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.

KatzWax

Honestly, when starting I didn’t have a plan of becoming a Wax Specialist. I knew I wanted to be a good one but also knew it was important to come up with a plan or there’s no other way. I really went based off of my own experiences. Being a woman in this society is hard. Feeling accepted & not judged is rare. I wanted to create a place where being a woman is just being a woman, where you feel like you’re going to go visit a friend. Read more>> 

Andrea Romero | Maker

I wanted to do something for myself while also bringing in a little bit of side money to support my family! Read more>>

Jacqueline Creeks | Career and Finance Consultant

My initial thought in starting my own business was to have something of my own and have something to leave for my children to carry on the legacy. The services I provide, resume writing, job search techniques and personal credit, I had been doing for many years for myself, my family and friends and with great success so I thought, I should do this as a business. In 2014, FIB Investments was founded and in 2022 an official LLC business. Read more>>

Amika & Salustiano Berrios | Licensed Real Estate Agents

We started a business together with the hopes of being able to spend more time together as a family. It is ridiculous that most of us spend more time with our colleagues than we do our own families. We knew that we wanted to prioritize our marriage and our children and that meant a huge sacrifice and leap of faith in beginning our own business so that we could put each other first. Read more>>

Briel Gorges Counts | MSN, RN- Nurse injector and Medspa owner

Starting my own business stemmed from a desire for autonomy and a passion to create something meaningful. I wanted to solve problems, pursue my interests, and have control over my work environment and direction. It’s about building something from scratch, leaving a mark, and embracing the challenges and rewards that come with entrepreneurship. The decision was also deeply rooted in a desire to transition from caring for the sick in the hospital to promoting prevention and holistic well-being. Read more>>

Esmeralda Guevara | Brazilian Waxer & Vajacial Specialist

The decision to start become a business owner wasn’t initially in my plans. I was content with being an employee and had not considered entrepreneurship. At all! However, when faced with challenges, I realized the depth of my knowledge and expertise. It became evident that being an employee didn’t limit my potential as a business owner; if anything, it highlighted my capabilities. This realization motivated me to take the leap and establish Waxing Chemistry. Read more>>

Alyssa, Kaiti Ferranti, Dixon | Handmade Hair Bows/Head Wraps and Custom Tees

We started our business as two stay-at-home mom friends looking for a creative outlet and a way to make some extra money. We never dreamed we would learn some of the things we have in this business. One skill we learned early on was sewing, which came in handy when COVID hit. We were able to sew cloth masks for our community and donate masks to local hospitals, doctor’s offices, schools, etc. It was amazing to see how our little “side hustle” could impact so many people in such a positive way. Read more>>

Rashell Merino | Lash Technician

The inspiration from my parents, who successfully run their own remodeling business, Merino Remodeling, played a significant role in my decision to start my own business. Witnessing their hard work and sacrifices, I understood the challenges and rewards of entrepreneurship. Their journey inspired me to create Casa De Lashes, where I could combine my love for beauty and detail with my desire to help others feel their best. Read more>>

Chloe Lampasas | Photographer and Creative Director

Ever since I was a little girl I’ve always been obsessed with creating and making up small businesses. Whether it was creating spa treatments, baking, painting, or even writing short stories, I would decorate a small space in my family’s living room and would make each of my family members come in and be my customers. I guess I’ve always been fascinated with creating my own business for something that I’m passionate about from a young age, thanks to the wonderful role model I have of a father. Read more>>

Meghan Coffey | Registered Dietitian Nutritionist & Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist

After ten years of practicing as a Registered Dietitian, I had gained valuable experience in many areas of the field. I found my passion lies in two vital areas of dietetics: sustainable weight loss and effective diabetes management. In 2022, I had earned my advanced practice credential as a Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist and that helped me gain more confidence working with that population I truly enjoyed. Read more>>

Laura Sanders | Financial Coach

I had the privilege of hearing about financial literacy while growing up. Even though I didn’t pay as much attention to it as I should have. In speaking to several people over the years I came to realize that my experience was not the norm. While doing some research I came to find that the Black American community spends the most on retail items of all demographics in the US on an annual basis. However, we have the lowest family wealth. This is a huge problem. Read more>>

Dr. Michelle Fennick | CEO, Executive Coach, Certified Life Coach, Keynote Speaker, & Entrepreneur

Starting my own business, Consult Dr. Michelle, LLC, was a decision born out of a desire to empower women by leveraging the skills and experiences I’ve accumulated over the past 30 years. Throughout my career in school leadership across the public, and private sectors, and higher education, I’ve gained a wealth of knowledge that I felt compelled to share. Moreover, my personal life experiences have equipped me with a unique perspective that I want to use to make a difference. Read more>>

Maxwell Linden | VP of Business Development at Media Payments Group

Credit/debit cards and advanced payment methods are accepted everywhere and aren’t going anywhere so I believe the payments industry is a great place to be. With that being said, this industry is flooded with similarities between groups and so I really wanted to provide something diffferent. Our approach was bringing media to payments. Hence our name, we provide omnichannel pos software and promotional opportunities for merchants as well as family-like support. Read more>>

Madison Nieberlein, PA-C | Plastic Surgery Physician Assistant & Advanced Aesthetic Injector

I wanted to create a concept that was organically my own in that it had the building blocks of the education I’ve had throughout my medical training. Aesthetics and injectables have become so popular and oversaturated it is hard to distinguish and differentiate yourself among the masses, especially in Houston. I wanted to create something that was centered around the principles of plastic surgery and create a concept that prioritizes safety and ethics, all the while creating natural-looking outcomes with our aesthetic treatments. Read more>>

Delila Castro | Founder – Marketing Director

The thought process behind creating Digital Dose Media was deeply rooted in our collective desire to be the help for others that we once needed. We all remember the challenges we faced when starting out and wanted to establish an agency that offers the resources and support necessary for others to succeed. Read more>>

Camille Davis | Entrepreneur, Real Estate Investor, Mom of 4, and Mentor

I didn’t start what I’m doing with a plan of starting a business. I found what I am doing first as an intrigue and then something that I found myself to be very good at. I honestly think that it was divinely placed in my life. I was someone who followed the process that we are all taught to follow of going to school to get a degree and changed my major many times not really knowing what I wanted to do or what I would be good at but then fell into nursing as it was the “best” fit from all of the choices that were offered. Read more>> 

Rachel Flowers | Houston-area Mom Blogger

I created my Instagram page initially to be able to find community in a way. I was a new stay-at-home-mom in a new town, and I had no friends in my area yet. I thought I could just be open and vulnerable on the internet and see what happened. As my page grew, so did my online friendships that I started forming with other moms all over the world. Even though I’ve never met many of them, they have made such an impact on my life. They helped me grow more confident in my motherhood journey, gave me great parenting advice, and most important were so encouraging and loving to me the whole time. Read more>>