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.

Brittanye Blake

I started my business on a random day, I was just sitting around and realized that I could profit off of my writing and social media skills. My first client was a family-friend, she took a chance on me running her social media. Of course, I was still learning and understanding what it even meant to have a business. Read more>>

Ty Evans

Sure. Let me help set the stage, as this was a very exciting experience. I’ve been in business for almost two years but had the idea for Positive Vibes by Ty years ago and began the planning phase at least one year prior. I worked on various tasks including product selection, design, and fulfillment, Read more>>

Ashley Smalley

For several years, I had been speaking at and leading women’s ministry events. As I began to develop marketing material to that end, I sent it out to everyone I knew, asking them to pass the word along. An acquaintance reached out and asked if I had any work-related topics that I could share in a breakout session at a Women in Business Conference that she was helping to organize. Read more>>

CHRISTIAN ROSS-FRANCIS

My first client was Nikki Burnett better known as Nikki B. I was visiting LA for the BET Awards with some friends where I meant Nikki B. I had notice her from a reality show called “Bringing Up Ballers” I was watching that year and loved her personality. I went over to introduce myself and we connected instantly. Read more>>

Khalia Moore

I got my first client(s) by posting some of my work and services that I was offering, on social media. A good friend of mine inquired about doing my meal prep, and another customer had me cater their Thanksgiving. I was VERY nervous to do the Thanksgiving catering because it was my first event! My customer was honest with me and let me know where I could’ve done better, and I was very appreciative of the experience. Read more>>

Emily Crookston

Entrepreneurship runs in my blood. My dad owned a business my entire young life. But I think, partly because I watched him dealing with the challenges of running a small business, I never saw entrepreneurship as a smart path for me to take. I wanted a “secure” job. Read more>>

Connie Johnson

Story time: “Signed on the same day” My first client actually became my first two clients. I always knew the type of client I wanted to attract. I would do tons of research to learn more about them. I learned their likes, dislikes, and one of my favorite things is learning how (or if) they preferred to be contacted. Read more>>

Adriana Durham

My confidence slowly increased and I began posting my progress on instagram. Then, other people started asking me to teach them. I always gave the same response – I did not teach, I just practiced for fun. Read more>>

Corina Guillory

Walking the streets of Austin, suitcase in hand and a babe on my back, I walked into Book People in Austin, TX and was welcomed with enthusiasm by the cafe manager. His excitement for the sustainability of our product made me realize that we were onto something. Read more>>

Alley Elkins

My first non-referral, open sourced client was actually a project/event coordinator for Alta Davis Apartments in Morrisville, NC. The representative reached out to me via email (which is only posted on my Photography’s Facebook page), we exchanged information and general inquiries regarding the event they were planning. Read more>>

Amanda Welch

I got my first clients from social media. Posting every day and constantly putting out new content. I received my first order from Facebook, who was not a friend or family member. I was so excited to sell my products and I can never get over that feeling. The feeling that someone would choose your products when it’s other options out there. Read more>>

Alex Copeland

I gained my first client by practicing and posting photos of my cookies online. When I first started I would wait to get an order to try new techniques. After a while I had a friend who owned a farm market who invited me to bake cookies for his shop. Read more>>

OGECHI OKWARA

This is an amazing question and I will definitely like to share on how I got my first client. I have always been that person that people always reached out to ask questions about venues and vendors and I hav always been been delighted to help people when it came to their event. Read more>>

Krystal Beeler

I’m a hairstylist, and before I got my first client, I was assisting and waiting tables. The woman I was assisting for offered me a suggestion on growing my clientele. She said I should cut my hair into a bold style so I could get some attention; then give everyone that asked about it my card! So I got the cutest mohawk you’ve ever seen! Read more>>

Maddie Mackey

I spent a great deal of my early career working in mental health and coaching. I used to lead trauma informed trainings and help leaders in the community with intuitive awareness, communication and compassionate strategy. Read more>>

Johnny Sanchez

My first wedding was for a friend. She knew that my brother was a Dj in the past and that I was his sidekick. I was able to come up with some decent gear to do the wedding and it was a total hit it was and I was complimented left and right, I was paid for my time. That wedding night, I gave some people my info because I didn’t even have business cards made. Read more>>

DaLisa Campbell

Throughout esthetician school I would document any models and work I had done. I then started a business page on instagram, and would post my work. I did this to document my progress, and to make people aware of the service I would soon be offering. Read more>>

Ivory Lawrence

How did you get your first client? After months of working on making my products and perfecting my craft of making candles and wax melts, I still was not ready!!! I had invested a lot of money at this point and felt defeated. I knew in that moment that I needed to take some kind of action NOW! Read more>>

Victoria Butler

My first client was my mentor in college. I was very new to actually doing hair for a charge so I maybe charged her $75 for a box braids hairstyle. This was in 2011. From there, I gained more and more experience with having clientele, doing research and learned that although I’m passionate about this, I have to charge what I’m worth. Read more>>

Lia Epps

The first client I ever had was a student who had just graduated from high school. I was using Thumbtack to generate leads because I wasn’t sure how else to find them and she reached out to me. On the day of her shoot she was late and because it was the summer in FL, we got caught in the rain. Read more>>

Marchelle Davis

I unexpectedly quit my job managing a gun range in January 2017 to pursue my own firearm instruction business. I didn’t have a real plan or much money saved but I was determined to try. I found a range willing to host my classes and put my first class advertisement on Facebook. Read more>>

Erica Quarles

Originally, my husband and I decided to open a childcare out of love for children and because we wanted a child to call our own. We dreamed of taking care of our child in daycare and able to educate him or her as well other children. Nevertheless, wanting to provide a safe haven for children. Read more>>

Chanda Ounkong

I got my first client through my old job at McDonald’s. I was working and I overheard a co-worker of mine talking about senior photos. I gave him the photographer that did mine last year, but then I joked and said I could take his senior photos. Read more>>