Starting a business is a commitment and requires dedication, resources and sacrifice. We asked some of the rising stars in our community how they thought through the idea of starting their own businesses.

Cindy Newton | She-O and Owner of Chica Power Fitness and Nutrition

Having been a social worker for over 20 years, I knew mental health and fitness went hand in hand. 13 years ago I became a Zumba instructor and fell in love with what dancing and fitness could do to mental wellness. I started my weight loss journey during that time, and over the years began to get educated on nutrition and what that can do for mental health and wellness. Read more>>

David and Katherine Roman | Owners of The Romans Shop

Our thought process behind staring The Roman Shop stemmed from the fact that David and I have always loved building/making things together, we also love making handmade gifts for our loved ones and personalizing it so that it has a sentimental value to it, so naturally when we began The Romans Shop we incorporated this into our business. We loved the idea that we could create beautiful items for others while spending time together. Read more>>

Christen Kinard | Founder, Digital Congregations

I have been in marketing and communications for well over a decade. And both of my parents are also ministers, so I know the American Church well. When it became clear that few communications experts were coming alongside churches as they figured out how to do digital ministry, I decided to quit my job and launch Digital Congregations. Read more>>

Tricia Gagnon, LPC-S | Owner & Clinical Director

For many years I had been a solo therapist in private practice and I had a small, steady stream of clients that I loved working with. As my children grew, I was able to take on more clients so I started accepting insurance. In a short while, I was overwhelmed with clients and referrals (a really good thing!). I think many clients come to our practice for our judgment-free zone and our expertise in working with all kinds of trauma, relationship issues, anxiety & depression in a mindful way. Read more>>

Hailey Corton | Licensed Medical Massage Therapist & Pain Management Specialist

Professionally speaking, I felt that no matter who I worked for – and I have worked at some rather reputable places – I wasn’t truly fulfilled. My passion is to help people, see them overcome pain and return to living their lives and I couldn’t do it anywhere I worked, effectively. A few years prior to the pandemic I was working at an integrative care department within a network of AHN hospitals. Seeing some of the conditions that these patients were presenting at our office I knew I needed to explore massage therapy through a clinical lens. ‘There has to be more to offer than what I currently provide here at the hospital,’ I thought. Read more>>

Rachel Tims | Real Estate Agent

I wanted financial freedom and to be in control of my days. I wanted flexibility in my daily life to enjoy my family and pursue other interests. Read more>>

Rocio Vilchez | Owner

The thought part was no having clients to start with and nobody knew us. Read more>>

Jon Harding | Tattooer

When I first started apprenticing and tattooing the industry was very different. For most tattooers the goal was to find a busy shop and settle down. Instagram just became a thing my first year in tattooing and I realized the power of marketing through social media. Socials allowed me to stay busy and not depend on a shops reputation or clients in order for me to work. Because of that, it just made sense to me, to branch out and do my own thing. Read more>>

Kanan Shah | Tutor & Founder of Learning Center

The thought of starting my company “Ottimmo” in 2010 stemmed from the need for effective tutoring for my son Kavi, who wanted to join KD classes for SAT preparation. Having worked and evaluated the different coaching classes, I decided to hire private tutors under my own company to have my son tutored at home. Kavi ended up getting a perfect score of 2400 out of 2400 in SAT. Read more>>

Melissa Johnson | Baker & Dessert shop owner

My thought process behind starting my own business was, Believing that having my own would allow me to create my own. I needed to change the idea of what an successful career looked like for a black women like myself. I wanted to create my own YES’s in a structured world full of NO’s. Read more>>

SiseneG | Owner

Stick With Love Yard Cards is a yard card sign business. We stick our customers greeting in the grass to help them celebrate with a blast! We service Alachua, Gainesville, High Springs, LaCrosse & Newberry, Florida. The idea for the business was birthed in June of 2020 during a time when the world needed a little extra love the most. We help or customers spread love to those they hold dear. By we I mean me the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, because currently it’s just me! My mom helps with me pickups when needed. Read more>>

