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.

Antrechelle Schumack

My first client that I received outside of family and/or referrals, came from social media! It honestly felt great to know that something I posted captured that person and allowed them to choose me. Then to work with them, learn about them and their family, it just makes the transaction special. Of course, closing day is great! Read more>>

Miranda Calatrello

Our very Calatrello Creatives client that was not a family members businesses was none other than Callaway Resort & Gardens. In 2019, I began to build my side business at night while working fully at the resort as a Digital Marketing Manager. When the pandemic hit and the resort closed briefly in the midst, I dove into building out a real business plan for the once side business concept. After returning to work at the resort, I made the decision that entrepreneurship was my dream and I wanted to fully jump in with both feet. Read more>>

Emily Williams

I was working at my first market. I prepped my table for hours throughout the week before to make sure that everything was perfect. It took me an hour to pack everything into my car to drive to the market, and about an hour or so to set everything up once I got there. I’d been there watching people walk past my table for about an hour when another vendor approached my table. She loved the little chalkboard signs I was using to advertise my pricing. Read more>>

Alyssa Saladin

I got my first client back while I was still attending high school and was working at a Sonic Drive in . I was very shy and kept to myself for the most part at this point in my life, but I slowly started becoming more comfortable and confident in my photographer as well as around my peers at work as I got to know them better so the fact that I had a side business got around. One day I was taking an order out to one of the stalls who happened to be my boss’s mother who was about to graduate college along with her boyfriend. Read more>>

Brittany Hall.

When I started as a Realtor, most of my first clients were friends or friends of friends. I have always been incredibly grateful for those who like me and trust me enough to help them and/or people in their circle. It is always more comfortable working with people who might share something in common with you and/or who have an idea of what kind of person you are. That said, I will never forget the first clients I met through working an Open House. It was a beautiful spring day and a couple from California entered the home. They were visiting Nashville for a week to consider where they’d want to live if they moved here. Read more>>

Katie Jimenez.

Let’s start off with a little backstory. It was my Senior year of college at the University of Central Florida. I was attending the Rosen College of Hospitality where I was focusing on event and hospitality management. During the Fall semester, I toyed around with the idea of starting my own wedding planning business because it had always been something that I had dreamed of doing. I wasn’t quite sure how to go about it or how to run a business, but decided to go ahead and take the plunge anyways! Read more>>

Diamond Lewis.

I was in college. A contestant running in the Miss Residence Hall Pageant asked if I could do her makeup. I was super nervous and anxious! But I was able to execute her desired look Read more>>

Carla Morrison

After relocating to Atlanta, Georgia from New Haven, Connecticut and running around the entire city networking and offering my public relations services, I attended the opening of R&B Singer Keith Sweat’s night club and met an NFL player by the name of Cornelius Bennett, who had just moved to town after being traded from the Buffalo Bills to the Atlanta Falcons. I walked up to Cornelius at the event and introduced myself as a publicist and he replied, that’s just what I need”. I said, “bam” and gave him my card. Read more>>

Michelle Gray

CraigsList! Yeah, it’s hard to believe myself. You have to understand, I started my business just after my divorce, 1000 miles away from where I grew up, so no family nearby and with very little money. It was Saturday March 5, 2011 and I had five people on my schedule for waxing from advertising on CraigsList. It was scary because who knows if these people are creeps or not. It turned out to be a great day! I made just over $500! Read more>>

Sabrina Lopez

During my last semester of college, I was assigned a marketing project that had me create a personal brand that would include social media accounts promoting myself as an evergreen topic. I made the decision to write about my fears of the unknown. Sharing such personal information was daunting, but I was glad that I did it. By admitting that my biggest fear of sharing my passion for cooking, recipes and my forever dream of owning my own food business, Read more>>

Brielle

Sure .. Thank you, I’d love to share my story of how I gained my first client . Honestly, I know that i am being asked “how I got my first client that WAS’NT a friend/family/friend of a friend ect” Fortunately i gained my clientele via word of mouth from a fb friend that i had developed a friendship with via fb , someone i never met in person . Read more>>

Isabel Amigon

It was on June 10th 2016 at the Hudson Valley Farmers Market in Yonkers NY was my first event had my tent my table and merch set everything up and I was so nervous I was shaking kept thinking it’s anyone going to like anything it’s anyone going to appreciate all handmade things and then boom my first customer approach the tent say hi what beautiful colors looked at a recycle plastic tote told her the story of how it’s made and she was impressed and said I’ll take it I had the biggest smile on my face and right after tears running down my face of pure joy. Read more>>

Essence Smith

So I got my first client from a family friend. I did my cousin’s wedding just because helping stepping in and just making sure everything was all nice and neat for her and by doing that that is when I got my first client where I did a wedding for about a people and it was so amazing to be able to do a wedding for 150 people in coordinate and get them down to Al. I didn’t have my prices then but the lady bless me and told me what I should do my prices, Read more>>

Darryl Dye.

