some parts have been pushed down deep in the ocean, but I am learning to befriend them, bring them up for air. I am learning all of my parts deserve the chance to be heard and to be taken by the wind and released. Healing from my pain motivated me to live the dream, to listen to others and to give their parts a chance to speak. I started Tranquil Trails, LLC in November of 2019. Helping others heal gives me the air I need to breathe and to keep moving on my own journey, down a tranquil trail. Read more>>
Dr. Jazlynn Paige
I created my business due to the number of educational injustices I was encountering while working in the schools. In years past, at educational meetings I found myself comforting the parents due to the amount of injustices their child was encountering. Parents started thanking me for my support and asking if I could assist them more in the future. This really pushed me to branch off on my own. I not only started to notice a gap of black psychologists in my community but a gap of advocacy resources and programs for families of color in education. I would say one of my biggest challenges in starting my business was literally just starting it. I was so afraid of being on my own that I did not want to let my traditional job go. So in 2018 I started cutting my hours at the school I was working at to get an idea of how entrepreneurship would work for me. I started off with 1 school and then in 2019 I had 3 schools and by the spring of 2020 I quit my job and became full time. My advice for anyone interested in starting their own practice would be to just go for it! In hindsight I wish I didn’t wait as long as I did. It was honestly much easier than I had made it up to be in my mind. Make a plan and just do it, you’ll thank yourself later! Read more>>
Casey Tyskowski
I was always on the fence about starting my own private practice because I really loved the facility I was working for and the work I was doing. I also had very little confidence that I would be able to build a sustainable caseload. I also worried that I would get bored and lonely while working independently. Once I made the choice it was nowhere near as challenging as I anticipated with the most challenging part ensuring all of the permits and licenses needed to run a business were in order. I have no regrets because even though I am loving my time in private practice, my time working in agencies was truly invaluable. Read more>>
Anna Chacon
Establishing my own dermatology practice was both a challenging and rewarding journey that required meticulous planning, resilience, and a clear vision. Here’s a detailed account of the early days and the steps I took, along with the challenges faced and advice for aspiring professionals. The Decision to Start My Own Practice The decision to start my own practice stemmed from a desire for autonomy in patient and virtual care and the ability to create a personalized and patient-centric environment. Having worked in various healthcare settings, I realized that I wanted to implement my own standards and approaches to dermatological care. Key Steps in Establishing the Practice Research and Planning: Read more>>
William Steelman
When we set out to start Steelman Medical Group we knew we wanted to be different than the traditional fee for service clinic. We felt our patients deserved access to a physician like a family member or friend. Someone they could call or text when they had a question or weren’t feeling well. This model of care, Direct Primary Care, is relatively new. We are one of about 8,000 clinics across the country that are participating in this physician led movement. Thankfully this movement is growing at a rapid rate! When we set up our office it was just my wife and I. Neither of us had ever run a medical clinic before but what we did understand was the patient experience. We knew we wanted a clinic where patients could come in same day or next day for appointments, had open lines of communication with myself and our staff, no wait times, and full transparency when it came to their billing. When we couldn’t find exactly what we were looking for we decided to just create it ourselves. Read more>>
Kristen Custer
Establishing my solo private practice over the past six months was only possible because I had the support I needed to take the leap. I had toyed with the idea for a while, knowing that one day I would eventually have my own private practice. I’m currently back in school to obtain my doctorate degree, which was a big decision and lifestyle shift, so I was unsure if I could make another significant change. Prior to my own practice, I was working with a group practice that I had just spread myself a little too thin in, but my appreciation for and commitment to the group that helped me grow made it hard for me to take any steps away. The people in my life were influential in helping me consider what the transition could look like, despite my hesitations. I had a supervisor in my doctorate program last year who encouraged me to take a chance on myself. Additionally, I had a friend who recently opened her practice and colleagues that offered to answer my questions along the way. Plus, my partner being a business owner and believing in me provided all the motivation I needed. Read more>>
Regina Ransom
In the early days of starting my own practice, New Birth Family Counseling, the decision to move forward with it came from a deep desire to create a space where people could experience holistic healing, especially those suffering from PTSD, complex trauma, and other emotional struggles. As a psychotherapist and holistic health practitioner, I wanted to integrate both approaches to better serve my clients. The first step was creating a clear vision for what I wanted the practice to be. I focused on how I could make New Birth Family Counseling a safe place for individuals, children, and couples, with a strong emphasis on healing trauma holistically. Once that was clear, I moved forward with the legal aspects—forming the business entity, getting licensed, and ensuring compliance with local and state regulations. I also needed to secure office space and set up the infrastructure, including a client management system. Read more>>
Jacquelyn Miller
