The uncertainty of entrepreneurship causes many entrepreneurs to put off starting their business. For others, losing a job or other economic hardships push them starting their businesses earlier than expected. In our conversations with thousands of entrepreneurs we’ve seen so much variety in when, how and why people started their business and so we wanted to share a wide variety of views and reflections on the question of whether these folks wished they had started sooner or waited longer before starting their businesses.

Sarah E Magida

I’m right on time…I’d like to think! I thought about introducing life coaching for artists for almost 20 years. I’m in my early 40’s and I came to a huge turning point in life where I realized I needed to get my razzz mattazzz back and really get serious about my life and arts practice. I had just been let go from a design job and was in the middle of buying a house with my then boyfriend who became my husband in 2 weeks time. Read more>>

Chef Cole

Definitely if I could go back in time I would’ve started my business sooner than 2020. When I started my business I was actually working in an a completely different industry. I was an maintenance technician when I was stepping out doing catering gigs for friends of mines. Read more>>

Mark Spencer

I do in fact wish I could have started my business sooner. I started it in 2012 – but 2008 is where the crises started that was one of the key factors that brought me here. I was in industrial sales, and I had retail sales management experience as well. 2008 is when the economy crashed, and with that my career. Read more>>

Crystal Marie

If I could go back in time I definitely would have started my business at the same time. Originally I started my 1st business in 2015. I started Crystal Berry’s which is a chocolate strawberry business. I specialize in Chocolate strawberries, chocolate pretzels, Pound Cake, Cheese cake mousse and banana pudding. Read more>>

Kaitlin Launder

In college, I studied psychology with a minor in heath and human services. After I completed all required classes and had the option to take an elective, something I knew I would enjoy, I chose photography. Photography is something that interested me but didn’t seem like a viable career option for a single woman. After graduating, and applying to A LOT of jobs, I ended up in Arizona with a career in the social work field. Read more>>

Nikkia Johnson

When I started this business, I was a new mom with a baby. Needless to say, I was all over the place! I came from a cooperate background, and used to pride myself in excellent time management. Handling day to day tasks, let alone starting a business with a baby definitely put that to test. Read more>>

Amber Smith

After seven months of being a business owner, I find myself asking, “Why didn’t I do this sooner?” The answer, in retrospect, is straightforward: Timing is everything. It wasn’t the right time for me to take this leap of faith. There were valuable lessons to be learned, experiences to be gained, and personal growth to be achieved before embarking on this journey. Read more>>

Taysha Nacadia

Looking back on my career as a Home Organizer I can honestly say that I wish I had started my business sooner. I began organizing back in 2009 when I graduated from college and was unable to find a full time position. Organizing was not something I ever thought about as a hobby, side job or profession; it was just a task that I found myself doing throughout the day to pass time. Read more>>

Porsche Shanell

Honestly, sooner. At the time, my business was a needed pivot due to COVID. Prior I was in my feild working as an Esthetician indepent contractor and did freelancing as a MUA frequently. I always wanted to own a beauty/skincare line but never moved on it. Once COVID hit, freelancing was out the window; I had to figure out a way to create income from home. Read more>>

Sahily Picon

I technically started my business in 2012, however, at the time I only had one client. About 4 years into the business I still only had that one client and then I acquired one more. Over the course of 6 years I only ever had 2 clients. Read more>>

Sarah Parker

As far as photography goes, I definitely wish I had started sooner. Photography is something I have been drawn to for as long as I can remember and I started dabbling in it in 2015, but ultimately put my camera down to pursue other things. In early 2023 when I had some lull in my social media work I decided to go ahead and pick it back up again and really give it another go. Read more>>

Carrine Mann

I have my days where I wish I started my business sooner but I’m just glad I started it when I did. I started my business in July of 2020. I had in my mind I was going to start it in 2019 but I was going through a very rough brake up. I feel that brake up made me really want to stand on my business and do what makes me happy for once. I came across this business on instagram that had a wholesale program for lashes and lipgloss etc and I knew right there that was my sign to start my business. Read more>>