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.

Alexis Fortier

My whole entrepreneurial journey started with photography. I grew up absolutely in love with landscape photography so I started a photography business. The first start was in 2016 and I tried selling just my landscapes but I started it when trying to plan a wedding and so it kind of just flopped, I tried again mid-way through 2017 but this time I ended up putting a huge focus on brand, product, and real estate photography. Read more>>

Aneet Chhabra

Earning that first dollar through my business was nothing short of surreal. Coming from a corporate background, I had no real experience in running a business. I’d poured every ounce of creativity, late-night energy, and sheer willpower into getting my venture off the ground, but as an introvert, networking, and pitching felt like stepping into uncharted territory. Still, I convinced myself to push past my comfort zone and started interacting with other business owners in my community. Read more>>

Brenda-lee Lethbridge

My very first client came from a local Facebook group. I had just left my full-time job for a number of reasons – A toxic work place environment, I was experiencing extreme health issues due to endometrioses, and I needed to be able to provide an income for my family, while also having flexibility and time freedom that comes with working at home with kids AND chronic illness. Read more>>

Chavon Carr

After years in corporate law, specializing in energy and real estate, I faced an unexpected layoff that became the push I needed to start my own law firm. Leveraging my industry expertise and strong network, I reached out to friends and family, and it was through these connections that I landed my first client. This experience highlighted what my firm stands for: a deep commitment to relationships, personalized service, and a hands-on approach to navigating the complexities of the legal world. Read more>>

Craig Gary

I just happened to own a large format printer that does 24 inch wide prints by however long you want. This was before I had any professional use for it. As luck has it, I was in the mall one day literally thinking about how I could make photography and prints as a seamless solution. Just then I looked at stores that didn’t have any pictures or banners on their store front glass. Read more>>

Diane Pauley

It’s interesting to think of that first encounter that led you on the path you’re on as an entrepreneur. As someone who works in the digital space, I never thought of framing that first dollar I earned, but receiving it meant more to me than anything. It meant someone believed enough in the vision I had created, almost out of thin air, to invest in it, and it was my goal to deliver for them. Read more>>

Executive Alliance

The First Client for any organization certainly is a memorable one. Given the relatively short time that Executive Alliance Records has been in business, we are happy to share the story of how we came about and won over our first client. The 2020 covid pandemic was certainly a frightful year in the world’s history. In a time ravaged with illness, uncertainly, and disbelief only a select few decided to use the newly found time off to focus on launching careers/products that would insure a sustainable future. Read more>>

Kelly Becker

I had been making cookies pretty much to take picture of, then I would give them to family and friends to spread the word. My brother in law placed my first paid order. His law firm had a baby shower for him and my sister, so he wanted thank you for throwing the baby shower cookies with his firm’s name written on some cookies. It is funny to think back to how scared I was that the cookies weren’t going to be good enough. My sister called that night and told me everyone raved about how good the cookies were. Read more>>

Madison Nilsson

The first client our studio received was the moment we opened up our pottery classes available for purchase. Back story on working up to this point – I (Madi) had a marketing booth at a local art market in November of 2022. I was marketing a business that hasn’t opened yet and still had 3 more months of build out to go. At this Art Market my main goal was to talk with our community, get to know others, and get the word out that my studio was opening March 2023! Read more>>

Sara Obando

When I first started, I was open to any opportunities that came my way. The first client I had that wasn’t family or friend came shortly after graduating, while I was still using the student job board. I would apply to most jobs that showed up in that board, as long as they were in my area of graphic and web design. After applying for a couple of months, this contract came along. They were looking for a contractor specializing in my design area, and doing tasks very similar to what I had been doing in my former part-time job that I did during college. I had done a bit of freelancing before, but this was the first actual job that included on-going work on an hourly rate.  Read more>>

Steve Selengut

I started investing when I was 25, in 1970, before the internet, money market funds, IRAs, 401ks, etc. I was working for a life insurance company in NYC, commuting by bus from Lake Hopatcong, NJ. The income was less than my para-legal wife was making locally but I was learning a lot about investing through my job in the Pension Investment Department. Read more>>

Taylon Taylor

In the bustling world of digital marketing, success stories often emerge from unexpected beginnings. For Taylon Taylor, a seasoned hairstylist turned digital entrepreneur, the journey began with a simple transaction through her Acuity booking site. “I fell in love with digital marketing when I received my first deposit from my booking site,” she recalls, reflecting on the pivotal moment when she realized the potential to generate income without the constraints of traditional service-based businesses. Read more>>