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.

Katrina Johnson, Madelysse Arenas | Selfie Booth Rental & Event Planners

For years we have planned special occasions for family and friends, from birthdays and baby showers to bachelorettes and weddings. We both love watching all the details come together to make someone’s day special. So the idea to turn that passion into our very own business has come from the encouragement of those closest to us. Starting T & M Events has given us a space to continue having fun with creativity while getting to meet other locals and help bring their event ideas to life. Read more>>

Linda Bonner | Artist, Designer & Owner

I am the owner and creator at Linda Bonner Studios. I create distinctive, handcrafted note cards and gifts for businesses and individuals to help them connect and leave a lasting impression. I have been an entrepreneur for over 20 years and have had business ranging from scrapbooking to sewing and many things in between. My current business developed based on prior work experience, hobbies I’ve enjoyed over the years, and the search for my creative calling. I’ve had some wonderful experiences working for other business but have always felt my creative yearning. Read more>>

Ajia Newhouse | Photographer & Branding specialist

It was the only thing that made sense for me. Ive always had a camera and im the friend who documents literally everything and i always have since i was little. 12 years old making YouTube videos and editing on windows movie maker. I knew if there was i one business i could really thrive in and make money off of my craft would have to involve a camera. It’s just such a diverse field with such unlimited flexibility. The flexibility was most definitely something important just because i have a 4 year old daughter and we homeschool so i needed something that could bend around my already crazy schedule. Read more>>

Voule Walker | Photographer

I’ve worked in a variety of industries over the last decade, but have always felt a creative need in myself that wasn’t being met. Photography has been a love of mine since high school, and it felt like a natural choice to start my own business and bring my unique perspective to the world and capture important moments for others. Read more>>

Dana Foster | Laundry Pickup and Delivery Service

A little about me. I am Mama to four incredible children and two more babies that are with Jesus. I live in South Midlothian and have been in this area since 2013. I love the mountains! I could also go camping any time the weather is cool. I enjoy playing the piano and movie night and game night with my children. But I can honestly I say I never saw myself as an entrepreneur using laundry for the Kingdom of God. My journey includes years of struggle, hope, endurance and God surprising me at every turn. Let me start at the beginning. Read more>>

Paul Michel, CFP(R) | Founder & CEO

I started Provident Financial Planning in 2017 because I felt that clients were frustrated with the national firm I was with previously due to the boilerplate strategy and constraints on advice. It was like I was hosting a dinner and guest were leaving early! I believe that what clients want is holistic advice for all things financial. They also want a partner who can integrate wealth management, taxes and estate planning. Most clients play the role of quarterback between these three areas of their life, but what they need is for someone to lead them and maximize the efficiency between these areas. That’s what I set out to do by creating Provident Financial Planning and that’s how we currently serve clients; through our in-house JD, CPA, CFP(r) advisory team. Read more>>

Halo Toons | Cartoonist & Colorist

I think both Terry Parr and I have been wanting to create our own books and companies since we were kids. We just got more serious and focused on the business aspect when we met each other in the Artists Alley of the old Dallas Comic Con back in the early 2010’s. Sometimes you just know when there’s a spark, whether it be romantic or even project related. In our case, it was both. I figured that by combining our different art styles and skills, that we could handle bigger projects and more clients. So I guess it just kind of evolved from our love of art and the very real world need to keep food in the fridge. Read more>>

Erin Younger | Wedding Coordinator & Event Planner

I wanted to create something that was not only enjoyable for myself for but helpful for others. I am a future bride myself, so I totally get how frustrating the whole process can be. I also was done with working the corporate lifestyle, so I knew I had to make a change somehow. Read more>>

Kevin Chastain | Moving Company Owner

My thought process behind starting my own business was very simple. I absolutely love the moving industry and all aspects of it, from being hands on and actually doing the heavy lifting, to answering calls and booking jobs. Once I climbed up the ladder and became operations manager for a very successful moving company I decided it was time to dive head first into the creation of my own business. I spent every penny of my saving on my LLC, truck, licensing and permits. At the time i knew it was a huge risk, but I trusted in myself and my abilities. If I could change one thing I would have started sooner. Read more>>

