Deciding to start a business is an unusual decision. It’s often considered irrational and yet for many it’s the best decision they’ve ever made. So we asked folks to think back to when they were starting their businesses and to tell us about their decision making process.

Joey Wallace | Atlanta’s Beloved Wedding Photographer

Back in 2010 when Joey Wallace Photography was initially launched, it was thought to be a semi-professional brand, in which I was able to practice a hobby I always loved. Shortly after an impressive success, I, along with my newly acquired team, started to expand and quickly became one of Atlanta’s most beloved wedding photographers. Read more>>

Jarvis Francis | Doctor of Pharmacy and Founder/CEO of Nickel’s Nutrition

I love fitness and have a background in wellness/health as a licensed pharmacist– And I ultimately want to help and support people. So I decided last year, why not start a fitness and supplement company that people can truly trust to help them achieve their fitness and health goals. As a black-owned business based in Atlanta, I especially want to help Black and Brown Americans take charge of their health/fitness. It’s something I’m deeply passionate about and it’s important to me to support and educate the Black community to achieve optimal brain and physical health. Read more>>

Diamonel Smith-Manigault | Author; Entrepreneur

The thought process behind my business was to align my merchandise with intentional principles and core values that helped me define myself. I’ve carried the skill of willingly assisting people in general, no matter the cost. I wanted to create things that would indirectly uplift others while purposely taking care of myself. The best form of therapy is reflecting. Journaling has helped me with accountability and self-discovery. Writing is one of the best-kept secrets to enhancing mental health. Written expression takes a lot of thought and time. Read more>>

AEVIN DUGAS | GUINNESS WORLD RECORD HOLDER OF LARGEST FEMALE AFRO

My thought process for starting my own business was, “Why not?” For years I didn’t want people to think I went for the Afro title for money because it truly was and will always be about self love. But i realized, I have a lot to share and although I never was educated professionally regarding hair, I have researched, trial and error, formulated products for personal use for years. Why not share them and IF I could make a profit from it what’s wrong with that. I came out just wanting to help people and kept my ideas to myself for years. I’m finally ready to step out in faith and take this as far as I can go and then some. Read more>>

Byron Franklin | Law enforcement firearms instructor & tactical handcuffing & stop the bleed instructor

My thought process was just looking at the bigger picture from having a job. Most people have a nice paying job and they are satisfied. I would always be thinking, if they can afford to pay me this much, how much are they making? That was my light bulb moment and I started to take the journey of becoming an entrepreneur. Just think if your favorite basketball player is making 60 million a year, imagine what the person signing his checks is making? Read more>>

Queen Holmes | Sunglasses/Eyewear Owner

My thought process behind starting my own business is to make people feel confident while they’re wearing there Regent Eyewear frames. Regent Eyewear gives off a euphoric feeling in what ever pair you plan on wearing, i wanted to give all women and men something that they could call their own. In today’s fashion eyewear/ sunglasses plays a big part in your outfit and it helps you brings more confidence in yourself. Read more>>

Sidney Hayes | Event Producer & Florist

After working as an event and wedding assistant for a few years for other planners and florists, I just wanted to make a name for myself. It is always fantastic to come onsite and assist other small event and floral business owners in making their visions come to life, but it is nothing like creating and executing your own! I wanted to start pushing myself to hone my skills in floral design and event planning! Read more>>

Tome Student Literacy Society | A Non-Profit Student Book Club Organization

Tome Student Literacy Society is a grassroots student club envisioned in 2012 by two sisters – Jennifer Parker and Rebecca Hamby – both Media Specialists in Georgia, at the time. As sponsors of their school book clubs, they saw a need for an active student community promoting literacy that went beyond informal book discussions. On a trip to an educational technology conference in 2012 the idea for Tome was born. Read more>>

Monica Sunny | CEO & Founder of The Chai Box

Growing up in an Indian household, I started drinking Chai at the age of two and blending teas at the age of twelve. For me, Chai is more than just a drink, it is a part of my culture and heritage. The journey of creating The Chai Box started when I had my three boys. I wanted to instill the love of Chai and a tradition of having family chai time. Every Friday after school, I would have “chai time” with my three boys to make sure my kids experienced the same ritual I shared with my parents as a child. Read more>>

Tyreesha Parker | Owner and CEO of Aima Tea Co.

