Starting a business can be terrifying. Weighing the pros and cons, the risks, and other considerations can be so overwhelming that often promising entrepreneurs stop before they even start. We asked some phenomenal entrepreneurs about their thought process behind starting their own businesses. Our hope is that by making the thought-process less intimidating we can help more folks think through whether they should take an entrepreneurial leap.

Shafiqah Sarfani | Mama | Entrepreneur | Mom-boss

After the birth of my daughter, I realized how important it was for me to find and maintain my own personal identity, beyond the role of “mama”. With a background in healthcare, being an entrepreneur was far from my list of things to accomplish in life. But motherhood changes you. I had this innate need to spend as much time with my littles but I also had a strong urge to figure out my next big thing.  Read more>>

Francisco Sanchez | Owner and Creator

At a very young age, I started working at an ice cream shop owned by my aunt. I saw how happy she was to pick ingredients at the market to make her recipes for various popsicles and ice cream. I helped cut fruit and ensure quality was always a focus. Later I started to serve customers. It was nice to interact with different people and discover their favorite flavors. I quickly became interested in opening my own ice cream and popsicle store. Read more>>

Ryan Alford | Custom Sheetmetal Fabricator

I didn’t grow up in an environment where owning your own business and being your own boss was a thing. My parents worked their 9 to 5 jobs Monday through Friday and that was all I knew. I got a taste of being my own boss when I had hip surgery years ago. The freedom of not having to ask permission for anything at all was incredibly satisfying. Answering to no one but my customers really made my life a lot less stressful. I fell in love with the peace it brought to me. I’m not a stranger to working long hours, late nights, and weekends. That part is normal. Having the freedoms to set my own hours and choose the work that I want to do was incredible! Read more>>

Parker Hernandez | Record Store Co Owner/Record Label Co Owner

The initial thought was from my partner, Joseph. We are both music lovers and just thought how cool would it be to have our own record store. It’s always been a dream of his. Read more>>

Angie Vogel | Co-Founder of The Jiu Jitsu Company

My husband and I started our own Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Academy because we had a very different approach to teaching Jiu Jitsu, and we wanted a way to cultivate a new and cultural environment. Read more>>

Jayleen Rodriguez | Dog Baker

I started my business to give back to local rescues and shelters. After rescuing and fostering for many years I wanted to do much more. I knew I could create something that would make a difference with my talent for baking and my love for dogs. At just the age of nine, I officially started my own business 4 Dogs Barkery. I make a variety of organic treats for both cats and dogs, each with its unique benefits, dog cakes, pup cakes, and much more. Read more>>

Joey Ramos | Owner & Head Coach

Joey Ramos, owner of CrossFit Artillery, founded his gym out of a deep passion for fitness and helping others. Unlike business owners who are driven solely by profit, Joey wanted to create a space where results and relationships were prioritized over revenue. He believes that focusing on money alone leads to failure when it comes to serving members and clients. Despite knowing he could potentially earn more by choosing another career path, Joey chose to dedicate himself to fitness & coaching because of the personal growth he witnesses in other people. Read more>>

Charles Ivy | CEO & Founder | Marketing Manager | Marketing Agent | Marketing Representative | Ranch Hand

My initial idea for EnvyInk started in 2008. I was a Graphic Designer, married, barely making ends with my salary. That said, I immensely enjoyed T-shirt art, which was the original business model. I painstakingly thought about a name for months, trying to develop something impactful. Then it came to me, EnvyInk, which originated from watching the 1995 movie “Seven” with Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman. I took “Envy” from the seven deadly sins and Ink for print ink. I was confident that people would buy and envy my T-shirts. Read more>>

Emem Emmanuel

When I started my own photography business, it was a mix of passion and opportunity that drove me. I joined yearbook in my sophomore year of high school and it really opened my eyes to how much I loved capturing moments and telling stories through images. As I gained experience, I realized I could turn this passion into something more—a real business. A thought came into mind, “Why not turn this into something more?” I saw an opportunity to not only improve my skills but also to start making a name for myself while still in high school. Read more>>

Sheila Blue

The motivation behind starting Victory Pie Company came as a beauty for ashes story. I lost my brother, “SSG Mark C. Wells” serving in Afghanistan and I desired a way to give back to the many who serve our country and communities. I have always been an entrepreneur at heart and my brother and I both loved to bake. It was our connection to each other, as well as way to connect to others. Being the “older sister” I cooked for and taught him a lot about baking. His favorite meal was my homemade chicken pot pie. Read more>>

James Kaatz

My wife and I have an autistic daughter. Anyone with an autistic child understands that when it comes to mealtime, it’s a little bit extra challenging. There were only about 3 places in the world that we could all eat without going to battle and one of those was a local restaurant here in Houston named the Houston Texans Grill. It was in the City Centre shopping area. Read more>>