Thinking through whether to start a business – whether to take the risk, whether to go out on your own – isn’t easy. So we asked some entrepreneurs we admire to tell us about how they thought through the process of starting a business.

Faith Ellis | Kettlebell Coach & Athlete

Before I started The KettleBelle, I didn’t really have a business-mindset behind it. I just loved using kettlebells and wanted to share that with others. As I began teaching classes and holding local events, I started to view it more as a business. I love sharing this passion with people and hearing how they like my classes, they feel stronger, they’ve reached a specific goal of theirs and everything. I can definitely reach more people with my On Demand library and create this community online. That’s when I was like okay, we’re going to make this into a business. We’re going to help folks and bring them together online. We’re going to inspire them, educated them, and support them. Read more>>

Joelle Meaghan | Founder & Womenswear Designer

I’ve wanted to have my own womenswear line since college, but it was my years designing and working in the industry that helped me understand the hole in the market for brands that target women who look like and are shaped like me, and how I can fill it. During my time in corporate America, I learned how mass market brands approach fit and design for their customer bases. At multiple companies I worked at, most times the fit models were slim with little to no curve in their bodies, which was tough because we know that the average woman’s size in America is a size 16 or XL. Most times the inspiration and mood boards would be filled with images of white women and culture references I couldn’t quite relate to, but outward-facing marketing would have Black and brown people sprinkled throughout. Read more>>

Emily Cooley & Kaley Eads | SMS® Raleigh Owners

Sitting Made Simple® is a babysitting company that connects vetted sitters with families, businesses and organizations. SMS® was started in Columbus Ohio in 2008 and began branching out into other cities. Kaley had worked as a sitter for the Indianapolis location and saw firsthand how beneficial the job was for college students and young professionals, as well the the blessing the company was to families. We both understood the challenges surrounding finding reliable childcare, as well as the special relationship between the SMS® sitters and families. We made the decision as sisters to open up SMS® Raleigh in March of 2019 and it’s truly been an amazing experience. Read more>>

Valerie Remhoff | Specialized Kinesiologist and Reiki Master

Starting my own business was less of a choice and more of the natural progression of an organic growth process. When I recognized that the career path I was on was not my path to fulfillment, I started revisiting the things that had always interested me that felt like a part of who I was. Circumstances and life events continued to push me in that direction. I began learning all I could and I fell in love with the work. Energy healing modalities can be incredibly life-changing for both the client and the practitioner. I experienced so much healing through my training and saw so many miraculous shifts in others that I could no longer imagine doing anything else with my life besides using these tools to help as many people as possible. Read more>>

Ciara O’Briant | Goal Coach & Entrepreneur

Envision HER was created to empower women from all walks of life. I wanted to offer an authentic and safe community for women to connect. Our mission is to inspire, educate, uplift and motivate women to achieve their goals and dreams by providing empowering events, social gatherings, journaling workshops. Read more>>

Alex Lewis | Zumba Instructor & Actor

My thought process came mainly out of necessity. I got laid off of my remote job and instead of dwelling on it. I start to think outside the box and dancing is in my veins since been in my mother’s womb. Read more>>

Autumn D | Singer, Songwriter & Filmmaker

I remember the first major opportunity I had in the music industry was in Atlanta as a lead singer in a girl group with a highly successful record producer. I was so excited and honored to have the opportunity, but I began to recognize the pervasive issue of female artists being overly sexualized in the music industry. Whether it was in the lyrics or our image, as a Christian it made me very uncomfortable. After recognizing this problem and taking the time to reflect on my values and what I wanted to achieve with my music career, I found the solution was starting my own production company. Read more>>

Twanna Joyner-Jones | President/Founder

As early as I can remember growing up -I’ve always had a passion to help people. I started the The Help Center NC because of my passion and devotion to provide help , hope and solutions to families facing hunger and other challenges . My goal of starting my organization was to create a community where everyone has access to nutritional foods, education and healthcare. A community where we find health, safety, happiness, joy and fulfillment. Read more>>

J. Dwayne Garnett | Value-Based Educator and Love Advocate

The thought process behind starting Love Is A Parable was rooted in a deep passion for helping individuals and organizations navigate the complexities of decision-making and personal growth. I recognized that values play a significant and often overlooked role in shaping our choices and actions. Starting Love Is A Parable allowed me to create a platform where I could share my knowledge and expertise in value-based education, reflective thinking, and personal acceptance. I wanted to empower individuals and organizations to understand the profound impact of their values on their lives and decision-making processes. Read more>>

Jerm V. | Creative/Illustrative Artist

This evolving streetwear & creative merchandise brand I devote present-day time to (developed as “Dweeb Kil.” – @dweebkil) envisions a distinct creative performance that allows my own sense of artistry to unfold: Within & outside of the everyday “professional setting”. This street-woven collection of imaginative assortments is the direct culmination of artwork I thought to showcase on display + an endearment I wished to extend to a less “business-savvy” crowd rapidly, with potential successes abound. I operate throughout the East Coast as of now (in spots across North Carolina, Georgia, & Florida); in order to breach a pronounced visibility for the creative business manuevers I conduct! Read more>>

