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.

Wendell Jordan

My first client was five or six years ago when I lived in St Louis, MO. I was tired of cold calling after doing it for years and swore to find a better way to get clients. I started a cold email campaign that mixed a bit of random searching with businesses I found in Meetup groups. After a few weeks of sending messages that weren’t even getting read I finally got a reply from someone asking me if I could fix their website that they started but got stuck building. I was excited, I think I responded with my price… $500! I believe they paid that over five very drawn out and uneven payments but that cemented that I was on the right path. Read more>>

Rajneesha Clayton

After many years of experience in the world of retail and customer service and sales, I had a really broad understanding of how to pitch a product. I started making sample batches of my product for friends, family, and work colleagues to try. I went out on a step of faith and I attended my very first vendor’s market. between the feedback I received from friends family and colleagues as well as my very first set of customers at the vendor’s market, I knew I was headed in the right direction. Read more>>

Rochelle Knight

I began travel blogging in December 2016 as a hobby. I’ve always loved to write and have kept journals since childhood. When I began exploring my island home of Jamaica more, my natural thought was to journal the adventures in order to preserve my memories. That travel journal idea evolved into a blog so that my experiences could help other travelers. Thus, blogging began as a hobby and was never something I’d planned to monetize initially. Read more>>

Daniel Wiggins

I’m a graphic designer by profession and I’ve worked my way up from entry level to eventually becoming a senior creative to finally opening my own business. Prior to going out on my own, I worked for brands and agencies. One agency I worked for did a lot of branding for real estate companies. The longer I worked there, the more I enjoyed learned about clients and the industry, so I started following blogs and websites that followed all the key players in the field. Read more>>

Daniel Jefferson

I actually got my first client by helping my past employer with her marketing. While interning with her I helped her increase her social media presence through a variety of different strategies. She appreciated the work that I did for her so much that when my intern semester ended, she paid me to continue helping with her social media. Read more>>

Stephanie Ray

I have been in real estate for 8 years now. I obtained my broker’s license in January of 2021, and I decided to take the leap of faith to branch out on my own. This was very scary for me, but also simultaneously exhilarating to bring my dreams to fruition to serve more people through my real estate services. Although I would be doing what I have always done, I felt like I had a “safety net’ for some odd reason by working under another broker for 6 years. After much thought, my husband and I brainstormed together and I decided to name my business ” Next Door Realty.” Read more>>

Nykiah Lee

My first client in my business(Star Glam Mobile Beauty Services) was actually a large group party booking for mobile hair and makeup services for a birthday party. I was so happy that I got that booking but also worried and a little stressed because at that time with just starting out in business, I didn’t have a full staff of Hairstylist or Make-Up artist that could assist me in the large party of 10, It was just me as the hairstylist and like two other make-up artist that I had hired at that time. Read more>>

Sergio Borges

I’m 2019 When I decided to create an new business I sent it a message on Facebook to a dealership in Jacksonville asking if they were needing a detailing services and guess what? That black Nissan Murano was the first car for them as well, the shop was opened up few days before we didn’t know but we started a great partnership in that day. Read more>>