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.

Ginger Allen

I was excited to start my business but unsure if the small city market could sustain another company like mine. So I reached out to a lady named Eileen who had a company similar to the one I wanted to start and asked her if she thought there was room in our small market for another company like hers. To my surprise she said yes and then went on to say that should would be happy to refer people to me because she could not handle all the referrals she was getting. So I opened my business and true to her word she referred me my first 3 clients. She also became a close friend and mentor and we are still close and cross refer 10 years later. Read more>>

Liberty Dill

I was 16 years old, having a complete meltdown to my parents in the living room after school one day about how I felt lost, and was certain I didn’t want to go to college for a career I didn’t love but knew was a safe option. As I stood at my parents in hysterics expressing how “I just want to be a photographer” thinking they wouldn’t be satisfied with my choice of wanting to be an artist for a living, I was pleasantly surprised when they had my full support. When the pressure of perusing a typical college career was off the table, I felt 10 times lighter and wanted to begin my business right away. I began reaching out to wedding venues in my town, not to photograph, but to wait tables, help set up, assist in any form related to weddings. I wanted to see how to work flow of weddings was at a venue so I could better understand what it meant to be a wedding photographer. Over the next year, I washed dishes, set up chairs, coordinated ceremonies, and served dinner at venues till finally in 2018 I shot my very first wedding. So my first dollar/ client was not with my camera, but helped get my foot in the door in the wedding industry. Read more>>

Patty Williams-downs

Sometimes, the best opportunities arise in the most unexpected ways. My journey as a coach began organically during a routine reference check call. One of my teammates was transitioning to a new role, and I was contacted to provide a reference. Early in the conversation, I shared with my first client-to-be, “I’m sure you have a lot of questions lined up, but if you can tell me what you expect this role to accomplish, I can walk you through what they’ve done for us.” At the time, our team was deeply committed to supporting individuals as they transitioned out of the organization, so we always made it a point to highlight their impact. I shared insights on how the individual contributed to our team’s success, focusing on the turnaround efforts they helped lead. After the conversation, my soon-to-be client said something unexpected: “We should work together or something. The way you just described your turnaround…I could use your help. Do you coach?”  Read more>>

Madeline Arenas

I started Cubrix Photography when the recession began January 2008. My first child was only 1 month old back then when I started taking his photos with little to no props. With no incoming income from my previous web development firm, I have to rapidly think, my camera was my only valued gear I have that makes money. I immediately started posting on Craigslist LA/SF/IE/OC – on a daily basis with my son as a sample portfolio. That’s how I first started to get my first batch of clients. By 2nd quarter of 2009, I drove to San Francisco once a month to sustain my daughter’s baby formula & diapers supply for Dylan & Kyla. There was a season, I had barely no bookings and I was forced to sell some of my photography equipment so we can go Costco to buy our necessities. By the year 2009, I was nominated and rank top 5 out of 32 portrait photographers in Los Angeles. http://la.cityvoter.com/cubrix-photography/biz/266901. The awards continue 2011 (3/57), 2012(1/61), 2013(1/45) & 2014 (2/29) Read more>>

Kelisha White

Freshly graduated from high school I needed some clients to start my portfolio. So I asked my best friend to let me cut her hair and for every person she sent to get their hair serviced, I would take that amount off her next service. She declined the discount and sent me several clients from her haircut. Read more>>