The first step to starting a business is deciding to start a business. They say the first step is the hardest and in our experience this is especially true when it comes to starting a business. Getting over the mental roadblocks can be tough, often harder to overcome than the challenges you’ll face once you actually start the business. Fellow entrepreneurs share their thoughts below.

Cierra Burch | Virtual CFO

Starting my JB Collective, stemmed from a blend of recognizing a gap in the market, a deep passion for finance and strategic planning, and the desire to offer tailored, impactful financial leadership to small and mid-sized businesses that typically wouldn’t have access to this level of expertise. Read more>> 

DJ Princess Cut & E. Hall | DJ Princess Cut-Owner & DJ Extraordinaire and E.Hall Owner & Crate Carrier

DJ Princess Cut (P-Cut) would have young girls approach the turntables while she was DJ’ing and just stare in amazement. They never witnessed a female DJ of color in person. P-Cut would show them how to do a baby scratch and their faces would light up! It was a gratifying yet humbling at the same time.  Read more>>

Tiffany Lewis | Chief Cookie Officer & Owner & Founder

When I last my job during the pandemic, I took it upon myself to find a way to bring people together. Cookies, to me, are nostalgic, classic, delicious and comforting. I decided that if I could find a way to bring people together through the nostalgia of a cookie, community could be formed both near and far in a safe and effective way. And that’s where we started! Read more>>

Crystal Uzoho | Crystal Marie Media

When I started my business, my primary motivation was the desire to work for myself. As a content creator, I’ve always been passionate about storytelling and bringing ideas to life visually. Over time, this passion evolved. I found myself drawn more to the strategic aspects of content creation not just producing content, but also helping brands and individuals craft their narratives and establish their presence in a meaningful way. Read more>>

Kristie & Christopher Jenkins | Event planners and venue owners

Honestly my husband and I took a “big risk” we took extra money in our savings account and decided to purchase 2 bounce houses a variety of concession stands along with tables, tents and chairs we thought that it would be a great idea to make extra money during the summer to help off set some of our summer vacation expenses we never thought that it would turn into a actual party rental business that would eventually lead us to event decor services and venue rentals. Read more>>

Julie Demenkow | Reiki and Eden Energy Medicine practitioner, Yoga trainee soon to be instructor

Well, when I joined the alternate medicine/ therapy world, I was focused on finding ways to heal myself. I was already interested in wellness and tried alternative modalities such as acupuncture and hypnotherapy for my own health.  Read more>>

FOURK’d | Catering and Restaurant Owners

Great question, I believe we all had the same passion for food and two of us studied in the hotel and restaurant management industry so it just made sense for us to embark on it. originally our thoughts were to become an established catering company in the DMV area. Read more>>

Chef Cheez | Food connoisseur

My thought process behind starting a business derives first from my parents for years having their own food business and the opportunities they was able to provide for themselves and others. It inspired me to start Chef Cheez Cuisine to not only create quality food and excellent service but be able to do it for all walks of life to have a connect in the catering business. Read more>>

Madison Willis | Nutritionist and Weight Management Coach

I started my own business because I saw need for a change in the diet and weight loss industry. I worked as a nutritionist and weight loss coach for companies that helped people lose weigh but not maintain their weight loss. The majority of weight loss companies operating today would prefer their customers stay customers for life, so true success and independence is not part of their business model.  Read more>>

Clayton Hoffman | Cocktail Pop-Up Owner & Operator

I have been in the service industry in Athens for the past 10 years, and while I love what I do, I reached the point of needing to do something for myself. I had a lot of ideas and concepts rattling around in my head that had built up over the years, but they weren’t things that I could exactly do at my current places of business.  Read more>>

Kelsey Price | Hair stylist and makeup artist

I’m a hair stylist and makeup artist. I’ve worked in Atlanta about two years and Savannah GA nearly nine years. I left my old salon nearly 6 years ago when it was harder to walk into the environment and culture of the salon than the work or clients.. Read more>>

Shantelle Davis | Entrepreneur and Multi- Business Owner

I wanted to work from home and create a work schedule that fit my life, rather than confirm my life to someone else’s work schedule. Read more>>

Manny Faces | Owner, Manny Faces Media & Founder, The Center for Hip-Hop Advocacy

I have always thrived in mutli-modal work situations, particularly where there was a need for innovation and problem-solving. I was lucky to be working in journalism during a time of great evolution and upheaval, but my way of seeing things allowed me to predict the changes technology would have on the industry and implement innovative solutions — often with few resources.  Read more>>

