Are you thinking about starting a business? If so, we think you’ll enjoy reading about how these seasoned entrepreneurs thought about the question when they were in your shoes.

Love Collins | General Manager & Collins Pro-bartender

Excellent Service and Breaking Barriers were my thought process behind starting my own bartending business. Read more>>

Crystal Harris | Fashion Designer

My thought process behind starting my business was first thinking of is it a need in the community? if so, how much of an impact would it make? Then most importantly, how can I be different? What could I do to make myself stand out from my competition? Read more>>

Jason Cyr | Web Developer

I moved to Marietta in 2011 from Park City, Utah where I had some pretty awesome jobs, but none of them really translated well on my resume. I was struggling to convince people to bring me in for interviews with an 8 year gap in my resume where I was, for all intents and purposes, a ski bum! I found myself 3 interviews deep with an IT company in downtown Atlanta and was feeling really confident that I’d get an offer, Read more>>

Sue Tran | Weight lifter Enthusiastic

I was inspired by influencers through Instagram and TikTok . I saw that they were successful launching business by using social media. Read more>>

1340 BOI | MOTORCYCLIST/ARTIS

Like others I found myself working typically 9-5. I knew that this was something that I did not want to do for the rest of my life. I told myself that working 80+ hours for someone else was something that I would rather not do but put the work into my own business and content. Read more>>

Theo Alexander | CEO & Co-Founder of The Social Club

Christian Howard, Christopher Covington, JaBari Holland and myself started The Social Club to provide more spaces for Atlanta’s emerging creators and professionals of color to fellowship and celebrate together – beyond the limiting confines of the nightclub. Read more>>

April Mitchell | Say Cheese Birmingham, Owner

Funny story. I used to make small charcuterie boards for friends all the time. My husband and I love to entertain (I’m the friend that loves to cook), so I would make a board for friends to snack on when they arrived, because the food was never done on time! They begin to ask “are you making a board?” before they arrived. Read more>>

Cydney Camp | Visual artist

I worked full-time for 6 years in economic development while I built my studio practice on the side. Once I decided to start grad school for my MFA in Painting, it was time for me to commit most of my time to my artwork. I still work on freelance projects alongside an active studio practice. Read more>> 

Mark Howse | CEO for Stellar Diverse Student Achievement Center

Stellar Diverse Student Achievement Center (STELLAR) was born out of love. A deep-rooted love for education and an even deeper love for African-American students and students from diverse backgrounds inspired me and my wife, Tashana, to start STELLAR. STELLAR is a non-profit organization that offers a set of services and supports for students of color with a focus on academic, career, and personal success. Read more>>

Anita, Alexis, Shanice, Meskara, Chevora | Creators of Wife Gang

Wife Gang was created by a group of wives to create another stream of income but to also show that marriage is still a part of a woman’s plan and can be a beautiful, happy experience. Read more>>

Ranijeon Shepherd | Wardrobe Curator & Fashion Archivist.

Before I began naj-iD, I noticed a lack of Gen Z Wardrobe Stylist in Atlanta, GA. Therefore, I began my wardrobe styling services with the thought of filling what I feel is a fashion void. Fashion is a constantly evolving thing, & I want Atlanta to be in the center of its evolution. Read more>>

 Roemello Vereen | Men Grooming Specialist/Artist

I embarked on my entrepreneurial journey to honor the legacy of my grandfather, A proud barbershop owner, and to fill a perceived gap in the Atlanta community by empowering more black men to become business owners. I am driven by a passion for cutting hair, and a desire to share my talents with the world. Read more>>

Deborah Powell | Photographer & Musician

I always had the desire to be a businesswoman. The more I continue the journey of having my own business is seeing that I am the business. My overall thought process behind starting my own business was to influence Godly and positive changes in those working with and observing me. There is no blueprint for people like me in business so I set out to make one. Read more>>

