There are so many varied experiences when it comes to starting a business. From what we’ve seen, there is no one, right answer. Some people found success by writing a business plan, spending months or years perfecting the idea and only then approaching their first client while others found their first client before they had even settled on a name for their business. Below, you’ll find the stories of how entrepreneurs from across industries and markets found their first clients.

Stephanie Chan

It’s actually funny how I got my first client. So I use dating apps to promote myself on there and in my bio it says “I’m a photographer, book a shoot with me @theatlphotographer.” The guy messaged me wanting dating profile pictures like lifestyle kind of photos and he was the first client that booked me. Read more>>

Christine MacMillan

She is what I now call my soulmate client. She posted a search for a Travel Advisor in a local Facebook community. A friend of a friend tagged my name in response to the post. This friend of a friend didn’t know my soulmate client, but she knew I own a travel agency and wanted to help. My soulmate client contacted me and we kicked off my travel planning process. Read more>>

Mary Lubey

My first client was basically the reason I started Almost Perfect Cakes. It was early 2020 and a friend of mine was preparing for the party she was planning to have for her son. I asked her what she was going to do for dessert and she told me was was just going to do a box cake mix. I laughed thinking that she was joking…but she wasn’t. I offered to make her sons birthday cake for her…from scratch and she agreed. Read more>>

Ayelet Werner

Getting my first branding client took a while, as expected when just starting out. My advice to anyone wanting to start freelancing is to make sure you’ll be financially ok if, for a few months, you’re not making any money because it can be hard at first. It took me around 4 months to get my first branding client and I felt wildly unprepared and nervous. Read more>>

Farryn Dickson

My first was actually a wedding. I was referred to the couple by their wedding planner. I was hired to do their garland for their ceremony arch. This was my first ever solo wedding gig. I was so nervous but I did it and it came out great. And the couple absolutely loved it. Read more>>

Alesha Savannah

Being a wellness coach for the #1 nutrition company in the world initially intimidated me more than a floor transfer as a new non-ambulatory wheelchair user. As a disabled woman, who was going to take me seriously?! With that in mind, i quietly began following my nutrition plan and focusing on overall wellness. Within six months of following the plan, i was down not only 30+ pounds but my energy was up, and i was healthier and happier than I’d been in a long time. Read more>>

Michelle Sanabria

Back in 2018, I was working as a Project Manager in the Healthcare field & I was presented with the opportunity to help a business partner with a wedding as a Day of Coordinator. Little did I know, he told the couple they were working with the #1 Coordinator in Orlando. That was terrifying, however, I rose to the challenge and had a near flawless wedding my first try. That’s when I realized this is what I was meant to do. Read more>>

Greta McNebb

It all began, nearing the end of 2019. An acquaintance of mine in the wedding planning industry luckily referred a client to me. The lovely couple, who had a smaller budget, were eager to find an experienced wedding planner that met their needs. As I was just starting to plan weddings under my own company, Nova Events, I was excited at the opportunity to work for them and build my portfolio. Read more>>

Hayden Escobedo

How I got my first client was my uncle Roland. About two years ago when I bought a drone as just a hobby he at the time was helping to design and build houses. So he contacted me about taking pictures of the process of one of his client’s homes and it just started from there. Read more>>

Lisa: Dubrovich

I had just planned my daughter’s wedding which took place on Halloween at The Stanley Hotel. (Don’t think pumpkins–think of the final scene in The Shining with Jack Nicholson in the picture of the 1930’s gala. Yep. Classy. Elegant. 30’s haunting. And not a pumpkin in site!) For months prior to that wedding I had begun working out at a gym to try to fit into my MOB gown. It was a pretty small, all women’s gym and everyone there knew about the wedding.  Read more>>

Lee “Aminna” Buchanan

So exciting! years ago my first clients were a family who relocated to Texas. The wife contacted me via social media inquiring about my services and wanted to know if I could assist them. I was ecstatic and rose to the occasion! A little background, I have a mortgage background of 18 years so transitioning to real estate was a piece of cake for me. Relocation clients are always a joy and a rollercoaster ride. Read more>>

Sean Oblizalo

It’s funny after you make a website, you have the realization that you now need to make conversions. But how?! This is when I first learned about the world of SEO. Unfortunately, SEO is a long-term game, so I had to figure out how to covert until I was able to build up my domain authority on google. I went headfirst into Facebook and Instagram ads my first year and that’s how I booked my first 18 couples. In the last 4 years, I have been able to build up my google rankings and move away from ads, which has been beneficial in booking my ideal clients. Read more>>

Jesse Lemons

There’s no way around it, my Mom was my first customer… (Thanks Mom!) But for real, to answer your question as you phrase it: I hadn’t painted more than 10 paintings at the time, so I figured it was time to open up an Etsy shop! SO many options already for people to pick from. Read more>>

Tasha Daniels

I started my business Coily Products, LLC in Florida in 2019, due to Covid-19 shutting down the local markets I was no longer able to go there on weekends to physically sell my products. I ended up transitioning to Houston and being stuck in my corporate job being unhappy and wanting to start my business again but not knowing how to. Read more>>

Ali Berry

This was not necessarily my first Real Estate Client but this was my first Commercial Real Estate Deal that launched my career in the commercial space. I was on vacation with my family in L.A. when my wife insisted on trying this specific restaurant famously known for their Birria Tacos. Even though we were invited for dinner, we decided to take 15 mins of our time to stop by and try a taco each before dinner. Read more>>

Sonya Hernandez

After cosmetology school I started a referral program. Each person that sat in my chair, received a punch card. If they referred 3 friends, they received 50% off and each person that came received an initial $5.00 off their first visit. This grew my business overnight. After that everything was word of mouth, and I was working 4 days a week 12 hours a day to keep up with my new client base. Read more>>

Justin Edwards

The first client I got was from a Lyft ride! I was previously working on a temporary well paying construction job that was completed at the end of the calendar year in 2019. I decided to take out a $10,000 personal loan and go full time at real estate at the beginning of 2020. I got my license in the summer of 2019, but was limited to being a part time agent since I had a full time construction job. Read more>>

Catara Lane

My first project came about while I was outside downtown in philly doing photography homework and a lady that was working with a clothing brand stopped me and was like are you a photographer and I let her know I was a student and she asked if I could come with her to a business meeting that she was having with her partner around the corner and I was like sure. Read more>>

Brittney Butler

My story into going freelance is a pretty random one. I got my equipment stolen during a wedding. While I was looking to purchase used equipment I went on craigslist and found someone selling a canon 85mm and he was a celebrity photographer. I met up with him and discussed how I wanted to help shoot content for him. He became my mentor instantly. Read more>>

Neil Lee

I got my first client by building a marketable portfolio that attracted my ideal audience by posting it on social media sites and lead-generating sites. Read more>>

Chelsea Lewis

The funniest thing is that I never intended to start a cosmetic company. In 2014, while pregnant with my son I started a blog on Instagram to document my pregnancy experience. Because my parents are both in the healthcare field, I thought my blog would be a different perspective coming from the daughter of an OBGYN and Pediatric Nurse. I discussed my prenatal journey and various holistic alternatives I would use while also utilizing my knowledge of medicine from a doctor’s perspective. Read more>>