Getting your first client is an exhilarating experience, but it’s also an experience that far too many aspiring entrepreneurs never experience. Sometimes, the difference between an idea dying in the idea stage or going on to change the world is getting that first customer – the first tiny win that creates the momentum to make an idea real. So, we connected with some of the smartest folks we could and asked them to tell us the stories of how they got their initial clients.

LaToya Robles

I remember this like it was yesterday. I had my very first vendor event coming up and I shared the details with my church connect group at our weekly meeting The group leader ‘suggested’ I do a trial run at her house for the next meeting. She allowed me to set up as if I was at the vendor fair to get my feet wet before the actual event. There were about 10 friends in attendance and they asked questions, made purchases, and provided feedback on everything from my setup to the product taste. It was so helpful for me to have that experience because when the actual event came, I knew what to expect and I felt so confident. I will always be grateful for that pre-launch and for my connect group. Read more>>

Ty Latrice

My first client was a guy who loved extravagant braid designs in his hair. He would come over and have me braid his hair for each event or big deal he would be about to close on and I would be so excited. He always paid me in all ones and due to me being a young girl, I felt I was being paid a lot of money at once. This was also a two for one session, because the styles were so extravagant that he would have to come back to me for the takedown! I would part his hair in 4 quadrants and connect them to each other somehow, and seal them with beads. Read more>>

Lucy Fry

Jason and I were both just getting our careers in architecture off the ground after graduating from UF. We were newlyweds, living in a basement apartment in an old house in Midtown Atlanta. We both had full time jobs at our respective firms as entry level designers. I was working insane hours at ASD, collaborating mostly on interior architecture projects for law firms and financial call centers. It was fast paced and crazy and so much fun. A big part of my job was specifying finishes and furniture so I got a lot of attention from sales reps – so many fancy lunches and dinners. We even spent a weekend in Maine with a rep. Read more>>

Kelly Wilson-Prior

I was showing homes to my husband’s best friend one day in Mesa and this home I showed was an Opendoor home where anyone can get into the home through their phone. There was a couple in there who was also looking at the home and I made small talk with them and found out they were months out from buying and window shopping on this particular day. They were really nice and funny and I felt a vibe with them so I was able to get the wife’s name, e-mail address and phone number and told them I would set up a buyer consultation with them when they were ready. Read more>>

Tamara (TK) Kasper

When I started working in the automotive field, seasoned technicians refered to me as “green”. Green is a terminology that means fresh or having no experience in the field. I wanted to learn the how to’s, build my confidence, and better understand that machine that I desperately depended-on daily. Most of all, I needed to find a job. I had no idea when I began working in this male dominant field that I would take it to a higher level. It all fell together and I started to enjoy learning the engineering of automobiles. My career all began with a single question, “Are you hiring?” Fast forward and a different city later, I was pushing myself forward in the field. Read more>>

Erika Obando

During one of my birthdays, my boyfriend surprised me with a weekend celebration in Orlando. One of the things on the itinerary was a sunrise hot air balloon ride over some of the most spectacular views over the countryside – No, not Disney. lol. It so happened that they paired us with two other people we didn’t know – a mom and daughter who were trying the experience for the time as well. We got to talking and taking photos together and once the ride was done, I spent time speaking with the mom. Read more>>

Stevie Reid

My first client was a high school senior, I was absolutely terrified. I had shot family and friends numerous times and it began to be a walk in the park. But when a friend referred the high school senior to me I was shook. I didnt even know what to charge, what to offer, and more importantly, how to not show I was an amateur. Luckily, he did not want to take pictures but was forced to by his parents, we both agreed to make the best of it. His parents was very flexible with me and the shoot was a complete success. I shot 30 seniors the rest of the year and was hired to shoot the prom. The best takeaway from that experience is to go before you’re ready, you never know what’s waiting for you if you give yourself a chance. Read more>>

