Many books on startups and business talk about how there are right and wrong reasons for starting a business. So, we asked a handful of successful founders about their reasons and the thought-process behind starting their business.

Lauren Perry | Candle Maker

Let me introduce you to Body and Soul Candle, your go-to destination for the ultimate relaxation experience. Our journey began in 2018 when I personally experienced the unpleasant side effects of toxic paraffin wax in store-bought candles. As someone who relies on candles for relaxation, I couldn’t simply give them up. Determined to find a solution, I delved into the world of candle-making. Read more>>

Samantha Barrajas | Mother & Entrepreneur

I was a Starbucks Manager (soon to be District Manager) and I loved what I did and where my career with Starbucks was headed but things took a very quick turn for me. A few months after I became pregnant, all havoc broke loose because it was the start of the 2020 Covid Pandemic. I knew I loved where I worked but being pregnant and having to travel during the at the time unknown dangers of Covid really changed my path in life. I decided to quit my job at Starbucks where I interacted with hundreds of customers a day for the safety of my family and my health. Read more>>

Dani Miller | Realtor & Mobile Bar Owner

This already established business presented the opportunity for me to take it over and take it to the next level. It is a great way to network and bring a little authentic fun to a party or gathering. No detailed spared and totally customizable, I have the ability to cater to any hosts needs. The Tipsy Roan is a vintage horse trailer mobile bar, guaranteed to turn your next outdoor event into one that all your guests will continue to talk about! Read more>>

Jay Nixon | Health Entrepreneur & Author

My journey into starting Thrive Forever Fit was driven by a powerful mix of love and frustration. On the one hand, I’ve always had an unshakeable passion for guiding individuals towards happier and healthier lives. It’s a love that’s been with me throughout my journey. Read more>>

Emily Taylor | Estate & Special Needs Planning Attorney

I started my law firm to offer personalized and accessible estate and special needs planning services. My aim was to create a practice that aligns with how I want to work with professionals—transparent, accessible, and accommodating. That’s why we offer flat fees, flexible payment plans, and Saturday hours to make high-quality legal guidance attainable for everyone. Read more>>

Mike Gutormson | Heaven’s Best Carpet Cleaning owner

I never set out to be a carpet cleaner, ironically I have owned several carpet/upholstery cleaning units over the years, clean carpets was just something I was passionate about, whether in my home or vehicles they were always clean. I have allergies, the dust and pollens would make me sneeze, relief came from clean carpets, maybe that’s the connection. Read more>>

Monique Cabelka | Wedding Photographer & Videographer

When my husband and I got married, we had a shared vision for our lifestyle. We wanted me to be a stay-at-home mom, nurturing our family, and being there for my spouse. Yet, like many millennials, we realized that we needed both of our incomes to support the lifestyle we desired. At the time, I was working in a full-time job in my chosen career path, but it wasn’t fulfilling, and I was often stressed. Read more>>

Brandon Michel | Photographer

So this is kind of a two-part answer. When our cat Violet passed away last year unexpectedly, we realized that we had hardly any photos of her other than the ones we’d taken on our phones. Even though those photos are some of our favorites, we didn’t have any professional-looking photos of her and it made us realize how important it is to document our pets’ lives as much as possible. Anything could happen at any point and we need as many things as we can get to remember them by. Read more>>

Christopher & Carissa Dalton | Writers, Actor, Directors, Producers

From the beginning, we wanted to create our own stories. We set out to traverse the traditional path and even spent eight and a half years living in L.A. and working in Hollywood. After learning from the best and working with other companies and writers, helping them tell their stories, we realized that we had a unique voice and needed an outlet to produce our own films. Read more>>

Amy Stephens | Wedding Officiant | Voted Best Officiant 2023 by Arizona Bride

I have always had the entrepreneurial spirit. I started babysitting at the age of 12 for families in the neighborhood. When a friend was talking about her wedding and how she wanted to have something really spiritual and not religious. I began to research what it takes to become an officiant. She was a yoga client of mine and had always discussed the spiritual aspects I brought to my classes and the calmness of my voice. So in 2015 I performed my first wedding, and yes I cried! In 2017 I began to market myself further in the field. Read more>>

Kaos Emslie | Author

I always wanted to be an author. It was one of those no thought decisions that I always seemed to work toward no matter where I was at in my life. Writing has always been a need, a necessity in my life, not just a hobby or a want. It’s like my brain needs that creative release, and when I realized I could publish my books it was an automatic decision. Read more>>