Samantha Strazanac | Business and Branding Consultant

The primary motivation behind establishing Strazanac Solutions was to establish credibility and gain the trust of small and medium-sized businesses when offering marketing services. Initially, my clients were hesitant to pay for my services as they saw it more as a favor than a professional transaction. However, once I became a recognized LLC in North Carolina, complete with a logo and website, my business experienced exponential growth. While my intention was not originally for this business to become my full-time career, I have no regrets about how things have unfolded. Read more>>

Wanda Micheal | Planner, Educator & Musician

Starting my own business was easy because I married a successful entrepreneur. He has been extremely supportive of my endeavors and has encouraged our children to become entrepreneurs as well. Together, we have built three successful small businesses and have earned numerous awards and certifications. Read more>>

Lashonda modest | Owner of Melanated Wine & Spirits & Wine Negociant

I started Melanated Wine because I wanted to be apart of creating a more inclusive and diverse wine industry. I believe that everyone should have the opportunity to enjoy wine, regardless of their race, ethnicity, or socioeconomic background. I also wanted to create a brand that would resonate with people of color. I felt that there was a lack of representation in the wine industry, and I wanted to create a brand that would be relatable and approachable for people who might not be familiar with wine. Finally, I wanted to create a business that would give back to the community. I believe that it is important to support organizations that are working to make the world a better place. Read more>>

Heather Dyer | Nurse Practitioner & Co-founder of Save The Wave Skincare

My sister and I have recommended certain skincare products during our time as healthcare providers. Although these products have been very effective in creating healthy and youthful complexions, they have been very expensive for our patients. We felt that we had a great opportunity to develop a skincare line that checked all the boxes we would want; effective, elegant, targeted, natural ingredients, and affordable. We took years to develop a line and partner with companies that could help us create a skincare line that we believed in. Our mission to give back led us to create a line that uses ocean friendly ingredients, and environmentally responsible packaging. Read more>>

Mariama Sallah | Lucky Cake Designer & CEO

Starting a cake business involves careful planning, and considerations. At the outset, I embarked on this journey with limited resources, knowledge, and experiences. While I was pursuing a triple major in college I found myself seeking an elective course to complete my culinary arts degree requirements. As a result, I enrolled in an intensive eight-week cake decorating class to delve into the intricacies of cake artistry. Initially, my intentions revolved around crafting cakes exclusively for my daughters’ birthdays over the years. I envisioned it as delightful and cost-effective because I wouldn’t have to pay someone else to do it. However, midway through the course, my younger sister approached me with a proposal from a friend in need of a two-tier baby shower cake and 50 cupcakes. Read more>>

Ramy Bahgat | Business owner

I have always wanted to have my own business and since I have been in the food industry for almost 20 years, I knew it has to be something within the industry Read more>>

Audrey Simons | Ice Cream Shop Owner & Food Photographer

After Nathan graduated from The Culinary Institute of America in 2010, we knew we’d eventually start our own food business, without knowing at the time what that would look like. We brainstormed all the time with the motto being “what sort of place would we like to eat at and what sort of food gets us excited?” Nathan was fine-dining focused, so our silly little idea of dipped cones in any flavor you could think of wasn’t taken seriously at the time. In 2016, we’d been recipe testing for one of his new kitchen toys, a chocolate melanger. We created Simons Says Spread This in 2017, a European style nut butter company (think Nutella without the chocolate). Read more>>

Janae Jenkins | Holistic Skin and Body Care Innovator

My thought process behind starting my own business was to continue to do something that I love while helping others love their skin the holistic way! After dedicating considerable time, energy, and resources to create unique product formulas using natural ingredients that nature has bestowed upon us, I discovered the perfect blend to address various skin concerns. Once I personally witnessed the effectiveness of these formulations on my own skin, I felt a strong desire to share them with other women who could benefit from my products. Once you find something that you know works because you’re a walking testimony, it’s kind of hard not to share it with others! Read more>>

Ben Strunk | Creator, Triangle Treasure Hunt

My wife Whitney and I completed a similar treasure hunt experience in Florence, Italy back in 2018. We got very lost and finished dead last, but I arranged with the organizer ahead of time and proposed at the end of the treasure hunt. It was a special moment for us and when we came back to Raleigh we started running treasure hunts of our own. We have grown over the last five years to offering treasure hunt events all over the Triangle and now in Wilmington. Read more>>

Gail Jennings | Owner, King’s Pepper

I started this business because I wanted to share the fantastic taste of King’s Pepper with the world. King’s Pepper is an award winning spice blend that’s based on a centuries old West African recipe which I make without salt, peanut or msg. King’s Pepper was born in Los Angeles, but raised to new heights in North Carolina. Read more>>

Sandra Myers | President & C0-Founder

The thought of opening my own business was not mine but my business partner’s. Amber had a sudden cardiac arrest in 2019 and called me after miraculously surviving this traumatic event and said, “We’re starting our own company.” Both Amber & I have been in the industry for over 25 years and have known each other since 2009. We had always discussed the missing pieces at the firms we had worked for and knew we could maximize client success if we changed the process and minimized the client load. I thought we would be successful if we could genuinely stick to our core concept and not waver from our original foundation, regardless of how much or little money we made. Read more>>

