Many books on startups and business talk about how there are right and wrong reasons for starting a business. So, we asked a handful of successful founders about their reasons and the thought-process behind starting their business.

Shayla Visger | Small Business Owner

Only the Essentials was started because I was tired of reading labels on bath and body products and not knowing the benefits of the ingredients. There were so many unknown terms and things listed on the backs of these products. Products that were supposed to relax and refresh me were packed full of chemicals, preservatives, and unnecessary ingredients!  Read more>>

Brianna McClain | Content Creator / Self-Taught Plant-Based Chef / Nutrition & Wellness Coach

Never in a million years did I think I would start my own business. From a very young age, I knew I would be successful in some way, shape, or form. I don’t mean having billions of dollars, but being someone to impact my community. As I worked in corporate America, I knew that my potential was much more than sitting behind a desk and feeling unfulfilled. Read more>>

Carly Kellar | Garden Consultant & Owner of Unruly Roots

I earned my mechanical engineering degree in 2014 and have spent the last 10 years building a rewarding career in the aerospace and defense industry, leading teams to develop award-winning technology, solving complex technical problems, and learning advanced project management skills. But in my free time, I kept gravitating towards creative hands-on endeavors like DIY home projects, watercolors, and pottery. Read more>>

Katya Yoshida | Salon Owner & Mentor

The idea behind starting my business stemmed from a desire to create something truly innovative and unique within the salon industry. Prior to this venture, I successfully managed a salon studio for four years. Read more>> 

Satu Peltomaki | Designer

I have sewn since I was a little girl. After graduating from high school, I applied to study Fashion design and got in. After the school, I was working as a visual merchandiser couple of years but wanted to learn more about business. Read more>>

Victoria Orr | Owner & Makeup Artist

I grew up in an entrepreneurial household. My parents started their business over 30 years ago with just one environmentally green organic product. They were ahead of their time. Back then “organic” was not a popular word in the market. Their success inspired me at a very young age to want to become a business owner in my future. Read more>>

Dan McDonough and John Blanford N/A | Co-CEO/Founder – Pastime Pictures

The original idea for our business started when we realized how inefficient productions can be, even when you’re backed by major budgets. In every business, time is money, but in the film industry a single day of filming can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. Read more>>

Kristen Harper | Artist & Event Curator

1. What was your thought process behind starting your own business? My motivation for starting my business, Paint & Positivity Studio, originated from a hobby. Initially, painting and creating art served as a way for me to unwind, cope with depression, and find solace.  Read more>>

Dorothy Horton | CEO and Founder of Quality Care Senior sitting homecare

My thought process behind starting my business was to create change for the better among the elderly community. To create opportunities for employees to enjoy the flexibility of working, and freedom to do other things they like. I knew deep down I would one day start and own a business because the majority of my family own businesses.  Read more>>

Aleks Kapett | Co-Founder of Firelite Studios

Growing up, I was always making short films with my friends, and eventually, that turned into making feature films. Throughout that time, along with my love for storytelling, I developed a love for the art of composition and images. Read more>>

Paul Davis | Owner & Filmmaker at PFD Media LLC

I have been interested in business since I was a kid. I grew up poor, money was a constant issue in my childhood. One of the first things I would do was go around to neighbors in the winter and shovel their properties. The crazy thing is I would do it for free and they would just give me money.  Read more>>

Kika Wise | CEO Kika Stretch Studios | Black Box Franchising

When I started my own business, my thought process was deeply influenced by my desire for independence and a better life for myself and my child. After surviving a challenging period of abuse and adversity, I was determined to take control of my destiny. Read more>>

LaShunda Brown | Human Performance Technology Consultant

During my early childhood years, the seed of owning a business was planted and it grew over time. I was afforded business development opportunities throughout my formative years such as FBLA, CTAE, and class leadership, and ultimately graduated from the School of Business and Industry with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration/Marketing. Read more>>

Theresa Vassell | Entrepreneur

When starting my business I kept thinking about the current state of the economy. I was recent graduate and a new mom. I had a whole new responsibility and couldn’t see how I would be able to provide my son with the financial stability I knew raising a child required. Read more>>

Paige Edenfield | Owner and Lead Artist at Paige Shryock Visual Art

My process of starting a business was almost a decade in the making. I have been photographing since 2012 when I was senior in high school. I always loved writing (personal stories, poems, for the school newspaper) but when I realized I could share stories through imagery and creativity, I was hooked.  Read more>>

GYD Josh Burnell | Urban Streetwear Clothing Designer

I always knew I wanted to be my own boss. This desire was ingrained in me from a young age, observing my father navigate the challenges of running his own construction company. Back then, I couldn’t fully grasp the significance of his journey, and even now, I don’t claim to understand it completely. Read more>> 

Arlene Dizon | Realtor & Entrepreneur

Starting my own business felt like a natural step because it allowed me to have more control over what I do and how I do it. This was an opportunity to provide personalized service, build long-lasting relationships and create a positive impact in the community.  Read more>>

Olivia Stephens | Professional Organizer

Starting Liv Orderly was a natural evolution of my lifelong passion for organization, which I’ve carried since childhood. I thrived on creating order, and even as a young child, I was known for demanding organization from those around me. One memorable story involves my neighbor, Mary Jean, where I confidently walked in and urged that we needed to get her garage in order together. Read more>>

Joshua & Caitlin | Owners

We both come from photojournalism backgrounds, and while Caitlin made a change in her career path after news reporting since her undergraduate years, Joshua remains in the photojournalism field of work. Throughout his career, he has become a multi-award-winning photojournalist. Read more>>

Lucas McFarland | Cinematographer/ Drone Operator

Upon graduating from high school, I harbored a clear vision to pursue a career in the creative realm, particularly within the world of cinematography and photography. In 2016, I founded Sunfish Productions, leveraging my passion for cameras and cinematography to undertake projects ranging from weddings to other diverse assignments that allowed me to hone my craft. Read more>>

Anabel De Bruijn | Baker and Owner of Wildflour Cakery Atl

My love for baking cakes started in 2011, my daughter was 3 years old and I had lost a pregnancy at 20 weeks. I took time away from work to grieve and recover from the loss during this time I started experimenting in the kitchen with dessert recipes as a way to distract myself.  Read more>>

Anna Lea Griffin | Freelance Illustrator

As a freelance illustrator, my livelihood relies on people having the means and desire to hire artists. Nowadays everyone’s all about finding the fastest, cheapest, easiest way to get stuff done. Often times, they might opt towards AI for designs instead of going for a human touch. Read more>>

Ted Ciceron | Business Owner

I’ve always knew that an entrepreneurial pathway was destined to be a part of my story; I just never imagined that I would be this young when venturing out into this world of business. When I decided to start my own business, Ciceron Kitchen, my thought process was that I wanted to create a business that highlighted one of my biggest role models and also created a legacy for my future children to carry on. Read more>> 

Eaness Ahmad & Cameron Patterson | Owners/CEO

Starting a business involved a blend of careful planning, identifying a market need, assessing our skills and resources, and understanding the potential risks and rewards. Eaness and Cameron wanted to create something meaningful, innovative, and sustainable, so we considered market trends, competition, scalability, and my own passion and expertise. Read more>>

Minhwa Spirits | Award winning grain to glass distillery specializing in traditional Korean spirits

We’ve always been drawn to entrepreneurship and we’ve had many discussions about venturing out on our own for a while. We’re a little (a lot) older than we were when we met in middle school and with families of our own now we were both contemplative about our work and any type of legacies we might leave. Read more>>