Malarene Porchia | Braider

My thought process behind starting StyleByMal was “God blessed me with gifted hands so I’m going to take advantage of it”. I remember losing my job then things slowly start going downhill. I was evicted, my children and I were sleeping in the car so I decided to be a mobile braider during my babies school hours. I was already braiding hair here and there before I lost my apartment but I wasn’t confident enough to braid full time. God has his way of teaching us things, everything happens for a reason. I now braid hair from home and I love it. I love making people happy and making them feel even more beautiful than they are. Read more>>

Matt Waggoner | Dog Trainer

I was a vet tech in my late 20’s which was my first paying job that involved animals. I had a team of sled dogs in Colorado when I turned 30. I watched how Huskies interacted in a pack, and I started understanding how their hierarchy works. I knew I could never work a “real job “ again after having a team of sled dogs. I worked at a Petco in Albuquerque training dogs for a stint, and then started Wagg the Dog Trainer in Texas late 2015. Read more>>

Marla Howard | Travel Business owner for 28 years

I just had my second child and wanted to work from home. This was in 1994 and it was not the norm but I really wanted to available for my girls yet still make a full time salary. I was, and still am, in the travel industry. The fact that I could take care of clients over the phone allowed for the possibility of making this happen. I chose not to think of all the reasons that this may not work and try to make it happen. Read more>>

Ashley Wolfe | The Mom Walk Co Ambassador & Mom

Being a stay at home mom is so rewarding but can be incredibly lonely. Especially if you don’t have family around or friends. I wanted to create a safe environment for moms to get together with their children, feel loved and connected. I saw a mom in Orange County create a walk for moms in her area and had such positive feedback. I knew DFW moms needed something similar. Read more>>

Dr. Teresa Moore | Mental Health Therapist, Author & Event Host

Growing up in a poverty stricken area where the success rate was limited, I wanted to be to others what I needed in my life. I become an agent of change to help others be mentally healthy, happy and whole. Read more>>

Christy Sprowl | Founder-Owner

I have always wanted to own my own company since I was in high school. I never knew exactly what kind of business it was going to be. I was letting life take me as I was living it. Fast forward to me being 23 and bartending at a place I knew I didn’t want to be forever, I have an itch to bartend weddings and other special events. Friday nights we had a DJ come in to do karaoke, and I knew he Dj’d weddings a lot. So, I asked him how I could get into doing them myself. He gave me a little run down. After I closed the bar that night I went home and did some research and come to find out I could just start with just working off of my TABC certificate. That night I decided to order business cards. Read more>>

Krysta Seals | Ultrasound Technician

I have been an ultrasound technician for years and worked in very busy clinics until we moved to Haslet. I decided to stay home with my kids for a few years and when I was ready to go back to go back to work I started thinking about how we do not have a location to do Ob ultrasounds in my city. I had used mobile equipment before and loved doing my friends gender reveals on my couch. Then the idea for Let’s See Baby Ultrasound was born. Read more>>

Anamaris Cousins Price | Chef & Owner

Bringing people together around food. That was my main thought when I started imagining Secreto. I kept remembering the elaborate dinner parties my mom would put together and thinking about how much fun she had with it and how much joy it brought to those invited and I wanted to feel the same and help others feel that joy too. Read more>>

Kennedy Christopher | Cosmetologist

My thought process of starting my own business was really random. I randomly woke up one day and was like I am NEVER working for anyone else again! Read more>>

Raelon Moore | Cosmetologist and Podcaster

My thought process behind starting my own business was to bring all the ideas that I have into real life. I don’t think I actually thought “ok, i’m going to start my own business,” but more so had the mindset of, “ I love this idea, how can I make it real.” Read more>>

Tim Champion | SDVOSB (Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business)

