Starting and growing a business is hard, but often deciding to start the business in the first place is even harder. We asked some successful entrepreneurs from around the community to open up to us about how they thought about starting a business.

Joanna Y | LMT

The process of starting my own business was kind of organically done. I had always worked for some sort of business where I clocked in and out and I knew I didn’t want to continue with what I was doing. I had always joked that I should open a convenient convenient store, where people could just drive up and get milk and bread while their babies slept but that didn’t seem feasible. Read more>>

Conscious Queen | Student astrologer; Nail tech student; entry level tarot reader

Well Consciousness is a term that includes the mind. Consciousnails is a name under my brand Conscious Queen, and a part of the beginning of my consciousness was being aware that I needed to start my own business. Read more>>

Jessica Johnson | Crafter

My thought process behind starting my own business was simple. I just wanted to wake up every day, doing something I loved. I was already creating and decorating parties for friends and family just for fun. So, I thought why not turn this into a business.  Read more>>

Rob Huff | Creative Juice Squeezer

At the time, I was working with a company at the time overseeing their marketing. What seemed common place was slow response to the needs we had and not always listening to what we were saying or our overall goals. And, I saw they were making a mint doing a poor job. Read more>>

Lexus Garmon | Beauty

Upon creating H.E.A.T Collection by Lex it took so much time behind the senses. I wanted my business to stand out from others, attract the appropriate target audience, all while serving a purpose to the customers. I originally only wanted to sale mink strips, however I started to pursue more over time. Read more>>

Lauren Nichols | Wedding & Lifestyle Photographer

I picked up a camera at the age of 13, unaware of all of the creativity that would come out of something that started as taking pictures of the flowers in my backyard and would later become something I am so passionate about. Read more>>

Kenneth Woods | Spoken Word Artist, Writer, & Photographer

My thought process behind starting my business was quite simple. It happened organically. I wrote my first poem in 2008 and started performing at different places in Louisville, Kentucky in 2011. Read more>>

Drop Dead Dangerous | Band

I have always known I want to sing. As far back as I can remember, it is all I have wanted to do! Then came the guitar and songwriting and I fell in love with all of it. It seems to do this full time you have to own your own business and it beats punching a time clock! Read more>>

Yolanda Crump | Host/Emcee/Moderator/Red Carpet Correspondent

Launching my own business was fueled by the desire to flourish and fulfill my potential, aligning with my purpose. It stems from recognizing the innate power within me, acknowledging that I have the capability to craft the life I envision. Read more>>

Ashia Hardaway | Creative, Independent Bartender, Content Creator

My initial feeling was fear. I was anxious about potential judgment, concerned about success, and apprehensive about failure. Interestingly enough, my biggest fear is failing. It did not take very long for me to realize that I was looking at the glass half empty. Read more>> 

Brooke O’Dell | Chief Sprinkle Office

I have always been a creative and found ways to make money with that gift since I was little. I was selling handmade earrings in bulk by second grade. I worked in the corporate world before having children but felt a longing for more.  Read more>>

Maria Hoskins | Children’s Book Author

I did not want to be a one book author, so from the onsite, I decided to establish a independent publishing company, C&V 4 Seasons Publishing. I established C&V 4 Seasons Publishing in December 2014. Read more>>

Brian and Morgan Aiello | Owners

For Onium our goal has always been to create a quality product that the blue collar worker can afford. Prior to starting Onium we were always racing at the track and costs quickly add up in a family of five. We took our time (over a year) to talk with manufacturers to ensure they could provide us what we knew the motorcycle community needed. Read more>>

Debz and DJ Pete Perez | Owners, Sandcastle Radio

We started Sandcastle Radio in 2022 to meet what we saw as a need for high-quality, independent, global radio programming in music and entertainment, to promote and support independent artists, and to change an industry norm by paying our DJs! Read more>>

Erin Albright | Calligrapher & Mom

I actually kind of fell into it. I had been donating signs and lettering classes for local charities. Then people wanted to buy the things I made! Read more>>

Michele Boyette Allyson WIlcox | Co-owners/creators of Gameday Graduate

Gameday Graduate was created by two stay at home moms who became empty nesters at the same time. We have 5 boys between the two of us and they are scattered at different colleges – none of which are our alma maters. We needed gameday apparel specific to each school and we wanted something fresh that wasn’t on the market. Read more>>