Leaving the corporate world and starting your own business is something that can be easily romanticized in our culture. When I left my role as a Functional Medicine Consultant in the Functional Medicine space to start my own practice, I think there was a subconscious belief that things would “come easy” so long as I was in alignment and doing work that was meaningful. That certainly wasn’t the case! Diligence, patience and trust in the process is absolutely required when creating your own practice or business. There is no magic button that will automatically create a thriving business. Regardless of your level of passion, integrity or skill, it will still take time to create a sustainable business, and for you to fine tune the services that you provide. Read more>>
Andrea Vasquez
Starting my own practice has been anything but smooth! When I made the decision to switch careers, I knew it was going to be a challenge, but I didn’t quite anticipate just how steep the learning curve would be. I had to completely change my mindset from my medical background to a coaching approach. Learning to guide clients through their wellness journeys, rather than just prescribing a solution, was a big shift. I had to understand how to meet clients where they are and empower them to make changes at their own pace. One of the biggest hurdles was figuring out the business side of things, especially here in the U.S. Starting a business from scratch was an entirely new world for me. Everything from setting up the legal structure, figuring out taxes, marketing, and even how to present my services was a learning process. I experimented with different approaches—private consultations, workshops, webinars—just to see what resonated most with me and my clients. Read more>>
Elizabeth Hill
When I started my private practice, it was not my plan AT ALL to start a private practice. In 2017 I was working for a private company focused on college students in recovery. This was a dual diagnosis program where I served as the clinical director of outpatient services. Because the program was small, I was also doing individual therapy with all of the participants in the program. I was blessed and cursed at the same time when the program announced its upcoming closure, giving me about 30 days notice to be laid off and unemployed. I was also informed that there would be no conflict of interest if I would like to continue to work with these young adults and see them in private practice. I had some moments of panic around the news of losing my job, then heard from the parents/families that they were also having some angst around their children being left without a therapist. Signs began to point toward the idea of beginning a practice, especially knowing that I could open my doors with a few members who were already familiar with me. Read more>>
Gina Gheller
Setting up a full time psychotherapy practice happened slowly with much persistence and dedication. After completion of the required three years of post-graduate training in a psychiatric hospital setting, I was eager to follow through on my long awaited dream of running my own practice, but I did not necessarily have the greatest marketing success. I got on several insurance panels as soon as I could and picked up various contracts for outside organizations, which definitely helped me pay the bills and gain meaningful practice experience, but did not necessarily match with my calling. For example, a contract working with children and families in the public school system and one working with elders in geriatric settings both offered insights to my therapeutic knowledge and general understanding of human dynamics. In retrospect, I can see that I did not have as much commitment and confidence in marketing my private practice. Read more>>
Rebekah Proctor
One of the hardest challenges I faced when starting out as a life coach was the constant comparison to others in the field. It’s easy to feel inadequate when you see others become successful quickly. But I learned that just because someone else found success faster doesn’t mean you’re better or worse than them. Some people have the advantage of starting out with an established network that brings them clients right away, while others, like myself, have to build those relationships from scratch. In my experience, it took time to stop comparing myself to colleagues who seemed to be getting clients faster. While I did learn from their methods of outreach, I had to remind myself that my business growth would be unique. It’s important to acknowledge your own journey and pace. Read more>>
Catherine Nwora
Started from an early age of when I wanted to help those in need! So I went into the nursing/medical field. After achieving many milestones in the field it was time to open my own practice to insure it’s done correctly! So then I started Soul Serenity Health and wellness! My own practice focused on mental health and physical health. Starting your own practice isn’t easy, but what makes it easier is having a clear Mission and vision! And the background skills to manage people. The challenges is the maintain the standards that you start with, with having success, you do not want to get content, but always look towards setting the standard higher serving Your clients! Read more>>
Kimberly Radomski
I’ve been a Massage Therapist since 2008 and always wanted to have my own office. When the pandemic hit, I was actually grateful I hadn’t ventured out on my own, but it did make me realize that I really wanted to go for it. I was planning on waiting until my daughter’s were a little bit older, but the idea of being my own boss just kept growing inside my head. I would be able to set my own schedule, accept or deny any appointments, and just have a bit more freedom in choosing. So, I started perusing ads for rooms to rent and even went to look at a couple locations. I came across an ad for a room in an already established health company. I rented that room for a few months while slowly moving my clients over there. But, the owner turned out to be a bit shady, so I had to move on, and quickly, unfortunately. I was able to find an office that was actually closer to my home and the landlord is the opposite – an amazing guy. So, I signed the lease. For the first few months at my new location I still worked at the franchise, but right before Christmas that year, I decided to pull the plug and go all in. It was too much going back and forth. It was both exhilarating and terrifying. At my old job, I didn’t have to do anything but show up (well, and clean and do some side work stuff). At my own office, it’s all me. I decide. Read more>>
Michael Hershey