Jaymie Tenpenny | Broker and Owner of Tenpenny Realty

I had already been in the real estate industry for over 12 years and had been working towards the next steps in my career at that time. I thought I had a plan in place. My plan was to eventually get a brokers license and continue my real estate career and path. Plans changed along the way. After reevaluating my life, career and priorities, I decided to take a leap of faith. I did get my brokers license, but also started a brokerage from ground up by myself. And since, have not looked back. Now we have an office building in the heart of Keller and have added several agents and are still growing. Read more>>

Jermelyn Murdock | Entrepreneur

Was working in local Emergency Room when the pandemic started, realized I needed to help my family, school children, and as many people as possible in my home country of Philippines. They got locked down tight, with no way to make a living, and no help from the local government. I began cooking in my home for friends, co-workers, and other members of the community. To my surprise, our local community supported me in a big way, and I was able to send thousands of dollars of food and school supplies to the Philippines. As the pandemic slowed down I realized this was indeed my true passion, and discussed the idea of building a commercial kitchen with my husband. Read more>>

Emily Watson | Entrepreneur

After I had my daughter, Clementine, I wanted to find a way to stay home with her. I quit my job as a family law paralegal and decided to start a business out of my house. I started “Clementine’s Closet,” a second-hand women’s clothing shop. I also like to use the terms “sustainable fashion.” I used Facebook and Instagram to sell my clothing. Both accounts grew fast. I basically sold everything out of my own closet at first. Once I received some funds from selling my own clothes, I made my way to local thrift stores to find more clothing to resell. I have always been an avid thrifter. There is no better feeling than finding a top-notch brand or extremely unique item for cheap. Read more>>

Care4Kiddos | Largest Youth-Led Global 501c3 Registered Nonprofit Combating Domestic Abuse

We founded Care4Kiddos with a vision to make a positive impact in our community by addressing the challenges faced by children and families dealing with domestic abuse. Our mission revolves around spreading awareness, hosting fundraisers, and advocating for policy reforms to support survivors. By collaborating with youth-led organizations and NGOs worldwide, we aim to create a global network dedicated to combating domestic violence and providing essential resources for survivors seeking help. Read more>>

Cooper Reed | Songwriter, guitar player Gold Ramble

I’ve worked at songwriting for nearly decades off and on. Played shows from 2009-2013 around Dallas, but other work took me away from songwriting for nearly a decade. I joined a band right before the pandemic that played covers and we played a few shows around DFW, and in 2021 I started writing again. I met Jordan Harper (rhythm guitar) in a local musicians Facebook group and sent him some demos and he responded enthusiastically so we decided to try to put together a full band and write more songs, play shows regularly, and eventually make a record (we’re in that process right now). Read more>>

Stacey Allen | Owner of Rose 32

I have always had a love for coffee, and more specifically craft coffee. I’ve worked in the restaurant industry all my life and I decided to combine my love for servitude and my love coffee and create a mobile coffee shop! Read more>>

Natalia Johnson | Travel Business Owner

I started “Chateau of Beautie Travel” after observing that many people traveled merely to escape their daily routines, often missing the deeper beauty and transformative power of travel. The business name signifies a place of luxury and beauty, mirroring our agency’s mission: to offer experiences that rejuvenate the soul. Our tagline, “Don’t travel to escape life – travel to regain a beautiful life,” encapsulates this. We focus on handpicked destinations and activities, ensuring that each one of our clients find inspiration, healing, and enrichment in their travel journeys. Read more>>

Stephanie McConnell | Creator of Principal Principles

My thought process behind starting Principal Principles was driven by my unwavering passion for empowering current and future school leaders to profoundly impact their schools. My business motto, “BECOME A BETTER LEADER AND CREATE POSITIVE RESULTS,” encapsulates the core philosophy that inspired this endeavor. Recognizing the vital role that educational leaders play in shaping the future, I felt compelled to provide them with the support, knowledge, and resources needed to transform their schools. Read more>>

Stephan Dean | Maker

My business would probably be nothing more than a hobby, if wages for my previous creative positions actually paid enough to survive. I would have gladly stayed a graphic design teacher or a graphic artist for a big print company if those companies paid me as a skilled valuable business teammate and not a cheap disposable tool. It should be no surprise that many skilled job positions such as graphic designers just don’t pay enough to survive on alone, and there is no shortage of skilled starving designers graduating from college every year. It was a hard hit when I realized my hard work, dedication and loyalty designing for a company wouldn’t be enough to survive, but If you can’t survive doing what you love for another company then do it for yourself. Read more>>