Milena Vasquez | Artist, Photographer and Graphic designer

I was inspired by incredible women in my life who took bold steps to start their own businesses. After having my kids and working from home, I saw many friends pursuing their dreams by starting their own ventures. Their courage motivated me to pursue my passion for art and work from home, turning my dreams into reality. Read more>>

Dr. Hareder Mcdowell | Community Psychologist, Sexual Activist, Author and Speaker

My thought process was simple, I knew their was a void as it related to understanding how and why Black women didn’t communicate about sex and I only had to ask myself if I had the audacity to try to fill it. I am a firm believer in my mothers favorite mantra, “when the student is ready the teacher will appear”, so I told God that I was ready.  Read more>>

Ricky Griffin | Photographer/ Videographer

My entrepreneurial journey began during my high school years when a track injury temporarily sidelined me. Seeking a creative outlet, I borrowed my father’s camera and began capturing moments for the track team, filling a void that no one else had addressed.  Read more>>

Malachi Atkinson | Web Strategist & Music Artist

Independence & Freedom. I believe strongly in ownership and being able to choose your own future, so for me, this was inevitable. My decision to create my web design agency MAVE Design has allowed me to work with who I want, set my terms, and create the things I am most passionate for.  Read more>>

Dr Denocka Wardrick | NFC – RFID Scientist

I was in a frame of mind of wanting to create my own lane and also stand out with value that my community and the world can benefit from. Read more>>

LaTilda Owens | CEO-Finance, Accounting & Business Strategist

I actually fell into entrepreneurship unintentionally. Back in July of 2013, while on maternity leave, I got laid off from my corporate job of over 5 years. I looked at it as a blessing in disguise because I would have more time to spend with my newborn son. Read more>>

Demmette Guidry | American music industry executive, talent manager, and label owner,

Starting my own business was a natural evolution of my passion for Black American music and my desire to nurture young talent. After witnessing the decline of Black Music Divisions within major entertainment companies and feeling the industry shift, I recognized the need to create a space where our music and artists could thrive. Read more>>

Zachary Morehouse | Entrepreneurial & Community Wellness Advocate

After years of managing both big box and small box retail, including roles in HR, I’ve nurtured a desire to start my own business. Drawing upon the skills refined through building efficient processes in the companies I’ve served and learning from their missteps, I am enthusiastic about the prospect of creating my own venture. Read more>>

Michael A | Tech Strategist, Design Leader, Tech & Design Educator

First, some stats: – In the US tech sector, Black Americans hold 7% of tech jobs (despite representing 14% of the national population) and less than 1% of executive and management roles. Read more>>

Jazmin Slaughter | Communications Strategist

A Hint of Jazz Management started out as A Hint of Jazz, a multimedia edutainment platform. I wanted to create a platform for upcoming business owners, artists, and entrepreneurs to share their stories. I started because I dropped out of college and moved to a new city, then I said to myself, “I need to do something,” and my podcast was born. Read more>>

Richard Singleton II | Singer/Songwriter, Producer, Film, Screenwriter

Initially, my focus was on creating music. However, as opportunities in animation emerged, my vision expanded. Recognizing the lack of representation in anime, I decided to take matters into my own hands, aiming to open doors not only for myself but for others as well.  Read more>>

Quay Chapman | Private Chef

My thought process has always been building something that belongs to me. I want to be able to pass it down to my kids one day if I’m lucky enough to have some. Read more>>

Tish Gardener | Aesthetic Nurse Practitioner

Growing up in the vibrant atmosphere of South Florida, where beauty is not just admired but almost a way of life, I found myself drawn to the world of makeup, glamour, and self-presentation from a young age. Opportunities to delve into this realm seemed elusive. Read more>> 

Shannon Kelly | Health & Wellness Coach

I’ve always felt like a square peg in a round hole when it came to “working for the man,” and entrepreneurship came naturally to me. I’ve been freelancing marketing services and managing events on and off since I was 19. At 23, I opened a storefront in St. Petersburg, FL, selling candles, gifts, and home decor made by local artisans. In 2013, I also began doing standup comedy. Read more>>

Kendall Davidson | President of Kendall’s Hauling and Kendall’s Petroleum

My thumb process behind starting my own business was leaving a legacy behind. Building something that will outlive me. Creating generational wealth. Read more>>