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.

Alli Clayton

I started my practice, Shine the Light Counseling, in November 2020 — in the midst of the Covid pandemic while I had a 3 year old and 6 month old at home. Sounds like a crazy time to start a private practice, right? However, I had left my previous therapist job when I was about 8 and a half months pregnant and had been trying to figure out what to do next. Because of my two little ones and the global pandemic, I knew that I needed a job that was flexible and would allow me to put my family first. I started applying to therapy jobs, but none of them seemed right for me. I thought about joining a former colleague’s private practice, but I knew it wasn’t the perfect fit. Read more>>

Rachel Sementilli

I grew up and currently live on unceded Peoria, Anishinabewaki, Bodéwadmiakiwen (Potawatomi), and Mississauga land – also known as Southeast, MI. I have lived in Michigan my whole life, from childhood and even through college wherein 2009, as a young woman I graduated from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor with a B.A. in Cultural Anthropology and a minor in Women’s Studies. Read more>>

rose staram

I had been working in producing events for VIP clients for over fifteen years. Working for the government as fun as it was the pay was just not there. When I entered the private sector I knew that all those years of sacrifice and learning would allow me to do great things. That was def the case, the wealth of knowledge and experience led me to starting my own company because I was so well versed in my craft because of all the years in the public sector. Read more>>

Shawntinique Shepherd

Starting my firm was the best decision of my life. Was it easy? Absolutely not. I started my firm in December 2018 on the spur of the moment. I was in college and have always been passionate about working for myself and finances. The steps I had to take were figuring out a name, getting my LLC & EIN, and applying for my PTIN & EFIN all on my own without help. Now I do not recommend this way at all because I didn’t even create a business plan or even have any idea what I was doing at the moment even to start my business. Read more>>

Sibyl Slade, CRPC

I have always loved the idea of entrepreneurship and owning my own business. It was just never the perfect time. Family needs took precedence. Well in 2014, when I experienced a corporate restructure, I decided it was finally my turn to pursue MY dream. And even then, I wanted a safety net. I started my own practice but affiliated with a company that would provide branding, training, and upfront bonuses along the way. Read more>>

Jestacia Lanette

Starting a wholistic practice of the magnatitude it is today- I had no clue… absolutely no idea. My advice for a young professional- stay open minded. You never know how the pieces will fit together. Just know that –nothing will be wasted. Learn your craft, expand your gifts and talents. Exposure – experience and education is the key. Read more>>

Consuela Chapman

The first steps I took in starting my practice was creating my business name and requesting an EIN. After registration with the secretary of state I was able to open up a business account at the bank. I recruited my son to create my website and hired someone to make my logo. After deciding on how I wanted to receive referrals I began requesting contracts with various insurance companies. Read more>>

Justin Dodson, PhD, LPC

I opened my practice in August of 2020. At that time, starting my practice meant ordering Sushi, and sitting on my friends sofa on a Friday night to obtain my LLC and EIN number. I hadn’t thought of a name for my practice yet, or even had many thoughts about structure. What I did know is that I was working as an Assistant Director at a Residential Treatment Center and it wasn’t enough for me. I missed doing direct client work that I believed made an impact on others. Read more>>

Sarah Hyde-Williams

After nearly 20 years in the field of Home Health, Hospice, and Long-Term Care specifically Assisted Living and Dementia Supportive Communities, I really felt a stir to shake the industry up a bit. Our industry, and especially the sales side, often forgets why we do what we do and the impact felt by elders and their families. So many times over the years, we were urged to “sell more” and “make our numbers better”, leaving out the whole reason of our “Why”. After having a particularly hard experience, Read more>>

Jasmine Pickett, BHA, CPC, CRC, CPMA, CPC-I

I always knew that I wanted to work in the healthcare industry but growing up working in healthcare meant either being a doctor or a nurse in my eyes. After graduating high school in 2003, I immediately enrolled into nursing school. Now at the time I was deathly afraid of needles. But I told myself that if I just pushed through it that I would be okay. I spent the next year of college doing all of the basic English and Math classes that you have to take. Year two rolls around and clinicals start i.e., Read more>>

Carla Givan

When I decided to be a dentist many years ago, I always envisioned having my own practice. Thankfully, I focused on each step to get there instead of the grand picture. Knowing what I know now, surely, I would have thought it was too momentous a task to achieve. My advice to any young professional starting out is to dissect your major goal into step wise small goals with a timeline. Then do your absolute best to be successful at each small step. Success is in the details, the daily choices we all make. Train yourself to do what it takes to accomplish these goals you’ve set whether you “feel” like it or not. Feelings are fleeting, but your goals will remain the same. Read more>>

Amanda Valenti

Reflecting on the beginning, it seems like a lifetime ago. I was young, eager and naive – the perfect recipe for diving head first into the abyss. Naivety being the main ingredient. Starting a private practice with one semester of business class was eventful, to say the least. If I were to give any advice to a young professional it would be to either find mentors or take a few classes. In the last year I’ve been lucky enough to attend a free business mentorship program led by the Women’s Business Center here in Utah. Read more>>

Ann Konkoly

I didn’t even know building a business was possible for me until I saw someone else as an example of what was possible. I took that and thought–if she can do it, so can I. If you’re starting your own practice, do not underestimate what your brilliance can create in time, so prepare yourself to go all in for the long haul. know that failures will be plentiful and use them as evidence that you are on your way. Read more>>

Mitzi Joi Williams, MD, FAAN

I was not a Doctor who always wanted to start their own practice. I always envisioned myself working for a University and teaching until the end of my career, but once I moved back home to Atlanta and began working in a group practice, I like some of the autonomy that private practice provided in terms of scheduling and engaging in consulting and advising. Read more>>

Brion Robinson

Looking back at the experiences I’ve had from adolescence to my adult years have been full circle for me. I’ve worked with majority small businesses throughout my working career which has shaped me to create my own vision and execute it the way i see fit and the value be so much bigger than me. Truthfully, I had a hard time following the rules with my previous employers because we didn’t have the same vision and it never felt true to who I am. Early on, I always knew that I was meant to be with my mentors and companies to help mold my vision properly; Read more>>

Sunny Khachatryan

I have always felt a special spark whenever I interacted with individual who were disabled or had mental challenges. My passion was to touch individuals who felt left out or not included. Since High school my family opened a business for the elderly with disabilities, which increased my desire to pursue my passion for becoming a professional in the field of mental health. I worked at treatment centers which inspired me to open up my own private practice focusing on mental health and substance abuse. Read more>>

Larry Hernandez

Been Prarciting Physical Therapy since 2006, most recently was at a place for 12 years and during 2013 found CrossFit and relaxed I had some mobility issues and thought I’m supposed to be a healthcare professional and good at these things, this started a journey of CrossFit and also applying myself more as a therapist in 2017 I signed up for entrepreneurship to learn more about sales and also more in-depth education about getting people out of pain. Don’t get me wrong I learned a lot in school but this was more in-depth and had ongoing accountability. Read more>>

Tyneza Mitchell

Tyneza Mitchell is a family nurse practitioner who specializes in family care. She has over 12 years of experience in the nursing profession. She completed her Bachelor of Arts and Science in Biology from Prairie View A&M University in Prairie View, Texas. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Shepherd University in Shepherdstown, West Virginia. Mrs. Mitchell then went on to obtain a Master of Science in Nursing degree from the University of Cincinnati in Cincinnati, Ohio. She holds a national certification and is a member of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP).  Read more>>