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.

Spudds Mckenzie | Creator / Director / Cinematographer

Hi Spudds, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Starting a business can be an exciting yet complex journey like mannnnn my thought process
would first Identifying a Need or Passion …. like what will spark your interest or pockets feel me? Next would be Market Researching .
i feel like knowing your market
like understand the demand, competition, and potential challenges.
then to me Creating a Business Plan ,adapting then Build your brand .. Read more>>

Nicholas Grimes | Cycling Content Creator

I’m not sure I’d call it a business—I just love riding bikes. My journey began last year when I started riding with my dad, who was recovering from a major surgery and a broken leg. It’s a miracle he still has his leg and can bike, so it became a way for us to connect. After a few months, I really got into cycling and combined it with my passion for video creation. When I realized I could also make money doing what I love, I was all in! Read more>>

Eva Wagura | Founder & Creator, Sinzia Comfort

When my daughter started daycare at two, I worried about how she’d sleep without her cherished blanket that she had received from her aunt in Kenya. The daycare’s nap mat requirement meant she couldn’t bring it, and I realized there were no culturally rich options that offered the same comfort.
That moment sparked my mission to create something that would comfort my daughter while celebrating our African roots. Inspired by her love for that special blanket and my deep connection to our Kenyan heritage, Sinzia Comfort was born. Read more>>

Lincoln Hoppe | Learn Improv and Improv Comedy on Zoom and with Video on Deman Courses

My co-founder (Eric) and I had been teaching improv for years, and we kept running into people who weren’t able to take Los Angeles quality Improv Classes from other cities and states. Because of the fact that learning and doing improv changed both of our lives and greatly improved our acting careers, we wanted to share that with more people. So we started doing Video on Demand and Zoom improv training several years before Covid through ImprovWizards.com Several people told us it couldn’t be done, but we did it anyway, with great success for our students. Then covid hit, and then everyone was taking improv classes online. Read more>>

Ken’ja Pharr | Atlanta Lash Artist, Supplier & Educator

My thought process of starting my own business was I would not say for the love of money but for the love of freedom. I say this because I was in my senior year of college with the aspirations to be an oncology nurse. I dreamed to work with cancer patients due to the fact I once was a little girl at ten years old going to chemo therapy sessions with my mom and her nurses and doctors were always an inspiration to me. Read more>>

Brèanna Foreman | Public Health Professional & Educator | Personal Trainer | Group Exercise Instructor

Honestly, two things. 1. I feel like entrepreneurship is partly in my DNA. I come from a family, where on both sides, there are entrepreneurs and hard workers who figured it out to provide for themselves and their families, while helping others in some way. 2. Throughout my twenties, I have observed women who are entrepreneurs absolutely dominate their field or industry in their own way. Some have accomplished this while building a family and/or working a 9-5. It’s very inspiring. Read more>>

Katia Lord | ⭕️ Creative Consulting, Brand Designer & Educator ~ Building brands and actionable strategies. ⭕️ Life Transitions & Self-empowerment Coach & Mentor ~ Illuminating Paths, Transforming Lives.

It was a very organic process. I was already freelancing before I graduated. Right out of college, I pursued full-time employment because that’s what was expected, but after an 8-month stint in an ad agency, I realized freedom was my number 1 value. Along with that, I learned I was expecting my son, and decided to go freelancing full-time. As my son got into school, I decided to formalize my business and invest more time into building it. I never looked back. Read more>>

Keisha Liburd | Creative Strategist and Cultural Connector

I started TCH agency, originally K.marie Creates, in 2020 because I wanted to help businesses. I looked around and saw people shutting down not because there product or service wasn’t good, but because they weren’t able to properly market themselves or afford a super big agency to push their stuff. I often joke that before Keith Lee, there was me. I was 6 months post grad school, attending a virtual conference when I shared my thoughts with someone and they told me to do it myself. So that is how things got started for me. I worked doing freelance branding and consulting work for social media for small businesses, beauty and fashion were my target markets then. Read more>>

Justine Alexander | Chef

“I gotta get out of here!”
“I’ll do it different when I have my own thing.”
“I can’t wait to build my own schedule.”
All of these phrases I repeated were a part of my drive for a certain kind of life. They were a constant reminder for me to go get it. Read more>>

Darylynn Mumphord | Fashion Designer, Author, Music Manager

When I started my business 10 years ago my thoughts were I want something different something that’s mine. Now its about a legacy and having generational wealth. Read more>>

Peter & Cindy Kapas | Visual Storytellers

Film making and content creation has been a long time hobby of ours, especially during the pandemic when many people turned towards social media to connect with others. Short videos have been in high demand for marketing, social awareness and entertainment purposes. We saw an opportunity to leverage our skills to help others bring their vision in front of millions of people. Read more>>

Porsche’ Sterling | Serial Entrepreneur

I originally started my first business selling lashes my freshman year of college. I am a first-generation college graduate. My family didn’t have a college fund waiting for me once high school was over. I knew that I would have to work my way through school. I decided what better way than to work for myself ! Most of the girls that lived in my freshman dorm didn’t have a vehicle or any other way to get around to get what they needed for college weekend nights. I saw that this was a HUGE need and I wanted to fulfill it. Read more>>

