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.
Zulema Thomas
My first sale was The Mosquito Café in Galveston, Texas. My family and I leaved right across the street from the café. When I made my fist candle in 2005 a Lemon cake soy candle in a small 8 oz mason jar. I taught to myself; this scent will go great with the bakery across the street. Back then I had a couple problems to overcome when staring my business. One the soy wax was very new to the market and people did not know anything about it. And two I had no childcare. Read more>>
Nadian Zak
Our first client came to us through UpWork—back when we were still testing the waters of entrepreneurship while holding onto our corporate jobs. We saw it as a way to dip our toes into the gig economy, so we built our profiles and put ourselves out there.
Almost immediately, we started getting interest. One of the first opportunities was a fintech company looking to double the size of their team. Kacie threw her hat in the ring, not expecting much—especially since the COO was interviewing 25 other candidates. But against all odds, she landed the contract! She started at $45/hour, and what began as a small retainer quickly grew into a $30K/month partnership. Read more>>
Nik Holmes
I actually started building my clientele while I was still in school. One day, my instructor pulled me aside and told me, ‘Start building your client base now—it’ll make a difference later.’ I took that advice to heart. While others were just focused on finishing the program, I was already marketing myself, practicing on real clients, and creating relationships. By the time I graduated—just seven months later—I walked across that stage not only with my license in hand, but with a solid foundation of 10 to 20 loyal clients I had built while still a student. Read more>>
Bobbi Mullins
I had been laid off from my corporate job due to the company consolidating offices and knew that I wanted to find something that allowed me to have more control over my time and income. I decided to learn WordPress as well as diving into coding html and css. I found an online school -Skillcrush and took a couple of their courses to help guide me through the process. Read more>>
Lisa Villella
My very first paying client found me on Instagram. They wanted a family session, which at the time was something I did. In fact, I was taking any type of photography someone would hire me for. I don’t remember how much I charged, but I can tell you it was probably too much – given my level of confidence. Read more>>
Alyssa Martinez
The day I got my 1st client enrolled into my 90 day program was amazing and solidified my resolve to being a coach.
It was amazing for many reasons lol one I was on vacation when I had a strategy call with a potential client. Strategy calls are always free and we talk about client goals what they need or want and decide together if what I can offer and what they need to reach their goals align. Read more>>
Patrick Sutton
My first big client as a HR Advisor came through the power of relationships and reputation. A former manager, who had seen my strategic approach firsthand, recommended me for the role. Within hours, I was in a meeting with the founder, diving into their challenges and vision. The conversation flowed effortlessly, and I could tell my insights resonated. By the end of the hour, there was a clear alignment. Just three hours later, my contract was in hand. It was a defining moment—proof that expertise, trust, and the right connections can open doors faster than I ever imagined. Read more>>
Kurtis Patterson
My first client came from an unexpected opportunity while working at a cabinet company as a painting employee. Their social media manager had recently left, and I saw a gap that I could fill with my expertise in content production and social media management. I approached the owner, pitched my skills, and just like that, I landed my first client. That experience reinforced my belief in seizing opportunities and using my skill set to provide value wherever I can. Read more>>