Readers often email us asking us for advice about new businesses they are thinking about starting and we often find that many of them don’t have a framework for thinking about a more fundamental question: why should or shouldn’t you start a business?

Below, you’ll find how successful entrepreneurs from across the city thought about this very question when they were considering whether to start their businesses.

Laura Templin | Owner & Designer

I’ve spent my entire life in a swimsuit – from swimming competitively in college to training for Olympic trials to coaching my local Masters program. After my youngest turned 5, I could not believe how hard it was to find a stylish, well made swimsuit. I was a swim design professional who couldn’t find a great suit for herself. Read more>>

D’Andrea Jenkins | Professional Balloon Stylist

After 9 years of working as an educator, I wanted a change of pace and a career path that allowed me to spend more time with my family. I fell in love with balloon styling 4 years ago decorating high school dances and other school events. Read more>>

Lindsey Mckinnon | Wedding and Portrait Photographer

Honestly, my thought process was, I have this talent and love for photography, so do I keep this as a hobby or side business, or do I jump with both feet in and do this full time? I went to college for photography at Daytona State College for Photogenic Technology. So having that and a few business classes under my belt made that process easier. Read more>>

DeAndrae Douglas | Firefighter & Entrepreneur

I came up with it on a rainy day when I was leaving to pick up my son from preschool. I had a brand new waterproof jacket but it didn’t have a hood on it. I had a sweater with a hood but I couldn’t fit my arms in the jacket, so then I started to reflect on a piece of safety equipment at work that we call a “flash hood” which helps protect our neck and ears when we go into fires. Read more>>

Ryli Ray | Sophomore college student and Lash and Hair Techican

My thought process behind starting my lash business (Luvxslaybeauty) and my hair business (Glamlikeryli) is because I was 16 and 17 working in fast food always being critiqued and harassed about my appearance, physical traits, or my personality. I never felt welcomed or right working for someone else who wanted me to pour all of myself into a company I wasn’t passionate about or didn’t see a future with. Read more>>

Empress Slimm | CEO & Executive Director

“Necessity is the mother of innovation.” I’ve always led a healthy lifestyle, maintained a balanced diet, been active and exercised regularly. The pandemic forced us to go within and browse health alternatives. It made a lot of people become (more) conscientious of their lifestyle behaviors and choices. Read more>>

Leslie Lewis | Owner of JusLesLashes

I was in search of something other than customer service that I felt great at, something that I knew I could actually build & leave behind later. That’s when I found Lashing. I took a certification which was the fist stepping stone to my journey of becoming a Lash & Brow Business Owner. I completed my licensing with 3D Lash & Brow and I’m currently working with a Studio in my profession as well as building my own business Read more>>

Allison Frink | Artist & Instructor

Okay, I fundamentally misunderstood and thought I needed to answer all of these?! Choose whichever answers y’all want to deal with: – What was your thought process behind starting your own business? I always knew I could bring more joy to more people if I just had more time to invest in making art. So, being a full-time artist and instructor was always a long-term goal. Read more>>

Shandale Johnson | Custom Fashion Designer

I’ve always wanted to be my own boss, working for myself. I have always had a passion for fashion. So when the pandemic began, I started making mask and from then on I created wonderful designs/creations Read more>>

Annelise McCarthy | Women’s Speaking & Confidence Coach

As a young girl, I struggled with crippling social anxiety and had a strong lisp – talk about a killer combo. This meant my confidence making friends, speaking to people and being in public was at an all time low. I felt isolated, awkward and embarrassed. I had no idea how to “be cool” or “confident” in front of people. So, my speech pathologist had recommended I start public speaking training to overcome my fears. Read more>>

Nicole Okubanjo | Big E Events LLC

I was already doing kids parties and wasn’t charging anyone. It was my friends kids and I love entertaining kids. Well I didn’t know how it was a business. Covid 19 started and like everyone else trying to figure how to kill time during the uncertainty. I was in the house and strolling on Tic toc and so I seen someone doing balloons and I was like I can do that. Read more>>

Nicole Bradley | Author, Publisher, Account Media Manager

As a creative thinker and writer, I am always thinking of ways to create and leave a legacy. I wanted to create a book series that was designed to boost self-confidence and educate children of all ages about the importance of healthy sibling relationships and relationships all around. From this, The Adventures of Maddie & Mack was created. Read more>>

