One of the most important things an aspiring entrepreneur can do is validate their idea by finding a client. For first time entrepreneurs, this can often feel intimidating and so we’re hoping that by sharing stories of how others before them have found their first client we can make it feel less daunting. Below, you’ll find the stories of some incredibly bright entrepreneurs and business owners sharing how they secured their first client.

Jesse Armstrong

My very first client came to me via my boss, at the time, in 2001. I worked as a junior designer for an interior design firm in San Diego. This was a small project where the homeowner needed help restoring original elements of his 1924 Spanish Colonial Revival bungalow that had been stripped away in the 1960s. I have a soft spot for anything 1920s and the home was in a beautiful neighborhood in San Diego known as Kensington, so I was very excited to take this project on. Read more>>

Zusha Goldin

How to describe the experience of getting a first-ever client… Well, the first person that wants you for you and wants to work with you purely because they decided they love you and your work? It’s such a surreal, and validating experience. As entrepreneurs, most of us have crippling self-doubt and imposter syndrome. Read more>>

Shawn Morrison

Kindness. I love kindness. Genuine, authentic goodness. Love in motion made manifest in an intentional, purposeful, and focused manner. It’s such a simple concept that anyone can participate. Yet, it has the power to positively change lives, families, communities, cities, nations, and our entire world for the better. Read more>>

Miki Gilmour

After I graduated from college, I did not have any jobs lined up. Starting up as a freelance without having any connection is very hard. Back then, there was a website called LA411 (and it still exists). It’s an online directory of LA’s film/TV companies. Read more>>

Aurelia Luciano

My first client was one of my favorite local coffee shops, Clutch Moto, which sadly is no longer with us. The owners at Clutch, Kim and Fernando were hosting a 2 year anniversary celebration back in spring/summer of 2022 at their coffee shop, honoring their business being born and run during the COVID19 pandemic. My daughter and I decided that we would join the celebration for the evening. Read more>>

Holden Zalma

When I began my career, I was still in college and had just been told that the last 3 years I had spent working for free as an Assistant Athletic Trainer for the USC football team, didn’t count as volunteer hours toward my application to the Physical Therapy program. I was then told that I would have to spend another year working for free in a hospital setting to even apply. Read more>>

Maya Kadan

I got my first client through word of mouth. My mother’s coworker had hired me to make her some bracelets. This is when I was 10. Read more>>

Galina Vander Meer

I’ll be completely honest, getting my first client was one of the toughest challenges I faced when starting my virtual assistant business. I had been tirelessly conducting discovery calls with potential clients, but it seemed like no one was willing to take a chance on me because they were looking for someone with more experience. It was a frustrating and disheartening time. Read more>>

Ruth Sherrill

I got my first client when I began creating content on TikTok. My first client outside of my network was a lead that I received from the video platform, Tiktok. They saw my video on their “For You Page” which led them to inquire about my services via a consultation call. From there I sent them a proposal of my rates and packaging and they decided to move forward with my standard social media retainer package. Read more>>

Mishana Malahoo

This is funny story. Before I know the whole works of being a content creator, I was doing it and not knowing. I used to get approached by persons from China promoting protective hairs, from crochet hairs to wigs. Because I had started by youtube channel, I thought why not do tutorials on how to install and style these hairs. Read more>>

Kristina Blackford

In a coffee shop! I was sitting next to a woman who was firing off work related voice messages. I don’t really know how to explain why, but my intuition just told me that she was someone I needed to meet. I introduced myself to her and explained that I was getting ready to launch my business. She seemed really interested and asked for my info. She not only became one of my favorite clients but a friend! Read more>>

Tara Coley

My friends had always pushed me to start my own business and one day my friend who owns her own business reached out to me and was inquiring if i could do a pop up in front of her store! I was nervous but also excited. What should I make? Will people even show up? These were the thoughts flooding my head but fortunately i pushed through and persevered. Read more>>

Nicole Dunn Garay

I was an integral part of a dynamic, female-led mastermind group that met monthly in Los Angeles. At that time, I was a television producer on the spin-off series “Decision House,” a venture linked to the renowned Dr. Phil team. While my experience on the show was enriching, the wrap-up left me grappling with the industry’s challenges, particularly the limited opportunities for ambitious women like myself navigating a predominantly male-dominated field. Read more>>

Marla Ripperda

I had an opportunity to display an artwork at a local restaurant as part of a group show. The manager liked what I had and asked me about doing seasonal displays. My mentor at the time said, “You can do this. You need to do this!” I listened to the manager’s ideas and created them in my vision. Read more>>