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.
Leslie Carothers
The Story Of How I Got My First Client: In 2007, I was the volunteer chair of WITHIT’s [ Women In The Home Industries Today ] national educational conference. [ See: https://www.furninfo.com/furniture-world-archives/7145 ] At the time of the conference, my business was still focused on sales training for the retail sales associates and interior designers working inside retail furniture stores across the USA. Read more>>
Rafyah Lumb
Back in 2008, I invested $80 in a newspaper ad and it changed my life. On the very same day, I received a call from my first client and I remember cleaning her house for around 8 hours for $100. From there, I developed a relationship with Ms. Rachel and over the course of a year, she introduced me to the concept of bartering. This allowed me to continue placing ads in the newspaper in exchange for my services. Read more>>
Megan Dotson
Depending on the stage in my career, I have several clients I consider to be my “first.” I hadn’t taken on non-family freelance clients before 2023—which by no means discredits what I consider client work. Family members can be a great source of income for creatives were trust and credibility is preestablished. In most cases, accepting a family member client is great low-stakes practice where creatives can gain experience and—equally as important—revenue. Read more>>
Stephanie Morales
As I embarked on my journey into freelance photography, I was determined to connect with seasoned professionals who were also based in NYC. Seeking insights about firsthand experiences, I reached out to friends, hoping to find a link to an established photographer. The search led me to a connection, another female portrait photographer, who happily agreed to a Zoom call for an informational interview. Read more>>
Dan Russell
Shortly after starting to make snowskates, we got a call from the snowboard school manager at Beaver Creek. He was asking if we’d be willing to provide snowskates to his snowboard teaching staff on pro-form (industry discount). We were happy to do so, and we set a date to go to Beaver Creek to deliver the snowskates. We figured we’d show up, get them their snowskates, and maybe take a run or two. Read more>>
Erin Ray
The first dollar my buisness ever earned was $10. The summer of 2019, I started creating $10 bodycon dresses. My summer promotion included $10 dresses for any style, size or color. I started promoting my work on instagram which soon grew to other platforms such as: Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok. Read more>>
Natalie Wilson
My very first client ever, many many years ago, was also one of my first lessons. Never complete a job without receiving payment. In a time when digital cameras were in their infancy and Adobe wasn’t as great as it is now, starting out was not pleasant. I was part of a Mom’s Night out group which connected me with a woman who wanted wedding pictures taken. Her budget was extremely low and since I was just starting out, I didn’t mind the small budget. Read more>>
Mike McCandless
I was at a festival ( Homestead Hollow) in Springville Al. I had built a beautiful dining room table out of 1800s heart pine with old circle saw marks. A lady walked up and was looking at it. She asked if I could build one an inch bigger, So I tried my best to get her to take the one I had already built. But she wanted one an inch bigger. So I had just enough of the wood left to build her one an inch bigger. My first order. Read more>>
Dillon Drake
I have always had a love for design and flowers but it was more so on the gardening side of things rather than arranged florals. My passion for becoming a floral designer flourished when a friend asked me to help with her wedding flowers. After helping her and receiving many compliments on the work I decided I wanted to start my own business. So in January 2018 I filed for an LLC on LegalZoom and started an Instagram account. Read more>>