Sheila Lemon | Business Owner

The products I used previously would cause allergic reactions to or put marks on my lips. So, I wanted to create all natural base cosmetics to eliminate the guess work when shopping. A completely organic product was my goal with no chemical reaction. Read more>>

Cile Wilson | Owner of CraveWell Juicery & Cafe

Hi Cile, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Several years ago my husband and I became passionate about improving our health with nutrients from smoothies, juicing and food. We had the idea to start a business around this shared interest. Read more>>

Paris Vapaille-watson | Mister US United 2024, Small business owner, Actor, Model, and Entertainer

My thought process behind starting my own business was helping my community feel confident with their hair. My business is a haircare business that makes products for type 3 and type 4 hair textures and everyone else. Read more>>

Cony Madariaga | Free Lance Artist

There are different avenues to do it, for me, I gradually shifted things in my life to pursue my art as a career, especially without having a formal art education I am currently in my first year of being a full-time artist, and there’s a lot to learn, and I wear a lot of different creative hats. My biggest advantage has been having the support from my family to follow my dreams. My thought process has been knowing what I want and gradually doing things in my life that will help me get there. Read more>>

Daveia Odoi | Illustrator & Brand Designer

I started my graphic design services business to get a handle on the growing freelance requests I was receiving. The idea to launch a retail brand featuring my artwork came from my late husband. He saw how I was always designing my own invitations and greeting cards because I couldn’t find anything that resonated with me. He encouraged me to be the solution, not just for myself but for others facing the same issue. Together, we figured out how to bring my art to life on products like notebooks, t-shirts, and more. Read more>>

Stacy-ann Louie | International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) & Doula

I wanted to create a space where women can make their desire to breastfeed a reality. Where are they are supported to understand their bodies, their babies needs and just how they can fully provide what their babies need in a sustainable way. For breastfeeding to be possible I believe that women need to be empowered throughout their breastfeeding journey with evidence based information, immediate community lactation support, followed by ongoing lactation support that reflects their individual needs. Read more>>

Brandi Rhodes | Owner Naked Mind Yoga + Pilates

It was quite simple ,really. I am a lifelong athlete. I started figure skating at the age of 4 and competed all the way up through a collegiate level (at the University of Michigan). I had an unexpected career in Professional Wrestling for about 12 years. When I retired from sports I wanted to use my gifts, and all I had learned to help others succeed and meet their goals physically. Movement is so important in life, and Yoga and Pilates both tend to intimidate people. I wanted to bring an inviting environment to the table that allowed people to dive into these areas of movement in an approachable way. Read more>>

Melissa Martin, Mba | Founder & Brand Revenue Strategist

The idea to start Blackwood Impact Group came from seeing small businesses struggle with ineffective marketing. As head of sales in various marketing agencies, I noticed that many businesses were spending money on trends and fancy websites that didn’t align with their goals. They often lacked a clear strategy to convert leads into customers. I knew there was a better way. Read more>>

Eboni Jae | Wife, Storyteller, Founder of Hampton Creative Media

In January 2023, I made the pivotal decision to leave a dead-end job that didn’t align with the direction I wanted for my life. Despite my time and efforts, I felt that job was never truly the right fit for me. By March, I transitioned into a new role working from home, which I enjoyed. However, in September 2023, I faced an unexpected layoff. It felt like a series of trials, and I struggled to understand why 2023 had been so challenging career-wise. This period of uncertainty made me realize that my resistance to change and reluctance to fully embrace my potential were holding me back. Read more>>

Matt & Crystal Bailey | Owners & Operators

Matt had always wanted to own his own business. We had both worked in restaurants and then got out of that industry and worked 9-5 jobs. It kept calling us back and when the opportunity presented itself, we had a dear friend that challenged us to go for it. We did and it has been an amazing adventure since. Read more>>

Yuwei Li | Artist & Designer

Painting is a part of my life, so once I had my own studio, a painting career was a natural progression. Only the theme of the paintings has always been a problem that I needed to think about. Because I have painted many subjects, such as Chinese Tibet and Western modern life. Of course, these subjects are all related to me, and they are the subjects I love. Read more>>

Sydney Head | Salon Owner – Hair Extension Specialist

My thought process in starting my own business was largely driven by my desire for creative freedom and the ability to provide a highly personalized service to my clients. I’ve always been passionate about hair, particularly blonding and extensions, and I wanted to create a space where I could specialize in those services without the limitations that sometimes come with working in a larger salon. I also wanted to build a business that was centered on truly understanding my clients’ needs, especially those with fine, thin, or short hair, and providing them with custom solutions that make them feel confident. Read more>>

Dr. Telesa Hart

When I first graduated from chiropractic school, I had no desire to go into private practice. I thought it would be stifling, and that it would tie me down in a way that I absolutely did not want to be anchored. However, I finally realized that working for someone else would never provide the salary that I deserve or desire, I am not in control of the population I choose to serve, and everyday I am working toward someone else’s dream. Read more>>