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.

Mike West | Online Sales

Nic Labella and I have long been off road enthuseiest and have been involved in desert racing for many years. We both were committed to careers in public service and always talked about the days when we would have the oppotunity to open our own shop to sell parts and give back to the off road community. Read more>>

Sammy Lubeck | Real Estate Agent

My professional career prior to giving real estate my full attention can best be described as a Swiss Army knife. As a former math teacher, sports analyst and director of business development, there were many aspects about those roles I absolutely loved and learned from. At the same time, my professional growth and freedom were limited time and time again. Read more>>

Scott DeBoard | Owner

I was retiring after 36 years of working in a great job. As the family and I discussed the “what’s next” question, we came up with the idea to start our first business. Since most of the family are avid gamers in one form or another, we decided to start a gaming store. However, it needed to be something special. Read more>>

Jalpa Pandit | Jewelry Designer, Gemologist, Private Jeweler

I am a Jewelry Designer & Gemologist trained at the Gemological Institute of America. I have close to 25 years of experience in the jewelry industry. Read more>>

Barbee Hauzinger | Photographer + Drone Pilot

For me, starting my own business was about being in control of the life I wanted for myself. I had been working in a commercial studio for 2 years, but it was a toxic environment. I decided to harness and zone in on photography skills during my time there, built up a portfolio, and then to go out and start making money for myself. Read more>>

grey eyes | Vocalist/Rapper

That I wanted to make music I love and plan things out in a business like manner in order to become a success. I pretty much do greyXeyes for fun nowadays but I was well aware that it might take 5-10 years to get fully off the ground. I believe I’m approaching my 5th year as greyXeyes now. Read more>>

Toni (Tonisha) McSwain | Mentor

My thought process was there are girls that will encounter the struggles I encountered at a young age and they will need someone to be there to help them through and build them up. Read more>>

Tkacia and Rick Fred | Nature & Travel Photographer

We both love photography and nature, and it first started out as fun. Going on drives to the mountain to get out of the hustle and bustle of the city and taking pictures of all the beauty around us. After a while, we decided that we wanted to share that beauty with others. So that is what we did. Read more>>

Gary Kalpakoff And Cyrus Mejía N/A | Raven’s Heart Gallery Owners, Photographer & Metal Sculptor

Cyrus Mejía’s Answers: Raven’s Heart Gallery started from a casual conversation. In 2015 my friend and fellow artist Gary Kalpakoff and I were talking about our town of Kanab, how it was starting to grow, and what we’d like to see happening here. Read more>>

Jennie Uhlmann | Realtor

I was a teacher and school administrator for years as I raised my three daughters. I always loved the idea of owning my own business- challenging myself and feeling proud of what I might be able to accomplish. However, I also have the heart of a teacher. Leaving teaching was not easy for me, but I knew that if I never tried to build my own business, it would be a lifelong regret. Read more>>