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.
Suzanne Barker | Body-Positive Personal Trainer, Instructor, and Nutrition Coach
After working for other brands in the fitness and wellness industry (even the Four Seasons which has its’ perks), I knew I wanted to have my own business. Almost all things in life come with a trade-off. With my own business, everything begins and ends with me. If I don’t push sales or keep up with the back-office work, etc., I fail. There is no one to fall back on. But I love the freedom of schedule and space for creativity and fun to do whatever I want with this! For me right now, the pro’s are worth the cons. Read more>>
Sultan Salako | Makeup & Gele Artist
Actually I’m not going to deny it The first thing I thought about was making money at first but it went a long way more than money.
My family were like my foundational mentors always pushing me towards my things So there was this day I said to myself I’m not too young to be influential,rich,a man of dignity or a respected someone in the society. Read more>>
Tyomi Morgan | Sexologist & Sensual Fitness Instructor
When I began doing research on the field of sexual health back in 2009, I didn’t see many sources speaking to black women about sexual health and wellness. So it made sense for me to provide a solution and jump Into the work as a sex blogger and pleasure coach. I knew that it was important to establish myself not only as an authority in the field, but as an incorporated business. In 2013 I officially incorporated and I’ve been soaring ever since. Read more>>
Hill (Hillery) Sawyer | Creative Entrepreneur & Owner of Speakcheesy
I started Speakcheesy as a late night food truck concept with my two best friends in 2014. It was my 27th birthday and three financially challenged young women prepared and gathered to celebrate with a dinner in lue of expensive gifts. I had been a vegetarian for 9 years, and really I should say cheesatarian with some veggies thrown in. Cheese had been a passion and obsession of mine since middle school so naturally grilled cheese was an excellent vehicle for feeding myself through college and into my first career as a freelance marketer. Read more>>
Jamillah Jean | Founder & CEO of Hike Mtl
I feel in love with the outdoors and exploring nature over 17years ago. As a Black women hiking in Quebec I rarely saw people that looked like me. Ive always loved the outdoors but never really felt this sense of belonging. During the pandemic it was a very difficult time for my family and I, getting outdoors was our only outlet. This was also the only way to be able to connect with extended family and friends as all the national and regional parks remained opened. Read more>>
Noah Russell | Founder of Shine My Ride Mobile Detailing
I originally started detailing because I had gotten my first car in high school and started watching videos about how to wash cars properly. Once I started getting good results I realized that it could be a good side hustle to make some money in my neighborhood, especially since I was only making $9 an hour at Chick-Fil-A at the time. After a couple months, the money from detailing became significantly better than my job so I quit without hesitation. Read more>>
ALYCIA JOHNSON | A1 Mancave Ceo and Serial Entrepreneur
I’ve always had a creative mind as a young child. I love to identity problems and find a solution. I’ve always remeinded myself of a few statements when becoming an entrepreneur: 1. “You cannot work a 9-5 go home and be tired; that’s not tired that’s uninspired” 2. Either you work on your goals and become a millionaire or work on someone else goals and make them a millionaire Read more>>
Jen Evans | Baker
My thought process behind starting my own business was that I wanted to leave something of value behind for my kids and future grandkids. That, plus the fact that I never found “my place” in the workforce. Any job id ever worked felt odd to me no matter how much experience I had. I wanted to do something that felt more ME. Read more>>
Miah Thompson | Financial Coach & Hairstylist
The thought process behind starting my own business was pretty reflective and innovative. I wanted to find a different way to achieve a better lifestyle. Working on someone else’s clock at a low pay grade could only grant me the bare minimum. If I could name two things I spent a lot of that I could not get back, I’d say time and money. The only solution I could think of was entrepreneurial freedom. That way I could set my own limits for the amount of money I’d like to make and do it in my own time. Read more>>
Jenny Watts & Karen Horn Smith Fossil & Hide | Jewelry Designers
