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.

Elyse Stoltz Dickerson | CEO & Co-Founder

After leaving corporate America, my business partner and I wanted to start a business that met an under-addressed need in the market. I spoke to as many doctors as possible to see what unmet need was present, and a lot of the doctors were saying the same thing: ear care needed innovation. Read more>>

Taylor Todd | Equine Enthusiast & Boutique Owner

I’ve always wanted to pursue a career that combined all my interests. In college I was really wanting some sort of creative outlet. So, I thought for a while on what that could be. I love the western industry, horses, western fashion, and coming up with creative ideas, so wanting to start a boutique was a no brainer! I didn’t fully take the leap into being a business owner till this year after I left an office job. I took a leap of faith, quit my job, and I’ve never looked back! Read more>>

Alexander Serrano | Personal Trainer, Content Creator, & Business Owner

I realized I wanted to start my own business while I was in College. I got tired of working for others and training clients at different gyms all over DFW. Opening up my own personal training business after I graduated college was the best route for me because I could use my degree in Kinesiology to help lead others on their fitness journey, all while building my life and business the way I wanted to without having to answer to anyone. Read more>>

Rafael Koblence | Master Jeweler, RAFKA Jewelry

At first I never thought of founding RAFKA. It was actually my wife who encouraged me to make my extraordinary passion of designing one-of-a-kind pieces into a business. Together we imagined that with our own business not only would I have the freedom to express my creative side, but also I would fulfill my dream of bringing back the craftsmanship of yesterday in tandem with modern-day cutting-edge technology in order to create the perfect piece of jewelry. Read more>>

Rida Jailani | Dallas Photographer

When I first started taking photos as a hobby, it didn’t initially occur to me that I could turn my passion into a business. After posting photos of my creative work consistently on my photography Instagram account, people from school and local DFW photographers started to follow my account. Many of my friends started to ask me to take their senior photos, and in May 2021, I did my very first paid shoot. Read more>>

Christie Parks | Certified Registered Nurse Anesthesiologist & Certified Online Fitness and Nutrition Coach

I have been on a mission to reach and inspire adults since my own transformation journey occurred just over 3 years ago. After two difficult pregnancies, each with multiple hospital admissions, bedrest, and many postpartum complications after the children were born, I found myself severely depressed, overweight, and feeling lost. As a lifetime athlete, not being in my usual fitness routine affecting me deeply and extremely personally. I had been pouring into my family and my children for so long, Read more>>

Megan Ryan | Independent Travel Agent w/ The Enchanted Traveler

Five years ago, I was just a teacher with a dream to get back into the travel business (I am a former flight attendant) and make a little more money to support my family, while helping others. My family had been to Walt Disney World quite a few times and friends and family knew that if they wanted help, good advice and real recommendations for planning their Disney trips, I was the girl to go to. Read more>>

Tarnesha & Malcolm Miller | Wedding Planner/Coordinator & Officiant

Tarr Bridal is derived from our personal experience with planning family events and from planning our own wedding. We understand that planning a wedding can be overwhelming. Your engagement should be a time of celebrating the journey of entering a new chapter of your life – marriage. It is often hard for the bride and groom to enjoy their engagement because of the stress of planning their wedding. Read more>>

Jazmine Johnson | Florist

Before I started my business, I’ve always enjoyed flowers, fashion and art. One day I just told myself that being a florist is a creative expression that I wanted to try. After my birthday I just made that move and gave it a try. I didn’t really have a process I just knew I could do it and made it happen. Read more>>

Vianne Jennings | Bookkeeper and Accountant Research and Developer

My thought process for starting my business was I saw the need. There are a lot of small to medium size businesses that need help with their accounting and research and development, but can’t afford to hire a full time accountant or don’t really need a full accountant. Nevertheless, they need an accountant or bookkeeper. Sure they could try and hire a Certified Public Accountant but cost would drive them out of business within months of paying a CPA. Read more>>

Tania Hurtado | DFW Balloon Artist

Before I started TaysBalloons, I was working a normal 9-5 job. Our family was growing, so we took a risk and decided it was best for all of us, to be a stay at home mom. I’ve always had a passion to decorate and setup for family parties. What first started as a small side job with my balloon garlands, soon then became a full time job. I had the mentality that I had to somehow provide for my family so I could be a full time mom to my kids. I have been blessed and fortunate to have the support of my husband and family to keep my business striving. Read more>>

Holly Blank | Registered Dental Hygienist, US Navy Veteran, Owner of SmileGlamByHolly, Owner of Kharma Lifestyle And Clothing, Founder of Beauties In Business

I am the Brand Owner of 2 businesses. SmileGlamByHolly is my baby it is my first business and has allowed me to marry my passion for beautiful smiles as a dental hygienist with over 15 years in dentistry to now assisting clients with achieving that as a teeth whitening technician and tooth gem artist. My mission for Smile Glam By Holly is to assist my clients with achieving their desired Glamorous Smile by providing high-quality and effective laser teeth whitening services, Read more>>

Claire Crowe | Founder, Claire Crowe Collection

I was inspired to create something original and compelling for my own home, and I saw a need for custom fireplace screens in the market. My mission was to create artisan metalwork designs for the home inspired by the enduring expressions of nature and the inherent beauty of metals. I had a goal to create a collection that honors nature’s most exquisite forms: butterflies; insects; and quirky earthly shapes such as a curled leaf or a speckled egg. Read more>>

Greg Ferguson | Owner of Cedar Hill Market

Well, that is an interesting question! I used to work for Pandora Jewelry as a regional manager and every week I was on a plane going somewhere. Just over two years ago I decided the travel was just too much. I wanted to be home. The original plan was to focus on our other store, Decor On The Hill. The dream (uh, fantasy!) was to work 2-4 days a week at Decor On The Hill with remaining time spent on back office, social media, and such. Then, in a couple of years once redevelopment of the old lumber yard across from us was complete, we would open a second store…AKA Cedar Hill Market…or something similar. Read more>>

Estella Martinez | Dog Sitter & Wedding Dog Attendant

I worked for a company for over 17 years prior to being let go 1 month into the pandemic. Right about this time my dad starting drastically declining in health, he suffered from Alzheimers. I became his main caregiver assisted by my husband, my brother and my sister-in-law. The time spent caring for dad was a honor. My dad is the reason I have such a strong love for all living creatures and especially dogs. Dad always showed compassion and kindness towards all dogs especially strays, and I as a little girl followed his footsteps. Read more>>

Katheryn Mojica | Balloon artist & event coordinator

Growing up, I always felt I was meant for more than just a regular every day job. I never knew what it was or what it would end up being, I just always had this feeling of being meant for more. My boyfriend and I had just moved into our new home October of 2020. The first holiday coming up was Valentine’s Day so I started looking at ideas on how I can decorate our house to surprise him. I immediately went to Pinterest and looked up “easy balloon ideas”. Read more>>

Stephanie Taylor | entrepreneur/stay at home mom

My thought process behind starting my own business was wanting to make something people could enjoy and make them feel pampered. I love to hear that my product(s) made them happy and they know exactly what ingredients are in them and made their skin feel awesome! Read more>>

Brittany Ward | Event Stylist

I started contemplating starting my own business as a result of a few different factors. I’ve always liked the idea of entrepreneurship, but wasn’t quite sure which direction I wanted to take. In 2020, I was furloughed from my job due to mandated COVID shutdowns. During my break, I graduated college with a BBA in marketing & management. This gave me inspiration to start exploring other routes for my career to progress. The business idea itself really just fell into my lap when a dear friend of mine had her baby shower cancelled, also due to the mandated COVID shutdowns. Read more>>