I’ve always had interest in starting my own business and choosing to commit to that vision is incredibly important. Finding mentorship or coaching in someone that has done what you are trying to do can save you time, stress and money. Knowing what I know now, I would have found a business coach earlier – I spent the first two years trying to do it myself. Once I found a coach, the process was expedited. If you’re thinking about starting your own business, you have to first believe that it can happen and you need to commit to the vision. In the beginning you will have a lot of people cheering for you, in the middle of the grind, cheer for yourself. Read more>>
Angel Shaw
I never envisioned myself as a business owner—it wasn’t something I initially aspired to. But after becoming licensed, I began to see the possibilities of running my own practice and the freedom it could offer. I knew I needed guidance, so I sought out a mentor to help me navigate the process of getting started. My mentor walked me through everything: attracting clients, marketing, identifying my niche, and building the confidence to make my practice a reality. Balancing a full-time job while putting in the extra hours to grow the business was challenging, but it was worth it for the steady progress and income it generated. To anyone looking to start their own practice, I highly recommend finding a mentor or coach to guide you. The journey can be overwhelming, but with the right support, it becomes far more manageable Read more>>
Neal Trotter
The Memphis chapter of Food Not Bombs was very active in the 1990’s up until the height of the COVID-19 pandemic when gathering limitations were severe. It was during the height of the lockdown restrictions when the chapter went defunct. When restrictions began to ease new members revitalized the chapter, making it what it is today. Today, we do a mutual aid feed every first and third Saturday afternoon of the month in Downtown Memphis. We glean food from the Memphis Farmers Market that would otherwise be thrown away and prepare it to serve as meals for members of the community, particularly those in need. We also provide hygienic products, contraceptives, and clothes. The resources we receive for distribution are either from donations or are recovered from surpluses slated to be thrown away. We also coordinate with another organization, 901 Community Fridges, where we assist in setting up refrigerators publicly accessible, 24/7, for anyone to drop off or take food. We also host teach-ins with Mid-South for Abolition where we do public educational workshops about social activism and political philosophy. It really helps to form coalitions and alliances with organizations that have similar political alignment, as the work of activism is very demanding so the more mutual effort toward a cause the more support each organization will have. Read more>>
Tanner Quick
We’re still very much in the early stages of establishing the practice. The first and most important step was simply deciding to get started. There’s a lot of uncertainty and fear involved in opening a practice, and it can make you question yourself more than anything else. But at the same time, I’m incredibly grateful that the Lord has led me down this path. It has deepened my trust in Him throughout the process. It’s never going to be easy, but I’ve learned that the easy path usually isn’t the right one. My advice to anyone considering starting their own practice is simple: just start. Get people in your corner who can support you. You’ll never feel 100% ready, but that shouldn’t hold you back. Read more>>
Robin Fapp
I began this journey of becoming a orofacial Myofunctional therapist in late 2021. There were many things that happened to bring me to this point, most notably the birth of my grandson Josiah in 2017 and the struggles he has had and my inability to keep practicing dental hygiene due to physical problems. I was 57 years old and realized that I had to pivot my career, which felt really crazy. In fact, during this whole journey I’ve kept asking myself if I was crazy to start my own business at this age. Most of my friends and peers thought I should just retire but I wasn’t ready to do that. I heard about Myofunctional therapy when I was taking a continuing education course for my RDH license. What I learned in that overview class tied right into what my grandson was struggling with in his life. So, I began to take courses in Myofunctional Therapy. Read more>>
Mission Road
We found a key partner by sheer luck and an amazing sequence of events. It happened through a chance encounter of someone who heard one of our songs and then made a recommendation to contact another person, who has become a key partner in our progress. There was no deal to be made, per se, we hit it off and the relationship has been mutually beneficial ever since. I don’t know why the other person decided to join with us in our journey, but I think it might have been that he saw something in us that made him believe in our project. Read more>>
Taquiela Wright
Initially, I started by identifying specific needs and goals for my projects. This helped narrow down potential partners who aligned with the brand vision and values. I leveraged my professional network and attended industry events and trade shows, which was instrumental in establishing initial connection, especially with my suppliers. The negotiation process began with open communication to understand each party’s priorities and concerns. We exchanged proposals and sought common ground, focusing on long-term benefits rather than short-term gains. Setting clear expectations and maintaining transparency was crucial in building trust prior to me launching Delisa Rose. Looking back, one key lesson learned is the importance of thorough due diligence before finalizing a partnership. While I eventually found a great collaboration match, spending more time vetting potential partners initially could have streamlined the process and possibly led to even stronger collaborations. Read more>>
John Dileo
When I look for vendors to work with, which in my situation are Farmers, Fishermen (women) and other Artisans. I always try to find local, like minded people and hopefully they have worked with someone I know. When I moved to the Charleston area, this was kind of difficult since I was new in the area and i didn’t really know anyone. Luckily another Chef that I work with once a year at The Masters Golf tournament had lived in Charleston before and was a great help introducing around. Read more>>