Thinking through whether to start a business – whether to take the risk, whether to go out on your own – isn’t easy. So we asked some entrepreneurs we admire to tell us about how they thought through the process of starting a business.

Liz McShane | CEO and Founder at On Trend Creative Studio

Before On Trend, I worked primarily as a photographer for different businesses and clients. I would often finish a branding session, and afterwards, I always felt my work wasn’t finished. My clients would love their images but express they didn’t have the time, knowledge, or resources to really leverage their brand with my work. I saw a need among my client base and created a solution that could be scaled across a wide range of businesses, services, and personalities. Read more>>

Nick Melvin | Chef/partner

We started Poco Loco at the start of the Panademic honestly out of a personal need that I had to keep cooking for people. After I had furloughed myself from Fox Bros as the culinary director so that I could help with our kids I started to fall into a depression because for the first time in over 20 years I wasn’t cooking in the restaurant. So we decided to work on a flour tortilla recipe that we liked and started our first Saturday service out of our driveway selling 25 burritos Read more>>

Tiana and Terashon | The Lipgloss Queens

We were initially inspired by the documentary “She Did That!” The Lip Bar stood out to us, especially because we were known as the lipgloss queens throughout high school and at our current waitressing jobs. Melissa Butler was making lipstick in her kitchen! it was the middle of the pandemic, and all we had was the kitchen! We both looked at each other and said we could do that! Read more>>

Marcus Kole | Photographer + Stylist

I had owned a clothing company and just sold it to INKED magazine. My wife suggested I start doing photography for other companies since I did the images for my apparel line. I brought my style of photography to other clients and it took off organically. Read more>>

Andrea Campbell | Copywriter | Producer

In 2020 I felt pressure and knew it was time to quit procrastinating with my skills and talents. I watched other entrepreneurs around me take a step out on faith and start businesses – which also prompted me to put my thinking cap on. Inadvertently I began my journey as an entrepreneur long before I identified as one. In the fall of 2020 I was approached by two authors who had co-written their first book. I had experience with self-publishing and they wanted help publishing their title. I began proofreading their manuscript and instantly a light bulb went off! I could get paid for this! Read more>>

Becca Coleman | Floriculturist & COO

Growing up, I have always been very independent and working for someone else was never really an option for me. I wanted to be in control of my work life and be able to make my own choices. After spending many years on a computer for my previous business, I decided to cultivate a career that would lead me to spend more time outside and in the sunshine. This lead me to flower farming which lead to our flower trucks, farm stand, and now flower shop! Read more>>

Valerie Barendregt | Tea parties and Events Purveyor

My thought process was simple; exit the 9-5 world, build a business that I can work alongside my daughter teaching her how to be an entrepreneur so that I can eventually give her the business one day. Like many people that pursued their passions during the pandemic downtime I chose to create a business that was fun, beautiful and that filled a niche market. I also thought that there are not many ways for people to get together that are not centered around alcohol; tea and afternoon tea time are such a great way to bring people together without it. Read more>>

Joanna Delfunt | Attorney and Owner of Delfunt Law Firm

I was fortunate to have had a relatively uneventful life as a I grew up. My parents were married and in love. They were safe and loved my sister and me well. My parents worked hard, multiple jobs, to provide for us and our needs. We were happy. My parents encouraged me, and when I said I wanted to be a lawyer as a young child, they would drive me to a local courthouse to watch the simplest traffic violations be paid in court, which I found riveting. Read more>>

Robyn Groenewald | Cake Artist

My business progression has been very organic. Moving from South Africa with two small children meant that my focus was on them and getting them settled in a new country. I had been working full time in South Africa as a market researcher, but I found balancing being a mom and working full time challenging. I had already started to contemplate a new career, the move to the USA encouraged that. While enjoying the time at home with my kids I found myself imagining and daydreaming about running my own business, I just didn’t know what that would be. Read more>>

Kevin Staley | Pianist/Music Teacher

As a music teacher I wanted to provide the type of learning content that I wish I had access to as a young musician. Growing up in a musical family I had a natural affinity for music so my parents put me in piano lessons. My teacher did give me a great foundation but lessons soon became like “more homework”. My goal with Musical Journeys is to create content that makes learning music fun and engaging no matter your age or skill level. Read more>>

