Are you thinking about starting a business? If so, we think you’ll enjoy reading about how these seasoned entrepreneurs thought about the question when they were in your shoes.

Lynn And Sean Owens

We loves animals, we love to share that love with others. It just made sense to start a business that allows us to do both. Read More>> 

Chelsi Wells

As I was getting ready to graduate from college, I realized I didn’t have a clear direction. My degree gave me a strong foundation, but it didn’t naturally lead to a specific path. Around that time, I came across a coffee shop that was for sale. I didn’t end up buying that particular shop, but it sparked the idea of business ownership in a way I hadn’t really considered before. Read More>> 

Jennifer Sommer-Dirks

I always dreamed about going into private practice for several reasons. Of course having control of my own schedule and being my own boss is nice, but going into private practice was also a way of having a job that combines by two areas of interest- sports nutrition and disordered eating. Read More>> 

Christina Zygielbaum

Owning a coffee shop/bookstore has always been a dream of mine. When the historic building on Main St went up for sale, it presented the perfect opportunity to turn my dream into a reality. Read More>> 

Vanessa Stephens

My wife and I have been in the tattoo and piercing industry collectively for over 20 years, we have worked for so many different studios and we wanted to create a place for our queer community. It’s one thing to be able to create art in a place where you’re just accepted, it’s another to create art in a place where you’re celebrated, loved and respected. We believe Tattoos and Piercings are sacred rituals that we create with our clients, and we wanted to open a space where people can feel that. Read More>> 

Holly Martinez

I decided to start my own business because I wanted the freedom to create something meaningful on my own terms. Working for others left me feeling limited, and I knew I had the passion, creativity, and drive to build something that reflects my values and vision. Starting my own business allows me to take control of my future, use my skills in a way that feels authentic, and create opportunities not just for myself, but for the people I serve. Read More>> 

Taryn Weiss

My business partner, Wanda McIntosh, and I have always been passionate about fitness. We learned about the concept of HOTWORX and tried out the studio in Parker. We fell in love with it and wanted to see what the business model was like. We were going to open a new studio but found out the HOTWORX Highlands Ranch studio was for sale and that made more sense financially. Read More>> 

Austin Preece

My thoughts behind starting my business were simply the need to escape the retail work environment and to do something that could provide a better life for my family. Read More>> 

Gregory Waldron

In 2022, I went through a series of personal tragedies in quick succession, and I came apart at the seams a bit. I quit my job of 30 years and knew I had to find a better way to approach life. Writing became a big part of my healing process, and I wound up meeting some other talented writers. I realized that I already had all of the skills necessary to publish books, and I decided to make a go of it as a business. Our fifth title will be released this September. Read More>> 

Christy Belz

Honestly, it came from a mix of necessity and calling. I was in a career that looked good on paper, but it didn’t feel like me. I kept hearing this inner voice saying, there’s more you’re meant to do. I had spent years in sales and then social work, listening to people’s stories, noticing patterns, and realizing that so many of us were carrying the same questions: Am I enough? Am I living true to myself? What do I do with the second chance I’ve been given? Read More>> 

Kaylene Macias

The Women’s Adventure Club is a nonprofit dedicated to improving women’s mental health through movement, sunshine, and connection. My thought process behind starting it came from a simple but powerful belief: movement, sunshine, and connection can change a woman’s life. I saw how many women around me were carrying heavy mental loads, feeling isolated, or unsure how to prioritize their own wellness. I wanted to create a space where women could show up just as they are, step outside into nature, and realize their strength—physically, mentally, and emotionally. Read More>> 

Whitney Hancock

I wanted to start Dynamic Counseling to meet a market need for high quality therapists in comfortable, home-like settings. My hope was to provide expert care – not just a therapist who nods along as your tell stories about your week – but a therapist who can enter your internal world and relational dynamics to provide compassion, insight, and change. Our therapists are also very knowledgeable in mental health diagnoses and holistic health. While some practices avoid diagnosing, I have seen time and time again where a diagnosis like OCD can be a big relief — it helps you realize you’re not alone; there is an explanation for the symptoms you’re battling; and there is also a specific evidence-backed treatment that can help. Read More>> 

Kurt Ogbewele

I was simply inspired to start my own business by my best friend at the time. Then I thought about what my coach/mentor told me when I was trying to become a Division I basketball player. He said your body is a business, which means if you take care of it, then you can compete at a high level. Then I thought it takes more than your body to compete and succeed, you need your mind and spirit to. So I created MBSB, which means your Mind, Body, Spirit Is Your Business. Read More>>