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.

Heather Pierucki

When I was working in non-profit, I was in a Director position leading a team of case managers, peer support specialists, and other mental health practitioners. Read more>>

Krystina Stefani

My friend Jessica was planning her wedding to Dave and she was very overwhelmed. She had recently lost mom. Although she was excited to marry her Dave, the thought of planning her wedding without her mom was unbearable. Read more>>

Douglas Hayes

Although my first client is a friend of mine, the first one that wasn’t a friend happened to live in the same neighborhood. This client is a realtor who needed an inspection for her client and found me on the neighborhood social media page. Read more>>

William & La’Richer Parks

Wow…it was after years of my husband, William, showing up empty handed to his office potlucks. that I, La’Rcher, insisted on him taking a couple of containers of my homemade salsa to a work potluck. Read more>>

Kumari Mullin

In 1988 I was a civil rights attorney when my father died suddenly of lung cancer, which led me on a quest to understand death and dying and to ease suffering. Read more>>

Stephanie Boyle

I was working in insurance, claims and billing to be painfully boring and specific, but knew it wasn’t my forever. I had always had a passion for organization and the idea of working in corporate administration was incredibly appealing to me. Read more>>

Danielly Rocha

Growing up in Brazil, I was active and athletic until immigrating to the US. Being new to this country and without a network of family and friends, I used food to comfort my loneliness and emotions, quickly gaining 45 pounds with soaring cholesterol. Read more>>

Jennifer Kobasic

Being a mom of four I had spent many hours in the kitchen cooking meals and whipping up treats for the kiddos and there friends. Every birthday and holiday i would make the kids favorite cinnamon rolls. Read more>>

Stefanie LaHart

Forget the corporate ladder, I took the yogi’s leap! My career path pirouetted from web designer to digital marketer, but my final pose landed me in the sweet spot: brand-building ninja with a lead-gen superpower. Read more>>

Brittany Francois

After a few years into pageants and gaining much success, the excitement was contagious and my friends wanted in on the fun. So I encouraged whichever of my friends that were interested in competing and helped them with the process. Read more>>

Tonita Smith

Being a Nurse for over 20 years gave me an advantage point in the fact that people are more likely to trust you due to your credentials. My first full paying client was a complete stranger; however she was referred to me by someone that saw an Instagram video that I posted of me performing a facial on my husband. Read more>>

Chanel Beizer

When I first started my business, the biggest challenge was to get it up and running and attract customers. To begin with, I reached out to the people closest to me and promoted my business on social media. Read more>>

Jasmine Carson

My first client, actually was a co worker of my father. My dad has been on his job 30 years and I was currently in cosmetology school still doing hair at my mom’s house. Read more>>

Kelly Williams

Before COVID-19, we had decided to bring our product to life. We worked on our logo, packaging, product ingredients, and marketing strategies. Then, boom, COVID-19 hit, and my job as a makeup artist came to a halt. Read more>>

Angela J. Turner

I received my first client by engaging in conversation, telling the individual about my Poetry Book what the title would be how I felt in my writing, and the title along captured the essence of what I was displaying this person didn’t know me. Read more>>

Teresa Rand

My very first dollar in my consulting business was from the company I quit to become an entrepreneur! I turned in my resignation to my boss and explained in full detail what my new business would consist of and who would be my ideal clients. Read more>>

Sonal Shah

What distinguishes me is my extensive experience; having worked in both Marriott and Starwood in the hotel industry, I gained experience and knowledge in delivering exceptional service and paying attention to even the smallest details. Read more>>

Lindsey Porter

My very first official client was a wedding for two of my very sweet and trusting friends. I moved to Portland from living in Northern CA my entire life (30 years). Read more>>

Preston True

Considering the three core functions of a business (sales, operations and finance) are necessary for any business, your operations and finance won’t be fed without sales working first. Read more>>

Kurt Thigpen

My very first client I got was when I was in college and I was looking for gigs on Craiglist and found an advertisement from a costume designer a few hours away that needed a website to be able to sell her custom designs. Read more>>

Shiri Phillips

This question is a classic conundrum for artists! The initial supporters are often friends and family, serving as the foundation for expanding your reach. Read more>>

Jovon Roberts

Back in the day, when my camera was just for capturing shadows and light, not faces and lives, I was just Jovon from Charleston with a lens and a dream. Read more>>