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.

Kerry Mitchell

Moving here from New York, I had no network, except my family who started me out referring me their friends and co-workers. Following that, I started in a commission salon who vowed they could NOT feed me any clientele so I was on my own. It was an insanely large salon and super competitive so I had to devise a plan. I knew that if I could get someone in my chair once, chances were I could get them back. Read more>>

Chef Hoppie

Your first dollar is always your most important dollar! “Why is that, Chef?”, you might ask, simple, because that now means you have a business. You took the first step needed to accomplish a goal, a dream, and what you aspired to do! For me it all started with my love and passion for football. Most people don’t know but I used to be ‘like that’ on the field before I stopped growing and realize it was time to retire from the game before the game retired me. Read more>>

Shadana Miranda

Before I decided to become a full-time transformational coach, I felt the urge to start mentoring/coaching a few people for free. I wasn’t sure why, but the spirit was nudging me to do it. I coached two people for free for about 3 months. After three months, I decided that my services were no longer going to be free and that I would start charging. I then communicated that message will my clients. Both of those clients gave me amazing testimonials and referred me to paid clients. From then on my business has been referral-based. I’m beyond blessed. Read more>>

Alberto Chavez

We launched at Memorial Park on 03/12/17 on a great sunny morning. We parked our mobile shop and set up a tent. Our first client came to chat with us, and he has been our client since then. Read more>>

Yvette Gavin

My first client was my desired corporate client. I told everyone I knew that I was going to provide training for this client and people I told began to introduce me to people who either worked at this company or were vendors for this company. These people became leads and I followed each one from phone calls, office visits, to lunches and dinners I really could not afford. Read more>>

Charlie Miller

I had just moved to Texas from North Carolina for my corporate job in 2008 (I was a sales manager for a copier company). I hired a new sales rep the following year and he mentioned to me that he coached a club basketball team on the side. Club basketball wasn’t even a thing in North Carolina at the time, so I had to ask him to explain further. He informed me that club basketball was a way for kids that were mainly middle-of-the-road players to play year-round basketball outside of school. Read more>>

Mustafa Uygur

Starting a new business is extremely hard especially if it is not a franchise. It was several days that the first customer walked in the store after the business opened its doors. You can imagine how I felt those few days with no customers walk-in or calls. I was really disappointed and thought I had to find different ways to attract people to this new small business, and one of my local friends suggested that I make a deal with Groupon and Yelp as a means of advertising. After working with these two advertising companies for at least 6 months, people started to hear Microfix and do business with you. In brief, I benefited from Groupon and Yelp on a large scale. Read more>>

Thequila Hill

I got my first celebrity client from Instagram. I go on Instagram and tag celebrities I know who had dogs. I DM them and advertise my services. One day I received a call from the celebrity client to book an appointment for her dog. Read more>>

Nicole Watts

My first business venture was The Bronzed Beauty- Spray Tanning Salon. I went to Arizona, got certified- purchased my equipment- found a rental space and set up my social and financial stuff. As I had everything ready to accept my first client- my husband asked me….”So how are you gonna get people in here?” My response…. “Hit the pavement”. Read more>>

Michelle Gonzalez

As a seasoned residential real estate broker, I knew the time was right for a change so I returned to FIU (Florida International University) for a Master’s Degree in International Real Estate. I figured the best way to transition from residential to commercial real estate was to be well-suited for a new fight. After the year long program I happily graduated and realized I needed to choose a niche market to specialize in. Giving credit to Alex Miranda (Godpreneur) he guided me with a simple question: what is your favorite thing to do…..EAT lol…. The options were varied but reflecting on my choices I followed my stomach and my heart to become a food and beverage broker. Read more>>

Traci Sampson

I had recently started my business and I received a call from a woman who had her own design business but was pregnant and going on maternity leave so she needed help with projects while she was away. We met for breakfast and had a wonderful discussion about her needs for the job. I was very excited! This was going to be an on-going project – doing production work for a banner company. They produce customized tents, banners, table throws, etc. Read more>>

Kelly Nicholl Lara

I received my first photography sale in May of 2004. The Barnes & Noble, in Poughkeepsie, NY had a monthly showing for local artists. If you were selected, they would showcase your art in their coffee / bakery area for one month and hosted an ‘artist reception’ welcoming friends, family and community members. It was an exciting time and a complete honor to have my photography displayed and supported by such an amazing store. The reception viewing also allowed you to sell your photos and exchange contact information – I sold a total of 15 framed prints which was the start of my professional photography career. Read more>>

Merlyn Donatien

Though I was always planning a bridal shower, baby shower or wedding for my friends or family, planning never felt like something I was going to choose as a career. From the beginning it’s been my passion. I always enjoyed seeing the joy on everyone’s faces after an event and that was rewarding enough for me and still is. When I decided to do this as a business instead of a hobby, I felt nervous not knowing where this path would lead me. I took a certification course for wedding planning at a local college. Read more>>

Kelly Schexnaildre

We all start businesses for a variety of reasons: passion, love, altruism, solving a problem or need in the marketplace, and many others, but the main purpose of business is to make money doing something you love. Prior to starting Merfs Condiments, I identified my target market: American and breakfast restaurants, grocery stores, and people ages 25-44. Once I identified my target market, I had to explore both the possibilities within this market and any barriers to market penetration. Read more>>

Sonia Alvarado

I began spreading the word about my new cleaning company and my services within my subdivision. The fact that my neighbors knew me and trusted me helped me get the first job within a couple of weeks of starting my company.. Read more>>