After serving the ARMY for 7 years I felt confident I wanted to own my own construction company like my father did while growing up. Pick up where he left off before his illness made us close up shop. My father was my Mr. Miyagi he would have me go work with him and before I knew it I he had passed down all his skills. After the ARMY I wanted to use my new and old skills. So I decided to use my benefits and go to college to get my business degree. Going to school was a good transition for me after my honorable discharge. Read more>>

Kellie Collins | The Yarrum Group

The Yarrum Group thought process behind starting our own business was contributing to and giving back to our community. Oak Cliff is on the the most underrated cities in Dallas. This city has an incredibly rich and diverse history. After moving back from California, we thought it would be a great idea to add to the growth of the city. Since I am from Oak Cliff, we thought is was great idea to start our business in Oak Cliff. Read more>>

Jonathan Franco | Videographer & Musician

The thought process of myself and my partner; Matt Oakes was that Jiu Jitsu is rapidly growing. In fact Texas is becoming the next mecha of Jiu Jitsu in America. We have always been involved and around combat sports in general and those being striking, grappling, etc. We had a deep desire to tell the stories of the artists who dedicate their craft to Jiu Jitsu and highlight those in our DFW community for their hard work and passion. Read more>>

Eden Harlan | Beauty Brand Entrepreneur

I started Pretty Eden on a mission to help young ladies like myself feel more confident and comfortable in their skin. I also wanted them to know that no matter what they face, there is always room for growth and elevation. Each product developed for the Pretty Eden brand is purposefully created to provide the beauty transformation experience every customer deserves. I wanted the products to be all-natural because it is important to me that each lady understands they deserve the best ingredients on the market. Read more>>

LaChunda Reed | Caterer

It was in 2016 after losing my mother Marva Lane Perry-Kenner that is when the name was a no brainer Peach Lane Kitchen and that is how I came up with my concept. I just started selling $10 soul food plates out of my grandmothers’ house everyday. Cooking relaxes me and it feels good to my soul and I love to watch people take their first bite of my dishes. My family has always made our own seafood and that is how my Bo$$ Seafood Sauce came about and after posting a photo I started selling boils and people started requesting for me to make different dishes. I come from humble beginnings and have definitely started from the bottom. Read more>>

Jeanique Lightsey | Financial Literacy Coach

My thought process when starting Plant The Seed Financial Literacy was simply “Changing The Narrative” and me thinking “how can I do something to help the next generation that I haven’t seen done before?”…. Financial Literacy was something that came so easy to me because there’s a lack that I witnessed myself growing up and still no emergency towards getting this knowledge to our children today! Read more>>

DFW Adventures | Small Business Bloggers

Here at DFW Adventures, we are attempting to shine a light on all the wonderful hidden gems that DFW has to offer. Our metroplex has an abundance of forgotten neighborhoods and businesses that deserve to be explored and brought back to life. Junior: The concept of small businesses is something that is deeply rooted within us both. As for myself, I was born and raised in inner-city Dallas, Oak Cliff. I grew up surrounded by a plethora of all kinds of businesses, which were booming during the early 90s. As a child, I enjoyed visiting and getting to know many mom-and-pop owners alongside my mother. Read more>>

Goretti Tibeme | Balloon Artist and Event Planner

My family gave me the push quite honestly. I was hesitant because it’s such a huge leap of faith to put your work out there for people to judge. We went back and forth for months on whether I should start up my business and they gave me the courage to take the leap and I am so grateful I did! I Love to create and with balloons you can do just about anything. I started out doing balloons setups for family friends, posted pictures for just my friends and family to see and it was such a huge hit. Read more>>

Ernesto Holguin | Nurse Innovator & CEO

I had won a competition that allowed you seed money free of equity, business guidance, and free use of the innovation hub. Part of the program was to initiate a business in order to receive the monies to continue with prototyping. Starting my own business did not cross my mind when I began innovating as a Nurse. I had this misconception that I would have someone build my inventions and I would collaborate with them in the process, and it would be the most wonderful experience in the world! I was wrong. Read more>>