The first step to starting a business is deciding to start a business. They say the first step is the hardest and in our experience this is especially true when it comes to starting a business. Getting over the mental roadblocks can be tough, often harder to overcome than the challenges you’ll face once you actually start the business. Fellow entrepreneurs share their thoughts below.

Conor Heun | 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu black belt and business owner.

I always knew I wanted to be a coach I just didn’t know it would mean opening my own gym and coaching Jiu Jitsu. My dad was a high school wrestling coach and math teacher and I always dreamed of following in his footsteps after seeing the tremendous positive impact he was able to have on so many young people. I graduated college as an English major but wasn’t excited about the idea of teaching English. I moved to Los Angeles where I was working selling dental equipment when I discovered 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu. I wasn’t happy in my sales job and was seeking community outside the office when I was introduced to 10th Planet Founder, Eddie Bravo. Read more>>

Meche Haradon | Fitness Trainer, Massage Therapist and Founder of FitBody Studio

As a young adult I had my own fitness journey and knew that feeling healthy breeds confidence and a more fulfilled life. One of my earlier fitness experiences was working at an all women’s gym as an aerobic instructor. The camaraderie and support was an incredible time. Post graduation of my degree in Exercise Science I worked for a family owned gym. There were some pro’s and con’s in the business details, but that journey helped me determine that my future business would create a supporting and encouraging fitness platform for those feeling intimidated or uncertain on “how” to begin their fitness path. Read more>>

Nicole Kaiser | Mom, Teacher, and Clothing Designer

Looking back, when my son, Orion, was born, I didn’t realize just how gender specific clothes were for kids and adults. I had never taken the time to really go through the aisles and see how companies target kids. That was an eye opener, to say the least. Even second-hand shops were organized with blues and greens for boys and pinks and purples for girls. This bothered me because as a middle school teacher and a new mom to a little bundle of joy, I knew that many students struggle with finding who they are, that kids love all colors, until we tell them otherwise, and that even adults love the ability to express themselves in various manners. Read more>>

Audrey Gibson | Architect, Designer, & Dancer

I believe I have a very unique voice. My education and practice mixes psychology, architecture, dance, graphic design and creative direction together. This is an unusual melting pot of fields, but one that I think could bring a fresh perspective to the art and design community. That’s been my main driver behind starting my own business. Instead of trying to fit into a singular mold, I want to embrace and cultivate my strengths. Read more>>

Jim Kapteyn | Landscape construction

As I was growing up, I witnessed my dad working very hard at his job, and I watched my uncles running their own businesses. No doubt that I learned my work ethic from my dad, but I saw a difference in lifestyle between those having jobs, and those owning their own business. That was truly the first indicator and motivation behind having my own business. Read more>>

Kara Salazar | Professional Organizer

Having completed my Master’s Degree in Education, I encountered challenges securing a teaching position in my local area. While I could have accepted a role as a teacher’s assistant, this wasn’t the path I wanted to pursue. During my program, I took on organizing jobs for extra income, and as I continued to search for teaching positions, I became increasingly busy. Consequently, I decided to put teaching on hold and transitioned to working in organizing and personal assistant-type roles. The positive feedback from clients I worked with regarding starting my professional organizing business further encouraged me to take the next step. I have never looked back since. Read more>>

Whitney White | Cleaning Business Owner – (Airbnb Cleaning Specialist)

I graduated with my degree in Elementary Education. I thought teaching was the perfect job for a mom; no weekends, free evenings, free summers. After my daughter was born I wanted nothing but to stay home with my kids. Now two children later, I knew I needed and wanted a flexible job that still allowed me to be with my kids, be available for school pick up and events, and essentially be able to choose my own schedule. Read more>>

Vidia Vuong | Beauty Artist

I am always a true fan of beauty. Coming from an Asian country, the bars I set for beauty standards are pretty high. While Colorado at the time was still new to beauty services, I love learning and bringing them to live. Seeing so many women struggling to look for a way to be beautiful and confident. I think I can help them! Read more>>

Tamara Moore (she/her/hers) | Owner of Dancing Queens LLC

Shelby (she/her) and I have wanted to start a business for some time, but when we began to think about our own wedding we realized that inclusivity for the queer community in the wedding industry was something we wanted to be a part of. We noticed that representation of diverse LGBTQ+ couples was lacking both in he couples featured and in the vendors in the community. We wanted to be the change we wished to see! Additionally, the wedding planning process can be often filled with big emotions of challenging dynamics, unsupportive family members, or a financial stress that can make the process overwhelming, or not the cookie cutter version people often see on social media. Read more>>

