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.

Tikresha Warren | Hairstylist/Entrepreneur

My thought process behind starting my business was my daughter Cloe Maton she was diagnosed with epilepsy at 18 months. Read more>>

Toni Porter | Home fragrance specialist

I became an official business owner after being laid off from my job. I was also in college at the same time, in need of extra money. The economy wasn’t the greatest and lots of layoffs were occurring across MI. I’ve always burned candles to relax but was having difficulty finding a good brand that actually smelled good. My god mom started making them as a hobby and I loved them. So, I started selling them at the local hospital that I worked for. When I got laid off, I asked my godmother if she wanted to go into business together. I was pursuing a business management degree from Wayne State University, at that time. Read more>>

Chrissy Martinez | Beauty extraordinaire , Bridal specialist

Growing up , I was the daughter and granddaughter of immigrant parents and grandparents that really fought for the “American dream”. So. As a first generation Macedonian-American , hard work and owning a business was always engrained in me . My grandfather owned an auto repair shop in Birmigham & my parents owned a bakery in the downriver area . I spent many early mornings pouring coffee for customers and glazing donuts on weekends . I loved seeing people smile , I loved earning my own money. So, from an early age, I always knew that I wanted to run my own business , whatever it may be. Fast forward to today , we have built Primp to be one of the most booked our bridal teams in the area. Read more>>

Joshua Parish | Co Founder of VETLIFE

We started VETLIFE because the government has a backwards approach to veteran service provision (the approach they take to connecting veterans to their benefits). The government expects the veteran to come to them to get connected to their benefits, but the main problem plaguing veterans is they don’t understand what benefits they are entitled to and where to go to get them. We knew if VETLIFE was going to offer successful solutions to the issues plaguing veterans we had to create programs that went to where the veterans were and the resources we offered them had to be vetted first. Read more>>

K’Kio Hardin | Owner, Creative Director

I wanted to be able to produce my ideas without having to run them by or through anyone else. As a designer and art director we are doing creative work but we are also doing it for a client and you have to change ideas based on their needs or sometimes preferences. With Detroit Kid I can follow what I think is best for the brand or just want I feel like making at the time. Read more>>

Destiny Monique | Dessert maker and Service Coordinator

The main thought that came to mind when starting my business, was keeping my grandmother legacy and name alive. That’s the only thing that I could think of at the moment when starting my business. Read more>>

Teal Dempsey | Owner of Wild Emerald Bridal

I wanted to create something that I was passionate about and that truly represented me. I had worked for several other people and while they were wonderful their business represented them, rightfully so. I always felt a little boxed in and I just really wanted an opportunity to show what I could do on my own. I wanted to see what kind of environment I could grow for myself and a team. I also wanted to prove to myself that I could do it and have the confidence to walk into a room or business setting and know I was worthy of being there. From a personal life stand point, I knew the flexibility would allow me to be a better wife and a better mom and to spend more time with the ones that mean the most to me. Read more>>

FR35H | Hip-Hop Music Artist

My choice to become a music artist was inspired from me having a deep passion for hip-hop music and the culture. As a youth hip-hop provided me a platform for self-expression. I was able to use music as a way to express my thoughts, emotions, and experiences. I’ve always been motivated by a desire to raise awareness about social injustices, inequality, and every day struggles of growing up in a poverty stricken environment. In essence, me becoming a hip-hop artist was a deeply personal and multifaceted journey, combining artistic passion, social awareness, cultural connection, and the pursuit of creative and entrepreneurial goals. Read more>>

Josh Bochniak | Climbing Gym Owner and Outdoor Educator

When I moved back to Holland in 2014 (I had previously gone to college here from 1998-2003), I had been working in outdoor education and recreation programs for over 10 years. I was surprised to find that there was not a rock climbing gym in the city, as the industry was beginning to grow fairly rapidly at that point in time, and began thinking about opening one. Unfortunately for my process, someone opened a small bouldering gym in early 2015, and, knowing Holland could probably not support 2 climbing gyms, I let the idea fall away. About 3 years later, the owner of that business decided he wanted to be doing something else and I started talking to him about purchasing the wall he built and taking over his lease. Read more>>