Our thought process couldn’t of been more organic. Both of us have always been into wearing a lot of jewelry even from a very young age, so it was only natural that when we first met we were always complementing each others jewelry. Eventually we discussed getting together to experiment with making our own pieces. A lot of the stuff we were into at the time was super expensive and out of our budgets so we thought why not try and make our own jewels. We didn’t start out with the intention of starting a jewelry business. Read more>>
K Smith | Virtual Restaurant Owner / Content Creator
I not only wanted to make money, but I wanted to leave a legacy for my son. I wanted to leave him something that he could be proud of and his kids could be proud of too. Read more>>
Simone Smith | Foodie: Lover of delectable moments
I’m inspired by my mom whom once owned her own business and the desire to show my daughter the importance of pursuing your passions… the things that being instance smiles to your face. I have always been a lover of good food. I get excited about the experience from beginning to end. It could be the exterior packaging of my favorite ice creams ( I have a few) to the smell of my entree being brought to my table. Read more>>
Anya Fleming | Founder
I wanted to give surrounding areas something they were not familiar with, unique candles that represented my creativity. In the beginning, I was very unaware of the process of marketing, the overall success of my business, and even the beginning steps! It took a lot of trial and error to perfect my craft. I wanted my candles to be as close to perfect, if not “perfect”. After many nights of practicing, starting over and over; I then decided to take a leap of faith. Read more>>
Telia Lambey | Independent Record Label Ceo
My process was I can do that if not just as good, even better! Read more>>
Chasidy K Ashley | Small Business Owner & Massage Practitioner
The thought process behind the start of TBK Wellness Spa was to have a spa that treats it’s customers like family. I was interested in having a place where people would want to come, relax and enjoy being pampered. Read more>>
Kendra Bauser | Owner of Three Peaches Gelato and Coffee
My thought process behind starting this business was a a concept born out of pain, the pain of not being able to eat sugar for over a year! I mean what holy hell! LOL but really, I did go through some health issues, cancer being the first that afterwards lead to other things where diet was the only way to really thrive. I mean this is true for everyone of course but sometimes it is made clearer. I also happen to have a huge sweet tooth. In addition Im lactose intolerant. So I started making recipies that would satisfy my sweet cravings in a healthy way and found this was easier than I imagined. Read more>>
Ahoo Sarab | Yoga Studio Owner and Instructor
Starting a studio was mainly born from a need I knew I could fill. And from a desire to share yoga, a practice I had loved and practiced for most of my adult life, with a community that I was attached to. I was living in London, England, and my daughter was only two months old. I had practiced yoga for 17 years at this point, and had been teaching a little, here and there. Each morning, we’d walk to a local ashram and take a yoga class. The idea to open a studio was born from this experience. I started putting together a business plan. Read more>>
Janay Stubbs | Business Owner | CEO
Hair Extensions have been around forever and at the time, the Chinese/Indian suppliers were dominating the market. But, the doll like overly shiny silk hair never matched my natural hair in luster or texture which made it hard to blend. That’s when I knew I wanted to find an origin of hair that best matched hair like mine with low to medium luster, coarseness that ranges from a medium grit all the way to a very heavy wire-like bushy coarseness, Read more>>
Quorteshia Johnson | Business Owner
I read a Quote QC Pee posted on his IG story. My thought process behind starting my own business reflected to that quote he posted so I knew once I start I can’t stop failure or giving up wasn’t an option. Read more>>
Benisa Merdzic Woolford | Business & Financial Professional
Over the last 5 years I always felt the desire to take a leap of faith and knew I wanted to be able to work with more than one team, organization. I dreamt of making unlimited income, following my passion. I used to literally daydream of being my own boss and starting my own business, but I also had a great career in the Hospitality Industry so the reality of becoming a business owner was slim to none. I was an Award-Winning General Manager, but I’d get this feeling within me that there was a bigger purpose in life for me. Read more>>