Annabelle Gonzales

My first client had to have been about 16 years ago! Estheticians weren’t as popular as they are now-so no one knew exactly what I had to offer. With the power of Facebook- I let my “friends” know the services I would offer soon post graduation and state board licensing. My direct messages went off, they were interested in brow waxing, under arm waxing, Brazilian waxing, makeup and facials. They were asking for my pricelist-i didn’t have that! I wasn’t expecting it so fast. I made a price list, printed it up, made business cards probably the same week and picked up a planner. Read more>>

Ivan Reed

When I talk to new business owners about how they think a new business starts to become more than a hobby and how they might go about getting clients, the strategy goes something like the following. First, find a product or service you want to sell. Then, create an official business entity and get your documents and bank accounts set up. Next, start sending mass emails and social media posts to people you know or to cold lists you somehow source. Lastly, take all of the leads that you generated from those and start to sell to them and make big bucks! Read more>>

Steven Hernandez

Feels like it was so long ago. First dollar I ever made was from a very small wedding inside a small church. It had been referred to me by another photographer. To give you an idea of how small, the parking lot had 4 spaces and I had to park across the street. One woman took up two spaces so there was absolutely no room to park near everybody else. I had to haul all of my lighting equipment from across the road where I had parked. Read more>>

Sam Adler

When you first start as a food photographer you have to constantly reach out to clients pitching your services. You dont have many people knocking on your door asking for help and if you do, its mostly for free product or the dreaded *exposure*. It is REALLY hard to not accept these kinds of “work” and a lot of photographers undermine themselves and their works worth. Read more>>

Tyllah-Chanel Cornelio

I launched my print company in May of 2020, but I didn’t get my first client until the end of June 2020. I spent time before my launch being transparent about being new to printing, learning the software and showing how horrible my first prints were. As I and my skills progressed, people following my journey could see the work and effort I was putting into perfecting my craft. Read more>>

Sandra Veum

I can’t believe that my first paying client was 16 years ago! It is amazing how when you do something you love, time just rolls by! My first paying client was from a professional business organization that I belong too. I had already networked enough within this group, that when I launched my personal wardrobe styling business, I was ready to go. My philosophy has always been to not shy away from telling people what you do for a living. My business was very intriguing to people at the time since there were not many stylists, especially in San Diego. Read more>>

Eric Johnson

knew i needed to do was go out and practice as much as i could. My brother and I set out to take pictures. In buffalo ny, i could see hundreds of people in mere hours. One right turn and we found ourselves in the midst of a prom send off. I decided i would, as a gift, take pictures for the young lady attending prom that evening. We spent a few hours capturing her and her friends joy as they were headed for an epic night. Read more>>

Gil & Renée Beavers

Gil and I have worked with couples for fifteen years at no cost . During the pandemic the Rich Relationships with Gil & Renée podcast was launched .Gil and I had found our voice as marriage mentors and wanted to invite others along with us.The Rich Relationships our marital code to oneness was a gift to our generation twenty-two couples around the United States joined the journey and our first anthology was written and published. Relationships are how we grow and learn working with twenty-one couples was challenging and rewarding. Read more>>

Sadreaka Ogletree

I love to tell this story of my first client because it’s funny and it shows my growth and determination in this business. I had a family friend’s daughter who was going to her senior prom. She had heard that I was into fashion design and asked could I design her daughter’s dress for prom. Now I was fresh out of fashion design school and had made a dress before but not for a client, so I was extremely excited and nervous at the same time. She sent me the picture of want she wanted, I took her measurements and went to work. Now the dress was beautiful, but poor thing. Read more>>

Tamika Phillips

The first dollar of revenue I made from a client that wasn’t a relative or someone I was familiar with came from taking a chance advertising on Groupon. I was skeptical at first because at that time Groupon took 50% of your service cost. I was just starting out and needed to get the customers in the door so I chose Groupon. Although I no longer use Groupon they have helped me build the clientele I have now, Read more>>