David Holowchak | Owner & Designer

My thought process behind starting my own business was driven by a passion for golf and a desire to create a community where fellow golf enthusiasts could connect, share their experiences, and access valuable resources related to the sport by offering custom, unique goods and apparel, as well as design services. I always wanted to be self- made and work for myself instead of for an organization that doesn’t care about you or your real talents. I wanted to share what I could do with everyone and golf has been an obsession of mine for decades now. I love the game, I love gear, and I wanted to be a part of it. Read more>>

Stephanie Onwuegbuna | Resume Writer & Freelance Web Designer

Well, the decision to start my own business was the result of a combination of factors and a well-thought-out process. First and foremost, I’ve always had a deep passion for writing, as well as interviewing oddly enough, and a strong desire to create something of my own. The idea of being in control of my destiny and having the freedom to pursue my vision was incredibly appealing. I believed that I had the right combination of skills, experience, and knowledge in resume writing and career services to make this business venture a success. I was confident in my ability to bring something valuable to the market, as I had already been providing free services to my personal networks. Read more>>

Tiffany-Rose Scott | Entrepreneur

The journey of starting my own cosmetic business is a testament to the power of inspiration within our families. It all began with my daughter’s love and excitement for makeup. She would spend hours watching countless makeup tutorials, soaking in the artistry and creativity of it all. One day, she came to me with and asked, “Mom, can we make lipgloss?” Without hesitation, I replied, “Sure, why not?” Little did I know that this single question would be a transformative adventure into launching my very own cosmetic brand.We ordered all the supplies we needed to create our first batch of lip gloss. What started as a fun at-home project with my daughter quickly evolved into something more profound. Read more>>

Anne DiVitto | Owner, Word Out Influence and Influencer on Grand Rapids Girl

Why do most people start their own businesses? To be their own boss. To spend their days on something meaningful. To get out of a soul-sucking cubicle of a major corporation. There are so many reasons, and I am no different! After 19 years in corporate information technology positions, I realized I needed a change to feel fulfilled. The bureaucracy, the endless meetings, the tone-deaf leadership…the list goes on and on. After going through a significant personal loss, I stepped away from my full-time, well-paid position in healthcare information technology to focus on my family. People make some decisions to retain their sanity, and for me, this is one of them. Read more>>

K1 Soundz | Artist & Producer

I’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit and I’ve always been a leader plus I love music so I took my passion and knowledge for music and started a production company and Record Label . Read more>>

Demargeo White | Owner

In the beginning it was me wanting to make a name for myself. I felt like I had enough talent to go out and do my own thing so in 2017 I quit my job and jumped on the entrepreneur wagon. By 2019 I had pivot from food to desserts and that’s when it all became clear. Creating generational wealth to pass down to our children. Read more>>

Ryan Crawley | Artist

So for me, it’s a funny story. I create art because I have to, but then when I saw 20+ paintings in my basement I realized I needed to bet on myself by selling my artwork. I’ve always thought that selling art would be the hard part. Although now that I am, I really see that it ties back into running a business. Determination and consistency are key to building success. Discipline is key also! I believe that creating this business, has made me a better parent, partner, and employee. Read more>>

Jeriesha Crutchfield | Nail artist & enthusiasts

So, I launched my press on nail business April 24, 2020 during the beginning of the Coronavirus Pandemic. Like most of the world social media was definitely an outlet. I would log on to Facebook/Instagram and see so many women wanting their nails done. So, that’s when the light bulb came on. I thought, “Let me put my love for nails and my 10+ years of working retail to use.” My main goal was to create nails that were great in quality, reusable, and affordable. These nails are created with all the beautiful hard working women in mind that desired style and luxury at affordable prices. Read more>>

Tony Kosla | Owner/Head Coach

After years of helping others start and grow their business’s (a restaurant and then another fencing club) it felt like I had enough knowledge, experience and mentoring help to attempt to do it this on my own. Read more>>