Haley Joyce Oliver | Visual Artist

Kristi Oliver, my mother, was the one who saw the potential of my art and that it could lead to success. She is not only one of the most amazing people in my life but she is also a brilliant and talented brand specialist. She has been at the forefront for the visuals, brand colors, and overall what my business, HJMckinley, stands for. She is also the one who’s developed my website and helps be rebrand when I need a fresh look. Read more>>

Eboneé Woodfork & Alexis Caldwell | Owners | Rich Auntie Energy

We started Rich Auntie Energy at the beginning of the pandemic because we noticed a need in our lives. We needed a declaration of joy, an affirmation and a reaffirmation for ourselves during a time when it felt like the world was ending. Rich Auntie Energy was originally a gift to ourselves. A gift that encouraged us to stand firm in who we are & to be proud of being the single, childless, and successful women in our families despite how society tells us to feel about our station in life. We made an impulsive decision to share this gift..this affirmation with the world. It was just our luck that thousands of other women needed this affirmation as well. Read more>>

Theresa Decker | Independent Bookshop Owner & Bookseller

I have had a dream of owning my own retail space for years. My father just retired from his retail work after 51 years. So I was raised in an entrepreneurial home. At first I didn’t follow that dream, I had a few. I began my career in tv and radio reporting and then moved into professional photography. However, I always knew, I’d end up with my own place. I wanted a place to use my skills and creativity and to frankly, see what I could do. I married my passion for reading and book love to create a bookshop. Read more>>

Jaroe | Recording Engineer/Music Producer & Artist

I wanted to provide a place and an atmosphere where Christian artist could come and record their music without the uneasy feelings that I, myself felt when I was recording at other studios before starting to record my music on my own. My previous experiences are what fueled my desire to open up my own recording studio and be a help to those seeking to display they’re gifts and talents of music. Read more>>

Olga Markin | Connect With Your Medical Bills

I have been in the medical field for 15 years. I came to realize that i can use my skills on a different avenue. I found out that people need my help with their medical bills. I decided to be part of the ones that play that role. Read more>>

Twanja Windley | Founder of the Twindle Foundation, Realtor, Podcaster and Author

Before starting a business, I’ve always been obsessed with learning how other Corporations got started. I studied business owners, their mission and vision. When I decided to start a business, I was looking for change. I was looking for change within because I was chasing the wrong things. I wanted to find balance. I also wanted to be the change in my community I was looking to see. I saw a problem and instead of waiting on someone else to address it, I wanted to create a solution. I wanted to live in purpose. Read more>>

Rosalind Cabbell | Film producer, Executive Producer, Actress, Author, Realtor, Army Veteran and More

I was born and raised in Toledo, OH and relocated to ATL in 2009. When come from where I’m from you literally have to get it out of the mud. As a retiring Army Reserve Veteran of 23 years and also working as a Department of Defense Civilian for the past 22 years; I’ve always thought outside of the box and wanted to “be all that I could be”; especially for my children. In 2011 I published my first book titled, “The Secret First Lady.” Which was written under my maiden name “Rose Bush.” Fast forward to 2022. I’ve turned my book into a script and I recently, produced and starred in my first feature film. Read more>>

Greg and Cheryl Clarke | Couple Specialists

We both had dreams of becoming entrepreneurs and part of it was because of our fertile selves. Cheryl recognized that as she continued to work outside of the home, her pay was disappearing to child care. So when we realized that we were expecting our third child, she started the process of looking into creating the child care business that is still running to this very day. It is beneficial for individuals to find their respective niche and become owners instead of employees. There is nothing wrong with being an employee BUT you must strategize a possibility to see how you can use your hours outside of your employ. Read more>>

Nya Williams Jones | Crocpreneur & Film Maker

I was a typical college student, that needed extra money! At the time I working as a Production Assistant, which didn’t pay me a lot. I didn’t want to give up on my dream to work my way up in the industry, so I thought of other ways I can tap into my creative bag to create an extra source of income so I didn’t have to go searching for a job I truly didn’t want. To me being creative doesn’t mean you are only good at one thing, it means you can hone in on your creative abilities and create your unique spin on anything you put your mind too. Read more>>

