Are you thinking about starting a business? If so, we think you’ll enjoy reading about how these seasoned entrepreneurs thought about the question when they were in your shoes.

Liana Lauterbach | M.Ed.

I went to school to earn my Bachelors degree in Education and later, my Masters degree in Math Curriculum and Instruction. I had full intentions on being on the education route for my career. During my last summer before returning to teach my 4th year, the Lord had my heart troubled and spoke to me. My entire identity was based on the teacher that I was. He needed me alone. He needed to be Lord of my life. He needed me to glorify Him with my talents, not myself or the students in my school. Read more>>

Lendi Williams | Leatherworker, Potter

From as early as I can remember, I’ve always had a strong artistic drive. Starting my own small business came from a need to have an outlet for that and to supplement my income as a single mom. Read more>>

Relicia Morrison | Music Producer, Songwriter, & Independent Artist

The thought process behind starting IndieVation LLC was being a music producer independently for 8 years. The music industry is cut throat and oversaturated. It’s harder to be successful independently; I know this first hand. Within enduring the indie journey, I’ve come across a lot of other indie artists and musicians who bare the same struggles as well. The main issue with being independent is the lack of financial backing. I created IndieVation to BE that support that has been missing. It’s been a slow start but great things take time, especially when you are doing them right. Our goal is to raise money to essentially give it away to independents who are in the music, art, and gaming industries. There is so much talent within the arts but most will never break the surface because of a lack of materials, finances, and resources. We are striving to build a community and network that caters to the independent creators of these industries. Read more>>

Sam Montgomery Riley | Professional Piercer

I always wanted more from my environment. The shops i was in previously were like all of the shops id ever visited: they got the job done. However, it always felt very much like an old school idea of a tattoo shop. Clients would walk in, and immediately feel like a burden. Like they werent “cool enough” to be there. They would stumble over their words while the artists asked what brought them in—and i could FEEL their discomfort. Im super empathetic, and the feelings of others imprint on me. I wanted to create a place where EVERYONE felt like they belonged. Thats why we called it Elevated—because we wanted to Elevate the shop environment. Come out of the stone age. I wanted teachers, lawyers, doctors, children—everyone to feel right at home. It occurred to me that no where i went would provide to me what I wanted to offer my clients. So we decided to create it. Visually comforting, great customer service, and high quality everything. Exactly what our clients deserve, and the only thing Ill put my name on. Read more>>

 Erik Perez | Bartender / Entrepreneur

The thought process behind starting my own business stemmed from a combination of factors and experiences. Firstly, my extensive background in the restaurant industry, spanning over two decades, allowed me to accumulate a wealth of knowledge and expertise. As a bartender, I witnessed the aspirations and desires of my fellow bartenders to work private events and establish their own clientele. Read more>>

Tammie Smith | Digital Content Creator for MyAuraStyle LLC

I’m typically not one for New Year’s resolutions. But at the top of the year, I took an inventory into my life. I asked myself, “what dream have you been sitting on that you have yet to pursue?” Taking my talent for digital storytelling into the field of Content Creation is the mission that resonated with me. Read more>>

Kendall Sandlin | Cookie Co. Franchise Owner

We wanted to open a Cookie Co. Franchise because we love the product. Our cookies are made with real eggs, real sugar, real butter. When you come to Cookie Co. you are getting the most homemade cookie you can get. Cookie Co. offers a rotating menu with 3 weekly staples including chocolate chip, frosted sugar, and our gluten friendly Monster cookie. 3 other cookies rotate each week, so there are always 6 cookies to choose from and always something new! I wanted to open up a location in Frisco because this is my home town. I want to help people create memories with cookies! Read more>>

Dorie Kirk | Handmade Business Owner

On June 21, 2011 I lost my sweet 45 day old son, Kale. Within 4 weeks, I discovered I was pregnant again. Anxiety riddled me as I feared doing absolutely anything that would risk the life I was growing. My friend was selling a sewing machine for $20 she never used, and the rest is truly history. The first few months before the business started, it was just me, the machine and a belly kicking as the desk in front of me vibrated from the machine. It wasn’t until after successfully bringing that sweet life Earth side that I realized just what that sewing machine meant to me, and what it could bring me. Within months, I had friends and family begging me to make them their own baby gifts. By 2014, my CPA mom told me I’d have to go file for a business license because this was no longer just a hobby. I still remember how proud I was holding that DBA that said “The Baby Bird Boutique” and knowing “Baby Bird” was to remember my sweet Kale. Read more>>

Rashara McGill | Marketing and advertising

I want my own subscription service an I wanted females to be seen in a different light I wanted to make a change in the snack and tobacco industry Read more>>

Cynthia Gudiel | Founder

Higher education changed my life. I am the daughter of Mexican immigrants who did not have the opportunity to go to school beyond the 6th grade. My mom was never allowed to go to school at all, like not even kindergarten. My grandpa believed women belonged at home in the kitchen and helping take care of the home. My mother learned how to read from my father after getting married. Read more>>

Emilee Crowder | Anxiety & Trauma Therapist

Starting a private practice is a lot of work! Especially fresh out of grad school. There are so many plates to juggle (& first, learn about)—marketing & SEO, creating social media posts, tweaking my website, understanding tax laws, networking with other therapists…& of course, meeting with clients! It’s overwhelming work, creating the practice of my dreams. But it’s also such fulfilling work! I love getting to work for myself & I love being able to work with my ideal clients. Read more>>

