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.

Ebony McCormick

The journey to establishing my own firm was both challenging and rewarding. After working for a firm in Atlanta, GA for several years, I faced a traumatic experience of being sexually assaulted. This incident led me to make the difficult decision to leave the firm. However, the relationships I had built with my clients over the years were strong and based on trust. Read more>>

Desstoni Johnson

I was inspired to start this company after being a victim of gun violence myself. It was a traumatic experience that made me realize the importance of actually being equipped to protect yourself in an emergency. I wanted to do what I could to ensure that no one feels vulnerable or helpless in the face of imminent danger the way I did. Read more>>

Jane Johnson Wall

This is such a fascinating focus for me, as I essentially “fell into” starting my private practice. I had always worked in the realm of non-profit agencies, and had not ever envisioned running a business. However, when the opportunity presented itself, I leaped into it before really getting the details in place. In hindsight, I realize that was a blessing. Read more>>

Dominique Christina

As a personal who always spoke her mind and left a positive word with almost everyone I came across. I knew I always wanted to help people whether is was my career, gave advice to my friends, or just be a listening ear for those who maybe going through a rough patch in this thing we all call life. So me being a counselor allowed me to show compassion and meet individuals where they are, but then I knew I wanted to reach others and that when I decide to start my own podcast. #PhukinLyfePodcast. Read more>>

KD Ramirez

I think my story with coaching starts way before I ever thought it did. It’s really interesting when I take the time to reflect on my personal story + am met with vivid memories that make my journey to becomming a coach make complete sense. It was the middle of 2021, though, where everything came to a head. I remember experiencing my own personal breakthroughs during my earlier stages of receiving support through coaching + how I never wanted to stop feeling those feelings. Read more>>

Kaylee Emmons

My business started with just a small little Instagram account made in July 2021. I had recently learned Reiki and wanted to share my knowledge and services with the world. I remember thinking to myself, if I could reach just a few people, I’ll be happy. Read more>>

Julia Quena Kavi

Eight years ago, my life was in shambles. I was trapped in the clutches of alcohol addiction, struggling with bulimia and codependency. It was a dark period that brought me to the brink of suicide. Little did I know that this desperate moment would mark the beginning of my spiritual journey. Read more>>

Angela Banks

Our instructors in school trained us to recognize mental health challenges, assess for safety and build relationships with our clients, but one thing that was hardly discussed was the various career paths we could take as counselors. Counselors are trained to take on a lot and with that, we are often burned out and stressed in our work environments. When I first became a therapist, I worked in what we refer to as community mental health. Read more>>

Janessa Scott Goliday

When I was younger, my grandparents had their own bar and restaurant that I would always be at. As a kid, I knew I always wanted to own my own business but did not know what that business was going to be. It was around the year 2019 when I was at a business event that I realized I wanted to open up my own nutrition club. At the end of 2019, I started working in a local nutrition club so that I could not only learn how to work a nutrition club but also how to run one as well. Read more>>

Nadeshda Hernandez

I, for a long time, knew I didn’t want to “work.” However, I wasn’t really sure why I felt that way. As I became more aware, I realized I had internalized my caregiver’s perspective on work as a very unpleasant means to the end of survival. That didn’t feel good. I knew I was great at and loved school. I remember fantasizing about getting paid to go to school and learn. Read more>>

Dr. Dennis McLeod

So in setting up my first practice, I really had to lean into my own knowledge and wisdom. There is not a lot of support for psychologist to start a private practice. I believe this might be due to the systems, the train us and their desires to maintain us as their employees. I asked countless questions of the few friends I had doing this work, and ensured to have mentorship along the way. Read more>>

Shaz Zamanian

In May of 2021, I officially opened Stretch Dr. San Diego’s premier assisted stretching and recovery clinic. I graduated in June of 2021 with my Doctorate. I have always had a vision of opening my own clinic and I saw a need in the market for high-quality assisted stretching and recovery. Read more>>

Anthony Benenati

My story began when my body started falling apart in my 20’s from years of playing sports and competitive weight lifting. One day while I was waiting tables in LA I met a fellow co-worker who, from the way she was carrying herself I was convinced she was either from royalty or was brought up in a very well-to-do family. She walked very erect and poised. I was struck by her maturity for someone my age. Read more>>

Mallory Nicklas

While serving as a program director and therapist for Mustard Seed Ranch, a non-profit equine assisted therapy program for youth who have experienced trauma, I was able to be fully immersed in the healing power of horses day in and day out. I found my stride so to speak and wanted to explore other ways of sharing this work. Read more>>

SANDRA MANNON

For many years I worked as a ICU Trauma Registered Nurse and I always frustrated by the management of patients that ended up in the ICU related to their chronic disease not being managed well. I decided to return to school to be a family practice Nurse Practitioner so that I could help patients before they got so sick. Read more>>

Dr. Tess M. Kilwein

It was always about access. I opened my clinical practice, Tess M. Kilwein, LLC, in January of 2021, while working full-time as a trauma specialist at a university counseling center, because I saw unmet needs in the community I lived in. Like most communities, access to services for those who held experiences of trauma, addiction, and identity-based marginalization was lacking. Read more>>

Gina Balit

I have always envisioned being my own boss and, despite not hearing much about private practice and business or hearing that it may not be for everyone, I knew I wanted my own practice and that’s what I did as soon as I got licensed. As many of my close colleagues know, the licensure journey was far from easy for me, but I was determined and always had my eye on my goals. I had a vision and started looking for office space right after licensure. Read more>>

Emily Hartmann

I started practice 8 years ago with another surgeon. We had a very active practice from day one and we brought in fun new modalities such as Coolsculpting. I had completed a cosmetic surgery fellowship so my focus was and is breast and body contouring. I also do reconstruction which includes breast cancer, gender affirming surgery, and breast reductions. Read more>>