Dr. Denisha Brown | Founder & CEO

Many thoughts, ideas, dreams, and goals can simply stay in your head if you never have the courage to act upon them. Therefore, my thought process for starting my own business was a very simple, emotional, and spiritual decision. I often would come up with ideas and write dreams in my daily journal, but never actually put any work behind those thoughts. Read more>>

Kerisse Hutchinson | Actor, Dancer, Writer & Producer

The inception of most of the journeys I begin start with a call where I hear God asking me to embark on something that I usually don’t feel ready, prepared or, equipped for but I finally—sometimes while kicking and screaming—say, “Yes.” It happened when the call to “Dance!” caused me to leave my full-time job and dance full time. Read more>>

Eric Burke | Chief Executive Officer, Black Onyx Vodka

One day as my fiancé and I sat together with a glass of vodka, we discussed the popularity of the beverage in pop culture and the many restaurants, bars, and package stores we see in our community. With our business degrees and marketing experience, we decided to join forces and develop a vodka brand. Read more>>

Andrea Vahoua | Spiritual Life Coach

My thought process was simple. This business, this company, has always been about sharing the tools and the knowledge that helped me evolve in shifting my journey, with the world. If I had only helped one person, I will have known that I’d done well but to know that I’ve helped thousands is something beyond words! Read more>>

Adjoa Darkwa | Medical student, social media manager and online store owner

My thought process for starting my own business came about through the realization of the fact that I can gain freedom instead of being stuck or bound in a 9-5 office career. I love the flexibility of having multiple streams of income without directly working under someone. Read more>>

Chandler Furman | Georgia Photographer

I have always wanted to won my own business. Growing up my mom and dad both worked and my dad has always owned his own business. Although it comes with many challenges the reward is worth it. I have always wanted a flexible job that I can do on my own time and I have also always wanted to do something creative. Read more>>

Rere J.Cole | BOSS BABE

I come from a family of entrepreneurs. I grew up watching my mom work for herself and venturing off to many different businesses. By the age of 15 I was inspired by my sister who is a year in a half apart from me start her own hair company. Those were two pivotal factors for me in starting my own business. I started off small thinking of selling lashes at the time the 25mm lashes were super popular so I thought to sell those. I worked two jobs, and saved up all my work checks. Read more>>

Karrington Matthews | Barber

The thought process of me starting my own business felt was Read more>>

Naeemah Jade | Manifestation & Mindset Coach

I was tired of people living in lives they didn’t love, and moving on autopilot! So many think there was no way out of that cycle but, I’ve been there and found tools that helped me create a life that made me smile. Read more>>

Domanique Burnett | Tax preparation

When I started my tax business I was thinking of different ways I can help not only myself but my family as well. Starting a successful business and creating generational wealth. So that down the line my son can have something for his family as well and he will continue the business and create a legacy. That’s was my thought process behind starting my business. Read more>>

Nisa Traylise | Custom Party Connoisseur

I always knew I wasn’t supposed to work for anybody. I’ve watched my dad my whole life own businesses and I’ve never seen him work for anyone but himself, so my entrepreneurial spirit definitely comes from him. Read more>>

Nick Yohn | Owner/Operator

Our thought process behind creating Hook’d Up Seafood in the Roswell/Alpharetta area was due simply based on lack of options in the area. I have lived in the area for the past 15 years and there are less than a handful of establishments that promote fresh, quality seafood to the community. Read more>>

Tamika Morris | Hair Extensions CEO

I have started my hair line in February of 2022 in honor of Black History Month! I have always more for myself and always knew I was a business woman. For the past few years, I have talked about starting a hair brand but couldn’t do it at that moment. I wasn’t in a position to start. my brand at the time and that just came with PATIENCE! I wanted to start a luxury hair brand to provide quality hair extensions at an affordable price for everyone. Read more>>

Elif Çakıroğlu | reborn ceramic founder

I am a fine arts graduate and I have always loved colors, designing, and producing. The best thing I can express myself is to produce porcelain. While establishing my own business, I always thought about how I could express myself better, while catching the harmony of my designs and natural colors, I set out with the excitement that I could touch the lives of many people.  Read more>>