Readers often email us asking us for advice about new businesses they are thinking about starting and we often find that many of them don’t have a framework for thinking about a more fundamental question: why should or shouldn’t you start a business?

Below, you’ll find how successful entrepreneurs from across the city thought about this very question when they were considering whether to start their businesses.

Adam Skidmore | Licensed General Contractor

Starting my own business has been something that I’ve thought about for years, I have always had a passion for construction and building. I have worked for General Contractors for the past 10 years and have been mentored by incredible businessmen and women. I made the decision to start my own company after realizing the need for residential general contractors that emphasize communication and transparency. I have heard the same story from friends, neighbors and community members about not getting calls back from general contractors or receiving a price that seems incredibly high with no explanation. I want to change that narrative and provide our community with a service that is fair, honest and above all else dependable. Read more>>

Ariana Lazo | Co-Owner | JOJO SKYE

JOJO SKYE is a business that started with myself (Ariana) and my sister (Cristina). It came to fruition at a pivotal point in our lives. She was a stay at home mom of two, and I had just left a career I loved to care for my son who was battling health issues. These life changes and COVID 19 had taken such a toll on everyone mentally, and our situation allowed us to circle back on having talked about owning our own business. Read more>>

Vincent de Sarthe | Gallerist & Art Advisor

My decision to open an art gallery stemmed from a passion for art and a desire to create a space that nurtures creativity and dialogue within the art community. After founding a gallery in Beijing which I ran from 2012 to 2017 and immersing myself in its vibrant art scene, I was inspired to bring that same energy and innovation to Scottsdale and continue our gallery program here in the states. Read more>>

Brett Schwartz | Vice President/Funeral Director Goldsteins’ Rosenberg’s Raphael-Sacks Funeral Home

I am a fifth-generation funeral director. My great-great-grandfather, Morris Rosenberg, started his own funeral home in 1877. Later, his son Judah followed in his footsteps and started to work with Morris. One of Judah’s daughters, Jane, married my grandfather, Bernard Schwartz, a lawyer who had studied at The University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School. Bernard made the decision to join the family business and became a funeral director. In 1958, Morris Rosenberg’s Son, Directors of Funerals, merged with another local funeral home, Raphael-Sacks. My father, Harry, followed suit and became a licensed funeral director as well. In 1992, Goldsteins’, a large funeral home in the Philadelphia area, merged with our family business to become Goldsteins’ Rosenberg’s Raphael-Sacks. I received my funeral director license in 2003 after graduating from Penn State University and Gupton-Jones College of Funeral Service. I am currently a Co-Owner and Vice President. Read more>>

Chloe Allen | Women’s Athletic Clothing Brand Entrepreneur

The thought process behind starting Aptitude was a combination of things. I believed I could create products that changed the industry. I had a vision for what Aptitude could be and that drove me to create the clothing line you see today. I’ve always had a passion for fashion and I’ve always had a passion for fitness. Putting those two things together just seemed like the right thing to do. Read more>>

kaycee duncab | Salon owner and Nail artist

My thought process behind starting my own business was excitement and a little bit of fear. I was afraid to fail, but I didn’t let that stop me from creating the business of my dreams. I started my business 2 years ago when I started nail school at Mj Nailz Academy. I had no idea how much I was going to enjoy nails and it was the best decision in my life to start this career. After graduating I realized I wanted to work towards opening my own salon. It started with finding a building, then figuring out what I wanted to do with the space, and finally it all coming together and opening in April of 2023! Starting my own business has been the best thing and I wouldn’t have changed a single thing that got me to where I am now! Read more>>

Nicci Silva | Sisters C0-Owners Nicci Silva & Amy Rivera

DollyMoo was created from a place of love and healing. When feedback from friends and family was overwhelmingly positive after trying some of our products, we started small by selling DollyMoo at farmer’s markets and festivals. After a few years of hard work, affirmations, and manifestation, we were fortunate enough to open our brick-and-mortar in downtown Montclair, NJ. Since then, the shop and brand have flourished, building a solid, lively self-care community! Read more>>

Tanys Coughlan | Reiki Master, Celtic Shaman, Spiritual Teacher and Guide (Twillow Lifestyle Community) and Certified Human Resources Professional (Twillow Consulting)

I had spent 20 years in home health care starting in the field and working up to management. I was working a lot of hours and ended up in burnout twice. I knew it was time for a change. I found the Ontario Self-Employment Benefit program and I applied and after a lengthy selection process was accepted to the program. I had to decide at that time whether to use my Human resources certification or my Reiki Master Certification for my business. I went with the HR Consultancy business first because many were telling me it was more main stream. I opened Twillow Consulting in June 2015. By the end of the 8 month program sales had started to come in but it was a long sales cycle and I needed to add something so by the end of 2015 I had decided to open a Reiki practice with the idea I would expand in the future. This was the start of the Twillow Lifestyle Community. Read more>>

Gilbert Jacinto | Special Event DJ

I learned early on in life that music had an impact on me, I am drawn to the production, the individual instrument sounds and just simply the way it changes your mood. I always had a desire to be involved with music but I was never musically talented. Read more>>

Denise Kovalevich | Founder & CEO dmk Publicity

I started dmk Publicity because I wanted to offer clients more flexibility and choices when it came to their public relations and marketing campaigns. Until I started my own business, I had spent my entire career working for firms and corporations that offered a “one-size-fits-all” approach to PR and marketing. I experienced first-hand how this simply didn’t work for all clients. Some were paying too much for services they didn’t need and others weren’t maximizing those that were being offered. I decided dmk Publicity would utilize an a la carte approach instead. My clients can pay for only the projects that they need. Whether it’s a biography, press release, or overview written or a full strategic campaign, artist tour, or album release, I can provide them with what they need to be successful without “over-selling” them on the projects that they may not need. Read more>>