Dr. Amera McCoy | Founder & CEO of Minority Business Circle

After consulting for small businesses for several years the pandemic hit and I lost several of my clients overnight. They were unable to keep their doors open due to a lack of available funding for their business. Most were newer and not in a position to receive the max funds available through government programs. I learned quickly it was essential business pieces holding them back from eligibility. Read more>>

Zachariah Witcher | Bassist/Producer/Musical Director

I have worked as a sideman/musician for hire for years now since finishing college in 2013. I have seen, played, and attended many concerts and learned lots along the way. I have been able to work with some amazing musicians and it has not only changed my playing but also allowed me to form my own thoughts about how shows can and should run. Read more>>

Danica Eakman | Sound Bath Practitioner and Reiki Master

There were many years where I wondered, is there a career out there that I would truly enjoy? If so, what and where the hell is it? Because I enjoy working but I wanted to be truly fulfilled and passionate about what I was doing, not just going through the motions. During the darkest time of my life, sound baths presented themselves to me and allowed me to quiet the anxiety I was having for the first time in my life. Read more>>

David Burns | Founder of Baseball Jobs Overseas

Growing up, I always had an entrepreneurial spirit and desire to start my own business. Even dating back to when I was a small child and I would sit next to my dad at his home office and pretend to be a businessman while he worked. Fast forward to my mid 30’s, I was commuting to work (in Austria) by train for a total of 3 hours every day and would daydream about business concepts. Read more>>

Wendell Perkins | 3rdGeneration Band & Abatement Vendor

Starting a business was a risk. I decided to start my business because my previous job of 25 years was in the process of merging with another company. I was left without a job so I decided to step out on faith. I have not worked for anyone else for many years. Read more>>

Karmen Johnson | Business owner | Food & Nutritional Science Masters Candidate

My thought process behind starting my own business was that I wanted to share what I was doing for myself. In college, I became fascinated with how changing my diet would impact my body from the inside out. I was cooking new foods and inviting all my friends to test my vegan creations. Read more>>

Kailia Mcswain | Aspiring Nail Artist

I just knew i wanted to impact people life and give people a stylish look while doing it. I have always had the drive to hustle and be my own boss it all started in officially in college but i always knew i was a boss/ceo cause that how I carried mused , but i start with selling hair ,that was successful but it became to be too overwhelming. Read more>>

Kyle Greene | Professional Speaker & Author

Kyle A. Greene LLC originally was just a hashtag ( #KyleSpeaks) that I used on social media when I spoke here and there. But as my brand began to grow bigger I needed to create a business model and structure around it so I could level up. This is what I learned quick, when speaking to other bosses many times they don’t take you seriously if you don’t have your house in order. Read more>>

Dr. Michelle Robinson | CEO and Creative Director

I have always had an entrepreneurial spirit and have always been very creative. I have had other small businesses in the past but Melanin Emotions was birthed out of grief. In 2020, my father passed away unexpectantly and I decided to do something to channel my grief. Read more>>

Sabrina Cates Pytron Parker | Owners of Shelly’s Vintage

Shelly’s Vintage is the pioneer of a “Name Your Price” Vintage brand that exists to provide people with one-of-a-kind vintage items, from different eras, found all over the world. Shelly’s Vintage specializes in vintage interior design and we curate experiences of healing, authenticity, community, and self-discovery through styling, photoshoots, and event planning. Read more>>

Alexis Williams | Retired Air Force, Founder & CEO Aloha Glamour

When my daughter Lauren Taylor was born while I was stationed in Hawaii, she died shortly after birth and my children and I were left alone in paradise without our baby girl. Read more>>

Sheila Jackson | Writer-Producer-Entrepreneur

It only took a handful of jobs early in my career, before I knew without a doubt, that I would be an entrepreneur and a creative. Being in service to institutions was definitely the old paradigm that was in play, early in my career. I have always been purpose driven. I want to feel good about my work and know it creates value in the world. And I want to be the one who makes the rules! Read more>>

Robin Dodd | Cosmetologist

I’ve been doing my family hair since 12 at first I ran from my own passion when I was living in Milwaukee, WI. I moved to GA in 2012 with 3 children, in between time and jobs I was doing hair at my home to make ends meet. It was when I had my 5th child in 2021, I realized I wanted to be more than just a mother and wanted to find myself as a woman and decided to take the hair business serious. Read more>>