Since childhood, I always envisioned the day where I would have a business of my own. Not necessarily knowing what I wanted to open, or how, the idea for my business finally struck me when I found alternative methods to battle my anxiety. The remedy I discovered, was herbal tea. It was a viola moment! Who knew that a hot cup of herbal tea could make so much of a difference. Then I also thought of how beneficial this could be for other people dealing with the same struggles. Thats when a light bulb went off. But how would I package it? What would I call it? Once I figured out the formula for my blends, I launched Aima and the rest is history. Read more>>

Moose (Ricky) Asplen | Co-Founder & Personal Trainer

When we started AMPT-Savannah, it was largely an effort to escape our old lives. We no longer wanted to do the same thing of waiting for change and fulfillment while working for someone else. This business is an effort to see what it is that we are capable of and an effort to exert our freedom to do what we want with the life that we have been blessed with. Read more>>

Jessica ‘Empress Lanice’ Chalmers | Publicist and Content Strategist

My thought process behind starting my own business was to allow me to have the creative and financial freedom, as well as, being able to manage my own time. I also wanted to create jobs so that people won’t experience lack. Read more>>

Derelya Webster Harris | Bridal Boutique Owner & Designer

I decided to start this business after prom dress shopping with my oldest daughter. Our experience was very disheartening. Subpar customer service, being overlooked and brushed off just made us feel like crap. I wondered how many others felt the same way I did. I really didn’t have many other places in our area to go to. It was almost like buy here or you won’t have a dress. We changed that Read more>>

Vanessa Jones | Designer

I wanted to build a brand for a long time. I felt like everything that I’ve seen as far as fashion and what was trending was appealing, but not affordable. Growing up I was always fortunate to get everything that dropped. So I decided I’d change that for the people who had a similar upbringing. Read more>>

Kayla Sweeney | Master Entrepreneur

My thought process behind starting my own business was my family life. I need time to be with my family. I need time off when I need it off and I want to be able to provide for my family at the same time. Working for a big wax chain with barely any days off and hard to take vacations wasn’t it for me and I deserved more. I didn’t really have time to think about it. Read more>>

Henry Davis | CEO & contractor

My first thought was if I open up my own business I can leave my kids something. Finding a job won’t be so hard on them , and they will have something to fall back on if anything goes wrong. I want generational wealth for my family. I want On Thee Go Construction to be around for generations. Growing up all I ever saw was other race’s working in the construction fields but never anyone that looked like me. Read more>>

Lucy Boland | Artist

Well, for me it’s been an organic process. It simply started with a strong desire to create. I began by organizing a few grassroots art shows for myself and other local artists, and trying to sell work. With the success of those shows, I realized doing what I love, contributing to my family, and having a platform to put a larger message in the world was a real possibility for me. As mother of young triplets, I knew holding down a traditional “9 to 5” would never really work for me and who I am. I needed something more. Read more>>

Kimber Tiernan | Spiritual Teacher, Holistic Healer, & Akashic Record Reader

I don’t know if I actual had a thought process as it all came about very organically. My first career was in the music industry and there I had a lot of freedom to create my own schedule and work from home, but I quit in order to raise my kids. After my divorce, I found myself bartending, and while it was an amazing job as a single mom, I knew I wanted freedom and personal sovereignty over my schedule and I wanted to be make a difference in people’s lives. I have always been deeply spiritual, so as I was trying to figure out how to forge a new career that felt more in alignment to who I truly was, I began taking yoga teacher trainings, healing courses, and the like. At the time, people asked me, “What are you doing?” Read more>>

Shannon Williams | Event Venue

I always had this idea of creatively designing a space which could be used for celebratory events, milestones, and the like. A space that was influenced by my creativity but still allowed, and made room, for the client’s vision. Growing up, I preferred not to celebrate my own birthday, but I marveled when witnessing others create memories and celebrate a milestone. Read more>>

William Hall | Pastor, Business Owner & Life Coach

I developed a sense of entrepreneurship in high school. From the examples of my mother’s co-worker having an perfume oil booth at the flea market to one of my classmates being known as the “snack man,” to me learning to barber in order to create “financial independence.” At that time it was creating enough funds to not be solely dependent on my mother for lunch money. Ultimately, years later after graduating with a business degree from Savannah State University and surrounding myself with successful entrepreneurs. Read more>>

Xavian Tate | B.Psych, MHP

This is an excellent question. Originally, I never thought about becoming an entrepreneur. My pastor had sowed the seed. I became an entrepreneur in 2019 starting in the travel industry. Then when the pandemic hit, I found myself in the financial industry all while still studying Mental Health Psychology. So, I thought to myself how can I tie all my business endeavors into one, Read more>>

D’Essence Vaughn | Inspiring Entrepreneur

Starting my own business was something I never thought of doing on a serious note, until Covid -19 pandemic came and the lost of my mother all in the same year. In this hard time of 2020 I wanted a hobby that would take my mind off the hard days and to motivate me to be something I never dreamed of,… so I decided to start my body scrubs line called The Nautica Effect which is a coed sugar/ salt based natural scrub for all skin types. Read more>>