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.

Vic Barnes | Photographer/Videographer

My initial thought process was mainly just pursuing my creative urges and helping my friends through videography & photography. With a growing family and an increase in my skill set, that pursuit led me towards more monetary based efforts and projects. Read more>>

Jahnya Barnett | CEO of Froition/Singer Songwriter

I wanted to help people learn how to take care of their hair, especially those who were just starting their transition from chemically treated hair. I knew I could use my journey to assist others. I was encouraged by many to start a hair care line and I figured well, why not give it a try. Read more>>

Amy McAdams-Gonzales | Co-Owner

My husband, and now business partner, met at work over 20 years ago. He’s a writer. I’m a designer. After spending years working separately (Matt in journalism and then at local agencies and me running my own freelance graphic design business), we felt it was time to give it a go on our own. We’d always enjoyed whenever we were able to collaborate on creative projects and thought, given our complimentary skillsets, we could make a living doing good work for good people (and make a few new friends along the way). In January 2018 we launched Matinee Creative. Read more>>

Alejandra Torres | Writing & Editing Expert

To me, my business concept and writing skill has always been about empowering people. Since the day I entered the workforce, I’ve witnessed my peers struggle to show their value and articulate their ideas in writing. It’s a challenge for them. And many times, a huge obstacle in their career or business progression. But lack of good writing in no way defines their skills, expertise, knowledge, experiences, and potential—yet it is a way that documents it. Read more>>

Tamany Hall | Founder of The Simple Touches: Lead Generation Specialist for REALTORS®

I’ve always been very entrepreneurial and money-driven thanks to my dad’s influence. That being said, I’d wanted to be a teacher since I was in Elementary School. I went to UC Irvine to be a math teacher and taught 8th grade for 6 years. In 2020, I was coaching middle school teachers in Bogotá, Colombia when my dad was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s Disease. After much thought,  Read more>>

Alexia Dillard | Administrative Specialist, Student, & Small Business Owner

The thought behind starting my own business was to begin creating multiple sources of income for myself. I wanted to have multiple sources of income because it aides my bigger goal of having financial freedom. I wanted something for my little sister and future kids to look up to and aspire for themselves one day. I hope to be able to show my little sister and future kids different world experiences by using the extra money that my business brings in. Read more>>

Morgan Olson | Wedding Coordinator

Pursuing my passion for wedding coordination first started with wanting to apply my organization skills, love for planning, and building friendships with new people. This passion was the driving force behind my decision to start a wedding coordinating business. Since I was 13 years old, I knew I wanted to be some sort of event planner, but it wasn’t until I witnessed a friend coordinate a wedding that I felt it was something I could do. Read more>>

Mariah Massey | Spray Tan Artist | Fashion & Travel Influencer | Marketing Operations

I have always been one to think of an idea and go for it. I love always being busy, and on the go, so I knew I could handle working after getting off of work from my full-time job. With mobile spray tanning, I knew I was moving to a smaller town outside of the city and knew there was no competition with other businesses. I just had a great feeling it would succeed in the small town. Read more>>

Dennise Babiche | HMUA – Hair and Makeup Artist

I have been in the industry for over 10 years. I was 15 years old when I had the opportunity to do my first bridal makeup. I was the go to person in my group of friends, that would glam everyone up before a night out. In college my friends called my dorm “Salon de Babiche”. I freelanced for majority of my time in the industry, but in 2019 I wanted to dedicate myself more to my career as a makeup artist. Read more>>

Curt Smith | Owner/CEO

After spending years working for corporate company, I seen a need to do something in the community and seen the value. Careful consideration on kicking it off studying everything in the music industry, artists, recordings, studios, venues, agents, I quickly saw the vision. The goal is and was to give local artists a local lower cost and less stressful company to work with. Read more>>

Debria Seabrook | North Texas Realtor & Corporate America

My thought process behind starting my own business as a realtor was to get my license, with a great brokerage, find my niche which is First Time Homebuyers, and learn all I can about down-payment assistance programs. I wanted to become a Realtor to not only help my family but to be able to help people to manifest their dreams of becoming home owners. Read more>>

Ashley Saylor | Owner of Texas Beauties Boutique, LLC

Texas Beauties Boutique started in 2019 and has taken on several transformations along the way. We first started out as a successful online facebook group in the makeup industry and that was fun but the entrepreneur heart of mine wanted to do more. I thought to myself, “I’m already one foot in the door of owning my very own business, why not go in 100%?” From there, Texas Beauties Boutique turned into an online clothing store with all the cute brands, Read more>>

Becky Miller | DonutNV DFW North

We wanted to start a business that brought joy to our community! We loved the idea of creating unique, happy memories and ‘manufacturing smiles’ with our mini donuts. Every time we serve a hot, fresh donut, we love seeing people react as they taste the first bite. It’s amazing to see them turn to their friends and laugh while they enjoy the custom flavors. It’s impossible to frown while eating a mini donut topped with Oreo, fruity pebbles or lucky charms. We are grateful to be fulfilling our mission of spreading joy in our community, with donuts! Read more>>

Joanna Rattan | Certified Balloon Artist

As a child I have always had a creative soul. First I wanted to be a fashion designer, interior designer or landscaper but for my father these careers futureless. That being said I went to collage to become an ESL teacher and gave a “safe” career. I enjoyed teaching but after 14 years I just couldn’t do it anymore. So I had a crazy idea to open a party shop. Read more>>