Kristen Brickl | Licensed Professional Counselor & Guide

Society assumes by the time we hit midlife, we’ve pretty much got life figured out. The reality is, this couldn’t be further from the truth! Midlife is a developmental life stage we go through like childhood, adolescence, or end of life, however, there is next to nothing in the way of support, research, or understanding of the complexities of midlife and all that comes with it. We know midlife is a stage between our 40’s and mid-60’s that brings many transitions such as career shifts, marital separations or divorce, kids leaving for college, empty nest, illness, caring for aging or sick parents, financial woes, and so forth. Read more>>

Polina Annichiarico | Interior designer

I have to say it`s been a long journey and It took me about 5 years of thinking before I made a first move towards starting my own business. Having spent the last 20 years working in Interior design industry across Europe, New York (Manhattan) and Colorado, I gained a lot of experience and knowledge not just in European luxury design, but also in how to connect with people from different countries and cultures, which pushed me to the new career venture. A few years before making a big decision I came to a realization, that at this point of my life I would like to create my personal business brand based on establishing relationships with clients and professionals throughout the world. Read more>>

Daniel Vose | Somatic Educator

Starting my business was deeply rooted in a desire to expand my impact beyond the confines of my private practice. As a therapist, I was profoundly aware of the ripple effect my work could have. Each week, I would engage with about 20 therapists, aiding them in navigating their personal and professional challenges. Through this work, I wasn’t just touching their lives; I was indirectly influencing the lives of their family members and their own clients. It was gratifying to know that my insights and interventions could potentially impact a couple of hundred lives. Read more>>

Jennifer Essex | Founder and Travel Advisor

Starting Bon Vivant Travel Co was inspired by a major life transition and my enduring passions. As my son prepares for independence in a few years, I saw a chance to refocus my career. With extensive hospitality experience and a love for travel, I launched a travel-based business that I can run from anywhere. This venture merges my professional skills with my personal interests, offering a fulfilling and flexible career path. My goal is to use my hospitality expertise to create seamless and enjoyable travel experiences for clients, aligning with my desire for a location-independent lifestyle in this new phase of life. Read more>>

Brian Moore | Rope Access Technician & Painter

I started my business because of the opportunity that I saw. At the time I was working with a few older friends and mentors of mine that were not able to run their business to its full potential because of health issues. When I started my business it was to help take on the business that my mentors could not take on and ultimately acted as a good transition when they retired from the industry. Read more>>

Jenna Peccia | Structural Steel Estimator (A&M Steel), President (Little Italy of Denver)

Originally, Little Italy of Denver was meant to catalog and promote North Denver’s Italian history through social media. As the account grew, so did my vision for it. Suddenly, there were many things I wanted to accomplish, but they all require funding. Transforming this into a business became imperative to achieve those goals. Read more>>

Sara Schaepe | Owner & Creator

After time away due to maternity leave, I was able to re-evaluate what the future of this shop would mean and look like. While preparing for my baby to come, I cleaned out my closet and had a hard time getting rid of clothes when I knew every memory and moment attached to that piece of clothing. Once my baby arrived, while rocking my new baby at 3 AM, I thought how my 3 AM nights will look different now. Then the direction hit me. Combining both those thoughts — core memories tied to our clothing and nostalgic moments while we’re in them — and The 3 AM Co. was born. Read more>>

Jena Ulriksen | Wedding and Family Photographer & Videographer

My business is based off the nickname my dad gave me growing up: Sunshine. My dad was my rock, he was my biggest supporter (of course, next to my mom!), and we were very close. He always gave me the best advice when I needed it, taught me the value of taking pride in your work, and encouraged me to try new things (like move across the country on a whim!) When he passed in March of 2023, the very first thing I did was search for current pictures of him, of him and me, of him and my family…etc. The only thing I had were very old images from the 90’s, and it left me with this very empty, disconnected feeling. Read more>> 

Jamie Madsen | CEO, Marketing Director

We recognized a gap in support and resources for women in business in the Northern Colorado (NOCO) region. As solo-entrepreneurs, we recognized the unique challenges women face in the business world, such as having little access to connections, true mentorship, and resources for professional development. We both have a strong passion for empowering women and a clear vision of creating a community where women can thrive professionally and personally. This includes fostering an environment that promotes leadership, innovation, and collaboration among women entrepreneurs and professionals. Read more>>

Lisa & Dave Kelly | Owners of Mandalina Turkish Towels, Blankets, & Robes

We were both working corporate positions for many years during the course of our marriage. At one point we started to have conversations about what we wanted our future to look like, asking questions like: How we could bring more work life balance? How could we travel more? How could we meet more friends? We noticed that when we were in our regular routines time seemed to pass by so quickly. We also realized that these conversations helped us as a couple get a clearer vision of our future. These were lighthearted conversations on our front porch. At one point Dave typed up some of our ideas. He said we should sign and date the bottom of the page as our commitment….and so we did. Read more>>