Tyler Eichelberger | Craftsman

I figured that I could get a lot more experience with different projects if I put myself out there to potential customers. Oddly enough, I didn’t even really put a ton of thought into it. I just kind of did it. Read more>>

Cassidy Burel | Onwer of CassB/Custom Apparel Designer

Fashion design has always been a passion of mine and I knew I wanted to pursue it as my career. Owning my own business was also always in my sights when I thought about where I would like my life to take me. After I graduated college, I had experienced up close the joy that an individual experiences when they are dressed and are feeling like their best self. An outfit can change your mood in a hot second. I wanted to create this experience for all women who wear CassB. And thus, set out to pursue my passion and develop a business meshing creating this experience and my dream of apparel design together. Read more>>

Radhika Deshmukh-McDiarmid | Film Photographer, Mama, & Small Business Owner

We never sought to start a business — we just started doing the work! The business structure fell into place (and continues to evolve) as we go. Ian and I both took high school dark room classes and grew up with dads who were hobbyist photographers. When we started photographing our travels, friends noticed and began asking us to take photos of their families. Over 10 years later, we love getting to run a business that helps others document their beautiful lives. Read more>>

Kyndall Owens | Visual Artist & Paint Instructor

In 2017 I had a family reunion and brought my artwork to show off to my relatives. My family was so impressed with my work that they even asked if they could purchase my paintings. I originally brought my artwork intending to only share it with them so I was definitely shocked that they were interested in purchasing my work! It was a great feeling to see the joy my art brought to my family and I had the realization to turn this passion for creating into a business. After I sold my first painting in 2017, I have been staying booked and busy attending markets and vendor events to expand my audience. Seeing the joy that my God-given talent brings to others is the greatest reward and that is why I started my Kreativityyy business. Read more>>

Betsy Sauls | Wedding Cake Designer and Bakery Owner

This business started as a side hobby for me while I was teaching full time. It was something I enjoyed and something that allowed me to make a little extra fun money. When the business started growing I was faced with the question of it I wanted to keep doing this on the side or if this was something I could turn into a career. I wasn’t overly in love with that I was doing for my full time job so when the opportunity came up to do Around the Table full time I really weighed out my options on how this could look. And the rest just kind of happened naturally – once I decided I didn’t want to keep teaching it was like the plan was put in motion and just took off from there! Read more>>

Jason Gillikin | CEO, Earfluence

Back in 2018, I convinced my wife Megan to start a podcast called Weddings for Real. She was a wedding planner, and she has some unbelieveable-but-true stories (kicking a bridesmaid out of a wedding as she’s about to walk down the aisle, a guest’s hair catching on fire at the sparkler exit, feuding parents with middle fingers flying at the reception) that I thought would be amazing for a podcast, and maybe even entertaining enough to sell ads. However, what quickly resonated with the audience wasn’t the stories – it was the wedding vendor education. Read more>>

Dr. Jennifer Moore | Mental Health Advocate & Mental Health Podcaster

My passion for mental health has been a significant driving force in the establishment of the Lennix James Foundation, LLC, and the Lennix James Mental Health Podcast. Stemming from personal experiences and a genuine interest in supporting others, my unwavering dedication to mental health motivates me to raise awareness, challenge stigmas, and advocate for a better understanding and acceptance of mental health challenges. Recognizing the necessity for a supportive community, my passion has led me to create a platform through the podcast where like-minded individuals, experts, and those affected by mental health issues can come together, fostering a sense of belonging and understanding. Read more>>

Steve Scof” Schofield | President & CCO of Schofield’s Flowers”

From my days managing my comedy troupe during my improv phase to becoming an executive producer and eventually a business owner, I’ve always been a proactive and decisive individual. Over the years, I’ve owned several businesses, but nothing has been as fulfilling as reviving my family brand, Schofield’s Flowers, and transforming it into a content and experiential production company. Read more>>

Al Vargas | Photographer | Small Business Owner

At first when I started photography, I saw it more as a hobby. As I dove deeper into it, I felt this constant need to create. The journey of establishing my own business stemmed from a desire for autonomy. As a military spouse, I discovered that possessing a degree didn’t necessarily provide me with the flexibility I needed. Therefore, when the decision was mine to make, I opted for a path that not only allowed for creativity but also offered me a sense of control. Regrettably, for many women, the challenge of kickstarting a career while simultaneously building a family can feel like an uphill struggle. Read more>>

Page Stroud | Certified Wedding & Event Planner

The saying goes: Find something you love and you will never feel like it’s work. During my career working within higher education, I was consistently asked to be on various hospitality committees. From planning Open House events to working on the commencement committee, I was allowed to put my stamp on signature events at my alma mater of Bennett College. It was when I was contracted to work on the Coronation of the College Queen, also during my time at Bennett College, that event planning as a passion was ignited. In 2012, the prestigious Celebrity Wedding & Event Planner, Diann Valentine, hosted a contest with the grand prize being a meet-and-greet with her at a wedding industry conference. Read more>>