Kurenai Kiba | Seamstress, artist, convention chair

No matter what section of my business that I have created, I always had to disenfranchised as a forefront of my plan. When I first started costume commissions, my main reason was because there wasn’t a lot of options for those who are plus size like me as well as never having enough pockets. And now that I’m moving onto convention planning I want to focus on an audience that doesn’t whether we have these opportunities to enjoy events like this. My plan was always to give options to those who couldn’t readily have them. Read more>>

Terran Dampier | Artisan & Instructor

My thought process behind starting TuShea Natural Home & Body was two fold. On one side I started my business as a need. Many and my family and friends suffered from dry skin. So in starting my business I wanted to create products that would help transform their skin. On the other side I wanted to create luxury skin care products with basic ingredients. I feel like everyone should have access to hand crafted luxury skin care items without breaking their budget. Its also just very rewarding to get feedback from return clients on how my products helped their skin. Read more>>

Anton Cosmo | plumber and racingsimulator builder

I like to work and to see what’s left out on the market. solve problems and fill those left out market spots. When I started CR simracing I did see that no one was doing that hole package of building racing simulators in a package. Read more>>

Rachel Corbett | Founder/CEO of Girl, let’s talk, Wellness Advocate

This thought process started immediately after I graduated with a Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. I realized that I did not want to become a licensed therapist, I decided instead to use my personal experiences, my academic pursuits and acquired wisdom to organize creative ways for individuals, especially black women, to learn and openly dialogue about self-awareness, wellness, and more. I hosted the first free personal development workshop in 2018, Self-Awareness Matters. Read more>>

Chinenyem Nwadiugwu | CEO, She Biology Skincare Corporation

My motto is always to be willing to take an educated faith risk. I start with a calculated plan: a brand strategy, marketing strategy, spending strategy, investment strategy, and partnership strategy. However, there will be times when an educated faith risk is the only way to grow the She Biology Skincare corporation. This wasn’t a hobby for me. Starting this business would take time, so I continued my full-time job. However, I knew to have to build this business with integrity, professionalism, and the first consideration of my customer’s health and self-care. Read more>>

Calvin and Whitney Trapp | Calvin & Whitney Trapp | Trapp’d In Da Smoke mobile cigar bar

One day while sitting on the couch together, Calvin said “I would like to start a mobile cigar bar with a trailer.” My response to that was “let’s do it!” Calvin and his friends developed a love for cigars during the pandemic so we thought, why not turn that hobby into a business. I took the lead on the interior design of the trailer, we created a business plan and over a four month span we diy’d our way to creating a mobile cigar bar. Calvin came up with the name as a play on our last name and Trapp’d In Da Smoke was made. Read more>>

Shameka Bradwell | Stretch Practitioner

I’ve always wanted to own my own business and i am genuinely passionate about helping others. Once I was introduced to assisted stretch I knew that this is where I want to be! I am able to spend quality time with my love ones, live out my passion, meet new people and enjoy life. Also, I believe that time is very important and it holds A LOT of value, I wanted the freedom to create “my own” in a healthy space. Read more>>

Keneathia McCray | Party Entertainer

The thought process behind starting my business Happy Rolling was from seeing videos being shared on social media. People were sharing videos about the 360 rolling car and how they wanted to drive one. So I purchased one to make it available for anyone having an event. Read more>>

Tarshia Franklin | Travelpreneur, HR Professional, and Real Estate Investor

My thought process behind starting my travel business was why not get paid for something I was already doing. I was already traveling extensively and booking travel for others so it made sense for me to turn my passion into profit, Once I found out that commission was built into every single thing from activities to hotels to vacations; it was a no brainer for me. I would rather come home to a check than come home to nothing, Read more>>

Kadijah Hopson | Music Artist

In my mind, all I was thinking was, life is too short and nothing in this life comes to you, you have to go get it. That was also the reason why I went to college for business because I don’t want to just make money, I want to have the knowledge to manage it. Read more>>