Starting and growing a business is hard, but often deciding to start the business in the first place is even harder. We asked some successful entrepreneurs from around the community to open up to us about how they thought about starting a business.

Molly Byrd | Mom & Polymer clay artist

at the time and my kids were 1 & 3. I wanted to help provide for my family while I was home with them and had hopes of ultimately growing and becoming full time. It had to be something where I could choose my own schedule and do it from home. I have always dreamed of making a career based in creativity and I know I’ll never get tired of it, so it was a perfect fit! Read more>>

Kayla & Maddie Hughes | Black Cat Thrift Owners

We started Black Cat Thrift one year ago in January because of our love for thrifting! We both are excited by the prospect of searching through racks of clothing to find hidden gems, so opening a business to resell these items was a logical next step. This way we were able to share our best finds with customers around the world! Our name is inspired by two of our fur babies, black cats: Pickle & Diesel! Read more>>

Aly Amos | Financial Strategist

So when I began Abundant Amos Financial Strategies, I wanted to do something that would help the community understand more about taxes outside of just reporting what was on their W-2 or receiving a child tax credit. Also, I wanted to help out my community by providing knowledge and services to enable them to build a family legacy and begin saving money! Read more>>

Katie Miller | Designer

It all started because I gained an interest in Renaissance Festivals in my 20s. Immersed in the vibrant culture and diverse events, I became involved with a group specializing in various skills such as sewing garb, crafting armor, and creating weaponry. It was during this time that the group introduced me to the art of crafting chain maille, starting with a simple weave. I found myself enjoying the process, and after a few months, it led me to explore more intricate weaves while also letting my creativity flow freely. Over time, I ended up with a bunch of unique items, and it occurred to me that I could turn this into a business. I know there’s a lot of jewelry out there at craft fairs and online, but I felt like my pieces were different enough to stand out in a market full of similar stuff. Read more>>

Melissa de Leon | Stylist

I think I accidentally fell into becoming a business owner. I knew there was a hole that I could fill with my perspective and education, which made me take the leap to own my business instead of work for another talented stylist. I don’t think I realized at the beginning that becoming a business owner means you perform every role, wear every hat. You don’t have a team that does your marketing or handles operations. You have to own all of it, be all of it, including the creative, client-facing service and expertise that people are paying you for. I was confident and comfortable in the ‘stylist’ role, but really had to work and grow in to the ‘business owner’ role. Read more>>

Jhazmere Preston | Also known as Mr. Healthymindz. Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor and CEO/Founder of Mentor Raising Mentors Behavioral Health Services, PLLC

My initial thought process behind starting my business focused around my vision. The name of my company is Mentor Raising Mentors Behavioral Health Services. The mission is to develop, mentally train, and multiply leaders in the community, among our youth. I want to change the face of our communities, but in order for me to do all of this I knew I had to create a business that focused on my vision and not someone else’s. I knew it would be challenging, I knew saracfices were going to have to be made, but I knew I was up for the challenge. I also processed the understanding that my growth was limited at my former company. I thought about legacy and what I can leave to my children. I wanted something my children could one day own and continue building if they so choose. Read more>>