It was a hot sunny day in July 2018, and me and my lady was trying to decide if we should setup our Italian ice cart. We didn’t have any Business social media presence or advertising. We decided to make a post on our personal Facebook page. We was out there for hours, then a young lady named Brittany Hamm came and purchased not one But four large icys!!! I was so grateful and surprised Because I didn’t expect her to come. She said her and her co workers loved the Italian ice. It made me feel appreciated and motivated. Read more>>

Shane Wise

I held my first open house in a small, quaint community close to the Florida Mall. The only thing I really knew how to do was put put about 50 signs so I flooded the streets with those signs and went to the house. I literally turned on lights, fans and had my laptop ready to talk and show homes. The listing agent called me to tell me he was coming by to show the house so I felt a sense of urgency and competition because I wanted to sell the house. After all I just put out 50 signs and I’m ready to sell a home. Read more>>

Kurt Kraisinger

I have been in the industry for over 25 years, so I do not even remember my first client—however, our first pool project stands out in my mind. I had just taken a huge risk launching my business during the recession, so client satisfaction was impressed upon my mind. We always aim to please our clients but the anxiety paying our bills and the uncertainty of the times made their satisfaction even more important. Read more>>

Skye Griggs

On May 10,2018 I created my LLC to start my business Lizzies House Senior Home and I had no idea on where I was going to find my private clients from. I had no resources no help or any ideas, so I went to what I knew best which was getting the word out to a lot of people at once. Facebook was my first lead to let everyone know that I started this business and we were accepting new clients. Once I posted the post by 5pm that night a lady had reached out and told me that her cousin had seen my post and referred me to her. Read more>>

Michael Collazo

I have always known since I was a kid that I wanted to get into the creative field. I really didn’t care what I was doing but as long as I was in it. On my 15th birthday I shot someone’s birthday party and made $30. I probably had never been more nervous in my life. In retrospect I probably should have paid them $30 for how bad that video came out. Read more>>

Stephanie Bell.

I got my first client by using the StyleSeat platform I was still working a regular 9 to 5 job that I hated unfortunately. So I thought to myself, “hmm maybe l can do Locs on the side until l figure out a way to make it full time”. While l was still employed with the finance company l worked for at the time l asked God, “please show me a sign on which way I’m supposed to go”. When l prayed that prayer l had no idea the universe would move so fast on showing me my purpose and guiding my footsteps. Read more>>

Brooke Wiley

I got my very first client from a stranger. My first client was a referral from a complete stranger who believed in me as a life coach based simply upon what she had seen on my social media pages. I couldn’t be more thankful for that young lady for referring my first client because she ended up being my ideal and dream client. That same client also went from being at a very low place in her self-esteem and self worth in her relationship to blossoming into a full-fledged respectable, self-loving, strong and red flag recognizing young woman. Read more>>

ADRIENNE FIGURES

My first client(s) came through social media, flyers, and word of mouth. I was hosting my first event in 2018, and I started contacting as many people that I knew. The turn out exceeded my expectations…lol I hosted a vision board party for young girls within the community, and things began at that moment. I wanted girls to know they belonged, and I started finding creative ways for them to feel special. Diamonds in the rough is not only my business, but it’s my baby! Read more>>

Sa’Mia Walker

My first “real” client was at a pop up shop way back in February 2021, just a little over a month in business. All of my customers prior were friends and family member, and they are still my biggest supporters. This was my first pop up shop, and my first customer brought two nutty caramel brownies. She took her first bite right then and there she fell in love. She came back over and brought two more since it was a “cheat day” for her. Ever since then brownies have been my top seller, and my favorite to make. I will never forget that experience. I want to thank every customer that I have had, and the future ones as well. Read more>>