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.

Demeatrice Beasley | Professional Freelance Makeup Artist

I honestly became a Freelance Makeup Artist by the Grace of God… literally. I started doing my own makeup and that turned into family and friends wanting their makeup done and then Beau’D by D. Beasley was born. I then went into business mode and made sure I conducted my business as such. Read more>>

Paul Smith | Partner

I have always been an entrepreneur at heart. I grew up in a family that owned a small business and I saw what it took to be successful. Although I have always had a steady job with benefits and security, there was a constant itch that needed to be scratched to do things my way. Read more>>

Theresa Prahst | Owner and Creative Director of The Creative Oven

For many years people that sampled my baking told me that I should open a bakery. I agreed that the quality of the baked goods was there, but I knew that opening a brick and mortar bakery would involve a huge investment of time, money and effort, and I was not in a position for that undertaking. Read more>>

Veronica Von Blon | Managing Member

This was a Covid idea. My husband and I have owned multiple businesses together. When COVID hit we had just finished building our last spec beach house in spring of 2020. While chilling with the rest of the world, we thought about starting a new venture. We shared an alley with a golf cart rental company and thought this might be a good business plan. Read more>>

Mehwish S. | Candle Maker at Naba & Co. Candles

Well I am a mommy of 3 & have been a nomad for most of my life. My priorities were my family & home always & I knew I had to do something that went hand in hand. Your own business gives you that flexibility of choosing how much of what you want to do at a certain time, rather than being expected to have it done. Read more>>

Montse Santos | Wedding Photographer & Owner of Lovebird Visuals

I’ve had a camera in my hand since my dad handed me his trusty and infamous rebel t5i when I turned 15. Since that moment, I carried that camera with me to every family reunion and vacation and turned any friend that would let me into my muse. However, in spite of how much I have always loved photography, at that point I had for some reason never once thought to consider it as a career. Read more>>

Kristen Richards-Sollenberger | Baker & Bakery Owner

Ever since I had the idea that baking could be my career, I also had the dream of one day owning my own business. For about five or six years after graduating from culinary school that thought had slipped my mind. I was focused on the visions of other business owners and how to help their vision succeed. Read more>>

Benjamin Karner | Southeast Texas Angler

My kids are growing up in an online generation and I wanted to find a way to combine their online interests with a love for the outdoors. I grew up fishing and wanted to give them the skills to become anglers. From these thoughts, We Go Fishing was born. Generally, my children do most of the filming and videography. Read more>>

Rebecca Creel | Cottage Law Baker & Mom

I became pregnant with twins just 9 months after my daughter was born. At the time, I was a band director at a local school district. We starting looking at day care costs for 3 infants and realized that it was going to be most of my paychecks after insurance and taxes were taken out. I had always wanted to stay at home with my babies if we could make it work financially, so that was the decision we made. Read more>>

Lauren Harrell | Photographer

I’ve always been entrepreneurial! In college, I owned a children’s entertainment business which helped with my tuition. And in 2021, I self-published a children’s book. I enjoy being creative and thinking strategically. I’ve always been fascinated with photography, so I took some classes, got some equipment, and picked up freelance photography for a few years before I decided to turn it into a business. I love being able to capture milestone and personalities from behind the camera. Read more>>

Andrew Martin | Founder, Six Figure Dinners

I always wanted to run a business. My family encouraged me to be creative, take responsibility, create value for other people, and solve problems. When I was about 7, I started selling rocks. I dug interesting looking rocks out of the ground, polished them, and sold at a booth on the roadside, which looked like a lemonade stand. Read more>>

Falguni Patel | Portrait Photographer specialize in Maternity and Newborn

Everyone in this world is beautiful in their own way. Life throws lots of curve ball at us, lots of ups and downs. As a woman our body changes so much. From being beautiful young women to pregnant and from that to beautiful mother figure. We are strong, confident, powerful and empowering. Read more>>

Lauren Siviski | Founder

I grew up in a seaside village in CT with locally owned gift shops, bakeries and fish markets so small retail has always been in my heart. Shopping in those places always felt like pawing through a treasure trove. Read more>>

Kenzi McCullough | Designer + Creative

When I was first in college, my plan had been to get a background in business so I could then intern and learn the skills of an interior designer using a practical, hands-on approach while in school. Once I’d gotten my bachelor’s in business and some decent design experience under my belt, I’d start making moves to open my own firm. Read more>>

Najib Joe Hakim | Social Documentary and Art Photographer

When I was 30 years old and living in the DC suburbs, I bought a motorcycle and embarked on a solo journey across the country. This meandering road trip through the South and Southwest helped me realize we never really “arrive” in life, that we are always on a journey. So that is how I resolved to live my life. Read more>>

Melissa Stubbs | Captain, artist, photographer, registered nurse, life teacher

I wanted to work at a job or career that was what I love. I thought back to all the hopes, dreams, and ambition I had when I was younger before life left its residue and scars. When I was fresh, and full of hope and ideas. Before I understood the words, you cant, or you will never make a living at that. Read more>>

Elizabeth Rabago | Nail Tech & Beauty Aesthetics

I’ve always wanted to work for myself in a creative fashion and have a brand. I started doing nails in 2019 and fell in love with the creative process and versatility. I knew it was the path I wanted to pursue and that I needed to get my cosmetology license to begin. Read more>>

Kamaria Frazier | Women’s Clothing Store Owner

Different people have different interests in life. There are some people who like to work and manage things, and they are excellent at that. While there are another group of people who like the whole idea of creating something from scratch and watching it grow and provide value to people. I am of the second kind. Read more>>

Douglas Bell | Author & Publisher

Between 2018 and 2021, I wrote my first fiction novel. Writing my book, Cakewalk, was the easy part. Now I have to get work out into the world. Around the first part of 2021, I started pitching the novel to agents. I submitted my book to between 20 to 30 agents. I did not get any bites. Read more>>

Chelsea Palermo | Transformational Writing Guide, Usui Reiki Master & Somatic Attachment Therapist

When I began this journey, I did not know or expect the work to grow into what it has become today. The seeds of what would become the work I do, were planted when I was 9 years, and wrote my first journal entry. Read more>>

LaShawnda Ausbon | Spa Owner & Licensed Massage Therapist, CMLDT

My dad has been an entrepreneur most of my life and I love the fact that he was always able to be there for me and this is something that I knew would be a core value for me when I had children. To have autonomy over my time has always been my goal and being a business owner gives me that. Read more>>