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.

Jeff Hill

My son wanted to get his scuba certification, and I’d been egging him on for a while. So I finally signed him up with DAYO SCUBA. While I was at it, I thought, You know what? I’m going to do this the right way. Read More>>

Alyson Romot

My first doula client didn’t come easy! It’s tough starting out as a new doula in a community. I was working on networking with other birth workers, but how do you find the pregnant people who may hire you? I started my career by teaching HypnoBirthing. One of the parents in the class was interested in doula support. Vanessa grilled me with questions. Read More>>

Levista Harris-Hagan

My journey to securing my first client was quite serendipitous and meaningful. It all began with a referral from a friend of a friend. I met a remarkable woman in her 60s who was facing several health challenges. After a frustrating experience with her doctor, she was feeling quite hopeless. Read More>>

Jen Hirst

Before I ever became a sober coach, I was already spending years showing up online as a Beachbody coach…sharing workouts, motivation, and pieces of my life on social media. At the time, I had absolutely no intention of building a business around sobriety. But one thing I’ve always believed in is authenticity. Read More>>

Jon Wood

The first person I ever sold to was on eBay. It was an AAA plate topper. I was amazed at how easy it was, and it showed me how accessible selling online could be. From there, I was able to develop my first customers mainly through social media. Read More>>

Anna Randle

I got my very first client from social media. I was renting a small space in a hair salon on the west side and had a small but nice set up. I was a bit nervous but was always confident in my art. I welcomed her into my space and began her consult. Read More>>

Christian Anderaos

My very first client came from an opportunity a mentor trusted me with — leading a group of eight-year-old boys at a local park. At the time, there were no fancy fields, no cones with logos, no big structure behind it. What I had was my knowledge of the game, a ton of energy, and a genuine love for kids and soccer. Read More>>

Kevin Bohnenkamp

The story of how I got my first client is pretty straightforward, but it meant a lot to me. Early on, I spent time going into local shops and talking directly with store owners, showing them my work and explaining what I was trying to build. Most conversations didn’t lead anywhere, but I kept at it. Read More>>