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.

Jhetta Ebron

My first client was actually my step brother and I will always appreciate the door he opened up for me. Are use my camera only as a hobby. I will record myself rapping in the car or just taking pictures, and I thought nothing of it. He saw something in me that I didn’t see at the time and asked me if I could film his wedding. I knew nothing about filming weddings or filming at all but as soon as he has, it made me want to learn more about the craft. Read more>>

Marquan Jones

I received my first styling client the week my grandmother passed away in January of 2022. I always had an eye for fashion and style, but never thought to turn it into a gig. People always asked me for styling advice or inquired about where I bought my clothes. It wasn’t until my grandmother passed away that I got called upon to jump right into the industry. I don’t believe in coincidences, my grandmother had amazing style and I felt that it was a spiritual calling. Read more>>

Olga Kovtun

As I embarked on my educational journey in graphic and web design, I soon realized that classroom knowledge alone wouldn’t suffice to thrive in the industry. Determined to acquire practical skills, I ventured into volunteer work, a decision that paved the way for my professional success and transformed me into a seasoned marketing expert. Read more>>

Emily Croslin

Let’s rewind to 2017… I started collaborating with brands almost right away once I established my account. But, no, not my *DREAM* brands or brands you and I hear of regularly. In the early days, I would reach out to boutiques with a similar follower count (or less) to mine and ask if they’d trade product in exchange for social media promotion. Read more>>

Brooke Molinari

I found myself working away as a graphic designer at an advertising agency that specialized in healthcare and financial services. The campaigns I was assigned revolved around topics like Medicare open enrollment and credit union banking products…YAWN. As a young and creative individual, the work I was engaged in failed to ignite a sense of fulfillment within me. An intense desire for something new began to consume me. Read more>>

Gloria Duque

I still have the check my first “real” client sent me over the mail. It is a constant reminder of the importance of giving small business the opportunity the same way someone gave it to me long time ago. This check served as momentum to believe in myself and to keep moving. This first job was a result of the love I have for interior design, art, architecture. It never felt as “work”. Read more>>

Quizanae Cooper

The week before I launched my business, I created a solid marketing plan. The idea was to have good enough marketing to speak for itself. That plan turned out to work very well. On the day of the website launch, my lashes sold out. This was a shock to me because I didn’t expect that it would happen so soon. I was then encouraged to order more lashes and launch a pre-order option. Making my first dollar from customers that were not family or friends felt terrific! In addition, it gave me the courage to add additional items to my business to sell as well. Read more>>

Jamie Broll

I was baking scones for my family and coworkers for family gatherings for a few years, just hear and there. Then, during the pandemic I had more time to bake and cook so I started making a weekly post on my personal Facebook page called “Scone Saturdays.” Many people wanted the recipe or just simply the scones! That’s where my idea blossomed and decided there must be even more of a demand and started selling custom orders. Read more>>

Taja Tillman

After learning how to fade, and feeling good enough to charge for my services I began marketing myself. I taught myself how to edit and began recording my haircutting process & making content. I not only just posted my work, but I also bought Instagram ads to scale more. I was extremely excited the first time I got a notification that somebody booked on my booking link. I didn’t know him from a can of paint, but I was very grateful that he chose to be serviced by me. Read more>>

Stefanie LaHart

My career has followed a few different paths from web designer to digital marketer but all leading me to specializing in brand building marketing strategy with an emphasis on lead generation. When I was first branching out on my own I was trying to figure out the kind of businesses I wanted to work, who these people were and how to find them. At the time I was diving deep into my own personal yoga practice. Read more>>

Carly LeDay

The world of freelance film creatives can be a harsh, daunting, and unforgiving landscape. There is a line in the sand; one side is you, the creative, and the other is your client. When you provide an innovative service, you must understand both sides of the playing field, Read more>>

Madison Dennis

I had just come off of competing for the title of Miss Tennessee – a pageant that requires its’ contestants to provide their own hair & makeup for the competition. Many people wanted to know how I learned stage hair & makeup, and I explained that I had spent my entire life on stage so I had to learn it on my own. Once people learned that I was interested in doing hair & makeup for others, not just myself, the referrals started pouring in, and I began providing those services at other pageants, for photo shoots, and for a couple of brides that first year. Read more>>

Nicole Mandallaz

My first client since re-opening in Borrego Springs, after moving from Palm Springs and being shut down for over a year was just as special as getting my first ever client as an esthetician. I had been shut down for so long due to quarantine restrictions on personal care services, and my husband and I on the brink of potential bankruptcy, Read more>>

Kyera Kacey

I love sharing this story because most online coaches are trying so hard to close a client, and this story is a great reminder that our work was never meant to be or feel forceful. In December 2019, I hired my first business coach. It was a $20K investment that I went back into debt for, and after two months of working with my mentor, I closed my first client at $2,500, (now my private mentorship is a 5-6 figure investment). Read more>>

Duraa David

As an audio producer and restaurant owner, I always knew it would be challenging to attract clients beyond my immediate circle of family and friends. However, I persisted and relentlessly worked on my craft, hoping to one day break through and attract clients who didn’t have any pre-existing connection to me. Read more>>

Meredith Jacobson

Approaching the year mark of starting my consulting business, I was feeling pretty defeated because I hadn’t yet landed a big enough client to give me confidence that freelance would become a viable career path. I was considering going back to a full time role and beginning the interview process to do so. I had many productive conversations and submitted several proposals over the course of that year, but none of them had turned into something tangible yet. Read more>>

Bria Carnes

My first official client is Jessica Conner. She was a client that followed me from cosmetology school. She has been with me since 2017. Once I graduated school, she waited for me to start taking back clients and was my first official client behind the chair. Read more>>

Carolina Orrico

I was 18 and heartbroken. I thought the best thing I could do for myself was finding an internship at a fashion brand that I felt connected to. I wrote every single brand I could think of an email, and one of my favorite designers replied back. I’d make $300/month + $300 in store credit. Once I started working for that designer, I realized that my favorite part of working for a brand was to conceptualize and help out on shoots. Read more>>

Lyndsay Beck

I started my business, TMB Digital Den, about a year and a half ago. As a mom of four, with a firefighter husband who works crazy shifts, I was brainstorming business ideas that would allow me to work from home and be more available for the kids, especially on the days that my husband was working 24-hour shifts. Read more>>

Sophie and Casey Beres

Casey: “Our website went live after Summer 2020. We kept trying to promote the link on our socials, but it just was not engaging well with our audience. We started giving up on the website. A couple weeks later, Soph and I were swirling around on our office chairs one evening when – DING! Read more>>

Meesha Gerhart

When I first started my business, I knew that networking and community engagement would be key to getting my first clients. I attended local events and reached out to people in my network to let them know about my services. By being active and visible in my community, I was able to build relationships and establish trust with potential clients. It took some time and effort, but eventually, my hard work paid off and I landed my first clients through these connections. Now, I continue to prioritize networking and community engagement as a way to grow my business and connect with new clients. Read more>>