Sasha Laurie | Digital Marketing & Social Media Management Consultant

It was not an instant attraction to me to start my own business. I had spent years doing the marketing, graphic design, social media, website maintenance, and social media as a one-person team for an interior design company. I loved what I was doing, but I felt something I could do something more fulfilling. I decided to take my expertise to a wider audience. I was most excited to begin working with smaller, female-run companies in my community. As a new female entrepreneur myself, I know what women in the working world are up against. As soon as I began marketing myself, I realized what an incredibly supportive network of women are out there. Read more>>

Maureen Dube-Savage MS RD | Dietitian & Holistic Cannabis Coach

As a past corporate Dietitian and Food Service Manager working long hours in the health care system, I received great training for time, project and people management. Once we started a family, I put those skills to work for the formative years at home. With our kids growing, and contract opportunities keeping me in the work mix, I knew I wanted to maintain control of my schedule and my unique contribution. With Nutrition & Wellness as my background, I added a Holistic Cannabis Certification to my skill set. I knew I had to create my own job to step right into a new highly regulated industry. Read more>>

Lauren Wall | Women’s Heath & Empowerment Coach

I honestly didn’t agree with pieces and parts of other companies and people that I had previously worked for/with in the past. I know health and fitness is such an important piece of life and I always felt like there was something missing from the programs and systems other people had created, so I decided to take matters into my own hands! Read more>>

Katie Eckles | Reiki Practitioner & Healing Tea Maker

I have always been driven by a multitude of passions, particularly the joy of creating, learning, and sharing knowledge. My dream has always been to blend these passions into a career that adds value to the lives of those around me. I have started two businesses so far. A few years ago, I launched an herbal tea business in Raleigh, NC. This venture was incredibly fulfilling; I loved creating products that positively impacted my customers’ lives. The excitement and satisfaction my customers expressed reinforced my decision to turn a personal hobby into a business. Read more>>

Paige Kercheville | Founder & StoryBrand Certified Guide

Starting my own business came from a simple observation: small businesses really struggle to get noticed online. The digital world is like a bustling city that gets bigger and more crowded every day. Bigger brands with deeper pockets often drown out the smaller ones. That didn’t sit right with me. So, I thought, why not help out? That’s where the idea for Elevation54 came from. We’re here to make sure small businesses in Denver—and eventually all over—don’t just fade into the background. We offer custom digital marketing services that are both effective and affordable, so these businesses can be seen online and catch the eye of potential customers. Read more>>

Samantha Kelly | Fitness Studio Owner

Prior to starting my own business, I had always been in a support role. I excelled in that role. I drove the businesses that I worked for forward. I always made things better than when I found them and ended up making those owners a profit due to life circumstances, I had to leave those administrative management roles, and that drove me to start my own business to make more money to support myself and my kids. I knew that whatever I did, it had to come from my heart I had to be passionate about it or I would not be successful. I knew I had the ability to run a business because I’d run several over the last decade , I just needed to have the vision Read more>>

Robert Webster | Handyman Specialist & Owner

I was working for Angi as a Project Manager and I enjoyed helping people with their home projects. While there, I also saw opportunities on how the business could improve. When I was laid off, I decided to take the opportunity to start my own business and continue helping home owners with their projects. Read more>>

Jessica Hervis | Owner, Daisy Bloom Events

The thought process behind starting my own business, Daisy Bloom Events, was driven by my passion for creativity and design. I have always loved working with my hands and creating new things, and balloon art gave me the perfect opportunity to do just that. The joy and excitement that balloon designs bring to any event or celebration is truly magical. I noticed a niche in the market for custom balloon decor in my area and believed I had the skills and vision to fill that need. Even though the market is growing in Colorado, I believe every company has its own unique style and twist, and I wanted to bring my own to the table. Read more>>

Mike Baron | I”m just a writer.

I wanted to be a writer as I clutched a John D. MacDonald paperback on the streets of Mitchell, SD, when I was twelve years old. It was The Deep Blue Goodbye. I looked at the author’s picture on the back and I had a revelation. MacDonald wasn’t writing these for his heatlh! I knew then I wanted to be a writer. My path was long and arduous but I got there. When I was in college, I had a friend who ran a weekly alternative newspaper. You know what I mean. Stickin’ it to the Man. Up Against the Wall. Read more>>

Claire Click | Virtual Assistant

I was working in healthcare during the pandemic, and it was, of course, extremely taxing emotionally. I craved autonomy and, honestly, the ability to work from home. I already had a lot of experience with customer service, social media, and marketing – so taking it freelance as a VA was a natural fit for me! Read more>>