Ashlightstar M | Psychic Channel

When I would dread going to my previous employment I always had in the back of my mind that I could do something on my own that would be more fulfilling. It wasn’t until that I was looked over for a position that would have greatly expanded my career that I decided to bet on myself. If I was willing to always pass over my own potential, others would be too. Thus, i decided to take my destiny into my own hands and see what happens. Read more>>

Jason McLain | Sales rep and installer

I worked for Fastsigns in Lewisville from 2004-2018, my owner sold the store to a new owner, and we did not see eye to eye on things and I decided I wanted to do my own thing and here we are. Read more>>

Megan Haupert | BCBA, LBA

Sure! I began my career as a Special Education Teacher, and upon the first few years of teaching I really felt myself drawn to working with children on the autism spectrum. I also would spend my evenings and weekends working with a little boy who had autism in his home providing behavior interventions, known as ABA Therapy, or Applied Behavior Analysis. Read more>>

Nora Schreiber | Artist & Executive Director, Worthy Ones Inc

I have two great passions in life, art and helping my community. Both began at an early age. My father was an artist and always encouraged me to create and make my life about being a working artist. My mother implored me to be a creature for helping the world be a better place. I have spent my life working towards inventing means for me to conquer both of these goals. Read more>>

Eryka Thompson | Social Media & Marketing Professional

I always knew I would be an entrepreneur, but when it came to the specifics of the business I would start, social media and marketing seemed like a no brainer. I majored in public relations and decided after some time in the field, I’d start a PR firm. But my last couple semesters of college, I got to take classes on social media and best practices for marketing and I fell in love. Read more>>

Teenia Brown | Newborn Specialist

I have been in this field for over 10 years. I already knew how helpful I could be to babies and families who needed it. But enlisting the team we have, insured we could also streamline the business side from an employee and customer perspective. We are dedicated to helping families create healthy sleep habits, for children of all ages. Read more>>

 David Reid | Commercial Real Estate Attorney

I am a commercial real estate lawyer that works on transactions. I spend my day preparing and negotiating contracts. I spent fifteen years as a lawyer at a large law firm, with 8 of those years as a partner. I had a great experience and worked with many excellent lawyers and clients. However, large law firms are geared more and more to serving very large institutional clients. Read more>>

Elijah Lewis | Pro Makeup Artist & business owner

The beginning of my brand really started before I even knew what I wanted to do with my life. For a while I wanted to have my own Real Estate Agency, then I wanted to have my own Law Firm. And though the type of business has changed through the years, my vision for its standards never has. I knew from the beginning how I wanted to operate. And how I wanted others to view what I do and what I’ve built as an example, not a deterrent. Read more>>

Brandon Emmitt | Chef/Owner

After being in the business for a few years at the time. I noticed working with a lot of cooks, chefs, and managers didn’t care about the job. They were lazy and had no directions or vision. Many of my former managers & chefs would be in the office playing on the internet during our shift’s busiest time. Read more>>

Ashley Morgan | Founder of Lotus Bliss Botanicals & Herbalist

My thought process behind starting my own business was that I can make more of an impact on my career by doing things I am passionate about and still succeed. Before starting my own business, I thought about my previous role, the environment I worked in, and how my role affected me outside of work. Read more>>

John Humphreys | Restaurant Entrepreneur

My wife and I have a combined 29 years of service in the military. That servant leadership model provided focus for what came after the uniforms and salutes. We wanted the opportunity to bring home some of the wonderful experiences we enjoyed around the world. Case and point is offering a British gastropub that offers many authentic dishes and beverages.  Read more>>

Tiana Tranowicz | Owner- Tranowicz Notary Services LLC

I’ve always had the dream of becoming an entrepreneur, but until recently, I couldn’t pinpoint the perfect venture for me. Witnessing the joy and freedom experienced by those who owned their own businesses only fueled my desire to pave my way on a similar path. However, when my family relocated from New York to Texas due to my husband’s job, I found myself having to leave my area of project management behind. It was during this transitional phase that I realized it was the ideal moment to explore my entrepreneurial aspirations and start my very own “side hustle.” Read more>>

Andi Biggins | Kpop Event Promoter & Small Business Owner

When I first thought of The Mikrokosmos Project (MKP), I intended it to be a global music collective of BTS/kpop fans. It was a way for fans to express their love for the music and reach each other through something we all share despite our vast differences. That’s what drew me into the kpop community; that countless different people’s can share one love for something simply because it made them happy. Read more>>

Ashli Harper | Interior Decorator/ Interior Pillows Decor

I decided to start my own business to have the freedom to do what I love and improve myself in the process. Pursuing my dreams was the best decision to provide for my family and I. Read more>>

Oyindamola Honey” Apanpa | CEO/Founder of Honey’s Scented Company LLC”

I am Oyindamola, my name means Honey mixed with Wealth, but I am popularly called Honey and that is where the Honey part of my business name came from. I have always been an entrepreneur from the young age of 19. I have successfully started and ran a few businesses in the past, ranging from fashion boutique, gift servicing, event planning to food/catering business and now to candle & scented company. Read more>>