Isaiah Thomas | Author • Skills Coach • Entrepreneur

I started my own business in the name of freedom. There is something special to see a goal being fulfilled doing what you love. In my circles, I would consistently see people become burnt out, attempting an unachievable goal to find happiness in a 9-5 framework that they didn’t like. Read more>>

Paul Perry | Tattooer/business Owner & Realtor

I have always been a go getter and always admired others who were doing well so I set goals for myself to accomplish. Starting the business just took a lot of lost hours with loved ones , long days and nights , so I had to achieve that goal I set for myself. Read more>>

Krissy Burch Autumn Suter | Co-Owners at RYE The Label

At RYE The Label, our journey began from a simple yet relatable experience. While shopping with our husbands, we noticed a common complaint – the lack of comfortable spaces for them to relax and enjoy the experience. It sparked the idea to create a shopping destination that catered not only to the fashion needs of women but also to the comfort and enjoyment of their companions. Read more>>

Ace mccain aka Cainvstheworld | Artist A&R and manager to some the best creatives in the industry

I wanted to stand out from the normal you get so tired of helping others build just there dreams that sometimes you forget even yours are bright or even brighter sometimes gotta listen to that and take the risk the gamble always worth it and that’s definitely what business is pertanges branding and more as well strategic well being. Read more>>

Haley Roksandich | Owner & Photographer of Haley Katherine Photography, LLC

I think I’ve always had an entrepreneurial mindset. I get it honestly from my father. Growing up, I never knew what career path I wanted to take and never saw myself as a “career driven” woman. All I knew was I wanted to be happy in the career field I worked in. Read more>>

Taneisha Horton | Photographer

From just a little girl I always loved being in front or behind the camera so I never was a stranger to it. It wasn’t until 2018 when I had my last child, I felt drawn to turn photography into ministry. Read more>>

Chrystal Norwood | Fashion Model and Life Coach

My thought process behind starting own business was doubt at first. Fear and doubt are two things that hender someone from truly believing in themselves. Once I gained the courage and confidence needed, I took the leap of faith and prayed while taking the first step to starting my business. Read more>>

Kim West | Kim West – Creator & Nonprofit Professional; KT Morgan – Creator & Event/Branding Specialist

Geaux Home was created with culture and creativity in mind. While living in New Orleans we loved the fact that everything was celebrated; every day was a party! From the food, parades, sports events…even home-going celebrations, every thing was observed in a unique and beautiful way. Read more>> 

Marissa Jackson | Co-Founder of Cashville Jeep Crew

In this terms it would be “Jeep Club”. The thought process behind starting Cashville Jeep Crew was to get with like-minded people who also loved and adored their Jeeps. We all have genuine relationships with each other and motivate one another in all aspects of life. We understand each other and our response is always “Its a Jeep Thing!” Read more>>

Heather Boddie | Makeup Artist

The thought process behind starting Flawlessly Fierce Makeup by Heather B was to enhance the natural beauty of women and empower them to embrace their most confident selves. When establishing my business, I adopted a minimalist mindset, focusing on the essence of simplicity—keeping things classic, timeless, and incorporating only what is essential.  Read more>>

Queen- Valencia Zulu | Founder

WAPBRUNCH was birthed to promote more collaboration over competition bringing sisterhood back into our community, and to also combat the many limited opportunities Black women face on a daily basis. Read more>>

Charles Humphrey III | Fly Fishing Charter Owner, Songwriter, & Bluegrass Musician

Beast Coast Anglers llc was formed as a result of my love of fly fishing. I started fly fishing over 30 years ago as a teenager in Greenville, NC. I have lived in Asheville, NC since 1999 and been fishing the trout streams in Western NC, Tennessee, and North Georgia as often as I can. Read more>>

Juan Carpio | Industrial engineer and business owner.

As music enthusiasts and proud Venezuelans, our primary motivation in starting our company was to establish a platform that could bridge the gap between the rich Caribbean culture and the American culture. We aimed to achieve this through music, with a particular focus on house music. Read more>>