Kathia Hernandez | Kat, Brow Artist & Waxing Specialist

The thought behind The Brow Bar Beauty Co. came from the love I had for brows and wanting to share my talent by enhancing others natural beauty, and why not do it by focusing on the frame of the face. One thing I have learned throughout this journey is that brows will either make you or break you. The “Beauty” in the The Brow Bar “Beauty Co. come in with the waxing side of the business, full body waxing is a big part of what we do, because by waxing our goal is to boost people’s confidence by making them feel more comfortable in their own skin. Read more>>

Trijanna Dejean | Caterer/ Dessert Candle Maker

I grew up around women that would cook for every occasion, and I loved standing in the kitchen and watching! I began cooking in Anchorage Alaska and opened Louisiana MD. A Cajun cafe. The world changed drastically with Covid hitting 6 months into the start of my new venture and I was forced to close my doors. I begin channeling my love for food into a passion I could make and sell from home that would be safe & not consumables due to the state of the world at that time. I started making dessert and food candles and started Tri Tri’s Candle Treats. I moved back home to Texas in 2021 and I became a vendor for the State Fair of Texas in 2022, I will be a returning vendor this year as well. Read more>>

LaToya Stevenson | Certified Confidence & Empowerment Coach

Starting my own business as a confidence and empowerment coach was a deeply personal decision rooted in my own experiences and a strong desire to make a positive impact in the lives of others. Throughout my childhood and adolescence, I struggled with insecurity and low self-confidence. I vividly remember the pain of feeling unworthy and unattractive, which impacted various aspects of my life. Read more>>

Hunter and Aubrey Bagwell | Owners of Black Sheep Mercantile

Hunter and Aubrey met back when they were juniors in high school. They both worked at a local feed store together and knew that they could make more money than $8.25 an hour while using the creative side of their brains. They painted projects here and there for close friends and family, but didn’t plan on launching a business until the summer after they graduated when they had a lot more free time on our hands. After seeing how much time they spent on one project and seeing the profit margin, Aubrey quit her job at the feed store and pursued furniture with all she had. Hunter continued working at the feed store while growing his own furniture painting business at the same time. They knew they would love to eventually join their businesses together, but planned to do that after graduating college and getting married. The pandemic caused Hunter to be let go, where he then pursued furniture full time and he hasn’t looked back since. They both pursued two seperate side businesses while obtaining their degrees and being in a long distance relationship. Aubrey went to Texas Tech University for a Business Administration degree and Hunter went to Sam Houston State University for his Agriculture Education degree. After graduation for them both, they said “I Do” in February 2023 and officially joined their businesses together creating Black Sheep Mercantile where they now reside in Keller, Texas and have been blessed to place pieces of furniture in homes all around the DFW area. Read more>>

Sarah Vanornum | Entrepreneur

In 2022, I remember hearing the word “YES” This year is a yes year. I remember telling myself, I am done having nothing, We were not poor, but our mindsets can be so poor. I said this year that if I want to see something different, I must make some changes. so that year, doors opened up, to sign up for a missions trip, which requires fundraising, and that’s how Stacked With Purpose started. But I have this ongoing thing in my heart, I always want to have my own thing, my own business, I am a homeschooling stay-at-home mom, and I am committed to that, but also I want to create something that has a purpose, that helps create solutions to problems. but also will bring some financial freedom, It took me some great years to surrender my thoughts and figure out what I like. But that year, I know, It is a shift. and When I was building this brand/business, mothers were among the things in my heart. I want them to know that It is possible. whether, they are single moms, working moms, or stay-at-home mothers like me. It is possible, Read more>>

Caren Nugent | Childbirth Educator & Birth, Bereavement, and Postpartum Doula

After the birth of my children, I realized that there was so much information about birth that just wasn’t known to “every day people”. I wanted to help educate expecting families on pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. Read more>>

Todd Stark | Custom Metal Fabrication

Some part of me always knew I would own a business one day. Growing up my father owned and operated a successful plumbing company along with Both grandfathers owning business. Read more>>

Shanon Murphy | Creative Director and Photographer

I feel like I’ve always been a creative person and in the beginning I was pursuing photography commercially specifically for business and advertising but as time wore on I wanted to branch out for myself an shoot the images that spoke to me so I felt going into business for myself was the best way to have creative control. Read more>>

Crystal Bateman | Owner of Crystal Layne Fashion

In the course of my management career, I’ve always enjoyed brightening up an employee’s day. Whether that meant, words of encouragement to the team, creating sales contests to get staff excited or just being a manager that made a positive impact on someone’s life. Majority of the jobs I worked were involved in upper management, but I can’t say I was given the same respect from all of the bosses I had. Being a good leader is not about using your power to your advantage, it means leading by example. Respect is not just given, it is earned. I would never ask an employee to do a task that I wouldn’t do myself. As a manager, I never felt above doing all aspects of a job in the workplace because everyone’s position is important to the entire success of the company. Sure, I was making an impact on a collection of people with this point of view, but I wanted to make a bigger difference to the masses. What better way to exercise these beliefs than to start your own business with incorporating what you love. Read more>>

Pierce Bailey | Owner of On Set Acting Studio & instructor

When it came to starting On Set Acting Studio, I truly wanted to create a space for young actors to have the resources such as auditioning for agents & working with professionals that have the experience in the industry. The mindset behind OSAS was we cater to young actors ages 6 years old all the way to 20 year olds wanting to take it to the next level and pursue this full time. Texas and specifically the Dallas/Ft.Worth area, has so much talent and many performers just don’t know how to get their foot in the door or what that next step is. OSAS strives to provide those resources to our students & help them be has prepared as possible for when the opportunity arises whether it be auditioning for an agent, commercials, TV Shows, or for movies. Our studio has even branched out and opened a vocal department to help the actors be well rounded and have an edge over others that are out their auditioning. Read more>>