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.

Katie Rose

The first client I ever booked (that was non-family/friend) was as magical as my entire business has ultimately become. As the mom of two small children at the time (3 and 4) with an adjunct teacher’s salary my start-up costs for my Human Design business were… limited. Read More>>

Nik Boone

I got my first property management client early in my career around 2011. I received a call from a random real estate client who had driven two hours to meet with a different Realtor, only to be stood up. He asked to see a $60,000 listing, so I quickly printed that one along with some other properties I thought he might be interested in. That same day, he purchased two properties. After closing, he asked if I could help manage them as rentals. I had no experience in property management at the time, but I told him I’d get the job done. Read More>>

Tina Sheets

My very first client was my daughter’s preschool teacher, and when I found out that she got engaged, I offered to do her wedding for free in exchange for being able to use her images for marketing and media. Read More>>

Valerie Corral

My very first client was actually a coworker, and her wedding ended up being my very first event. She believed in my business from the very beginning, and since then I’ve done three of her events. That wedding was such a special milestone because it gave me the chance to create content, capture fun behind-the-scenes moments, and show people the experience I was building. From that point forward, things just started to grow. Having someone trust me right away gave me the confidence I needed, and it was the foundation for the brand I’ve been building ever since. Read More>>