Charan Bashir | MA, LPC, CCTP, CIMHP

I felt a strong sense of encouragement to start my own practice to create a space for clients to cultivate change within their personal lives, in service of improving quality of life. I am intrinsically motivated to provide clients with an opportunity to process their experiences of developmental and complex trauma in order to develop the courage to create new possibilities within the present moment. The start of this practice is a culmination of my years of experience as a licensed professional counselor, in addition to a motivating opportunity to provide individuals with the chance to create a new vision for their lives, despite the adverse and traumatic circumstances that have negatively impacted them. Read more>>

Maria Bland | Owner & Operator

PURE LIP Presenting healthy options to the world of cosmetics, P.U.R.E LIP’s collection of captivating lip wear is designed to help everyone feel beautiful inside and out, indulging in the moments that matter – both big and small. Mother Nature is the motivation behind our lip wear. Every product is vegan, cruelty free and safe for sensitivities. Our In-house team carefully crafts innovative shades that are not only fashionable but aid in maintaining overall lip health. The current range of 13 gloss shades promote hydration through a non-sticky yet creamy formula with a touch of shimmer, ideal for daily wear or a glam evening! The glosses are currently complimented by two lip pencil options to line you smile with. Read more>>

Rebecca Gade Sawicki | Vegan Travel Queen

My path into the travel industry is unique. Like many people, I took time during the pandemic to re-evaluate my career — I wanted to find a way to align it with my ethics in hopes of making this world a little kinder and greener. But I struggled to find a job that ticked those boxes. So, what does any college-educated person do when this happens, and they’re in the middle of a global pandemic? Well, they start a vegan travel blog and eventually leave their 15-year career in the dust! Honestly, I thought starting the blog would just help me pivot my career — I knew it would force me to learn new skills and network with like-minded people, but it’s turned into much more. Read more>>

Emilie Eklund | Designer + Illustrator

I had never really intended to start my own creative company. I had always been drawn to art, and creating things with my hands, but I also had a lot of loud voices internally and externally, telling me that art is not a career. I actually remember asking my high school art teacher if she could make a list of options where I could have an art career, but even with the list, I didn’t have a big enough imagination to think I could actually do it. It takes time to really be able to listen to your own voice. I was great at listening to what others thought I should do, but not so great at listening to what I wanted to do. It wasn’t until I was post college, taking an online teaching certification course, that I really started listening to my own voice. Read more>>

Kris Mathis | Speaker | Author | Serial Entrepreneur

My thought process behind starting my businesses was simple. As a kid, I grew up surrounded by poverty, gangs, drugs, and violence. After growing up in this environment my thought was nothing is worst that going back to what I come from. This thought became my motivation to help my family and I create a better life. Nothing else mattered, but changing the trajectory of my future and becoming what I call “the one” who would decide to make the changes needed to create the life that I once dreamed about as a kid. I was willing to do whatever it takes, no matter what the cost. Either I’m going to win or I’m going to go to my grave knowing I gave it everything I had. Thankfully, it worked out. Read more>>

Kayla Kling | Esthetician and spa owner.

Starting my own business was a tough decision. I doubted myself. I had a client who said “the only person doubting you, is you” and a light bulb just clicked. My plan rolled out and into place. I was determined to be successful. I just sort of ran with it. Let things fall into place. Everyday I am learning, growing and improving. It’s a journey. Read more>>

Goldyn Gambit | Goth Rockstar/event curator/booking agent/artist consultant

My thought process behind my business was creating a community that is musician/band/artist friendly. By me being an artist also, and understanding how difficult it is to try and pursue this career I wanted to have a service that was affordable! Most of the time I don’t even charge artist to book their shows because I love being around the environment, and I feel that my business is attached to my brand of not just being a platform but a safe and reputable place for talented individuals to interact with Read more>>

Hannah Wentz | Day of Wedding Coordinator + Planner

Starting your own business can be very daunting. However, starting Enchanted Events was one of the most rewarding decisions that I have ever made. It allowed me the work-life balance that is so hard to achieve in the wedding industry. Not only do I love my job, but I am able to bring my A-game for my couples while maintaining my other life responsibilities! Read more>>