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.

Te Jen (darren) Liao | Designer/Creative Director, Musician & Actor

I’ve always loved fashion, but I love fantasies & what I cannot imagine even more. The thoughts behind my designs are to combine the best of my imaginations for ancient fantasies with the best of my unimaginable imagination. Providing customized one of one fashion experience to each and every one of my customers. Read more>>

Alex Gil | Creative Director

My thought process behind starting my media company was rooted in a deep desire to capture memories that people can cherish forever. I wanted to create high-quality visuals that preserve the emotions and moments that matter most, allowing them to live on for generations. By starting my own business, I was able to focus on delivering that level of quality and care to each client, ensuring their memories are captured in the best possible way. Read more>>

Jc Camarillo | CEO of CAMARILLO beauty & Celebrity MUA

When I first decided to pursue my own makeup brand I was inspired by rejection. See I had been in the beauty industry for years and was a house name on social media yet brands were not reaching out to work with me. I understood that the industry wasn’t ready for minorities, specifically Latino men with beards to be the face of their cosmetic lines. Understanding that is what inspired me to take action and start my own makeup line. I consider CAMARILLO my second business as I have been a freelance MUA for over 16 years and that is also a business. Read more>>

Aj Diaz | Creative & Entrepreneur

I’ve always been someone who looked at the whole picture when I was working. I wanted to know what everyone did and what everyone’s role was in the company. By doing that I was able to see where work was allocated and what the pay was. Then I would see how much the owners of the company were making annually. That right there showed me that I had to be on the path of becoming and owner and starting my own business. Read more>>

Lucy Phung | Painter/muralist

I’ve been freelancing part time for over 10 years. I got laid off from my day job when Covid hit, so with nothing to lose I decided to go full force with my art career. Read more>>

Kia Illulian | Entrepreneur

Wanted to incorporate the use of technology into our business model. With all the continuous advances in modern technology, there are some that are benefitting hospitality. This is where the RIPPLE machine came into play. Custom and quick latte art for our customers to enjoy! Read more>>

Alexis Petty | Spiritual Healer, Alchemist & Mentor

I didn’t think I would ever be doing the work I’m doing now. I always wanted to impact people’s lives in a meaningful way, in a way that matters. I was really into fitness and personal development at the time and people were always asking for help and advice. They were unhappy, out of shape, and stressed with life, parenting, and work. They were seeking quick fixes; they wanted their lives to be better but didn’t understand that you have to find and heal the root of a pattern or problem to create lasting, impactful change. Read more>>

Eduardo Yera | Entrepreneur and go getter

I realized that working for someone else often led to dead ends and disappointment. Despite putting in the hard work, my value only went so far. That’s when I knew I needed to start my own busines where my dedication and effort would directly shape my success. By building something of my own, I could create real value, not just for myself, but for my clients and my community. It’s about taking control of my future and turning my passion into something meaningful and lasting. Read more>>

Zainab Djiwo Mansary | Founder & CEO Chains Mother corporation

After I finished full-time college around 2004, I started working for retail companies such as Zara, United Colors of Benetton, and another brand whose name I don’t recall. I had a difficult relationship with one manager who felt that I was overstepping my role. It was at this point that I realized I didn’t like being subordinate. This realization led me to consider starting my own business, as I didn’t enjoy being in a subordinate position. Read more>>

Tynisha Johnson | Certified Personal Trainer and Nutrition Coach

Starting my business derived from my passion for fitness and the desire to encourage others to live a healthy lifestyle as well,

I’ve always been into fitness in some capacity; In school I ran track and danced. As an adult, I continued with dance in the church, participated in races annually in the community and most recently started to compete in the world of bodybuilding. Read more>>

Danielle Leyva | Social Media Influencer

Starting my own business as a content creator was a natural progression that stemmed from my desire to blend creativity with entrepreneurship. As someone passionate about creating content, I realized that social media offered the perfect outlet to build an authentic, engaged audience. Over time, it became clear that the demand for quality content was growing, and I saw an opportunity to make this my full-time focus. Read more>>

David Ruzicka | Experience Writer & Creative Director

A thought process? What’s that?! In all honesty, starting my own business sort of snuck up on me. The main driver along my winding path has always been attempting to tell unexpected new stories; bringing people into wildly fun and strange experiences. In other words, that came first — and the business followed along behind. I guess it always WAS a business; I just didn’t think of it that way. Read more>>

Nicolette Sikelianos

I started my business, ALIGN Wellness in hopes to help cultivate communities of well rounded individuals. Through fitness, nutrition,mindset coaching, meditation and mindfulness, sound healing, journaling, self reflection, and community events my goal is to guide any and everyone on their path to becoming the best version of themselves. I truly believe the this starts not only within each individual, but within the support of the community as well.  Read more>>

Tre Hunter

I’ve always had an entrepreneurial mindset I guess. But the idea of having “my own business” was never really the main focus. I just began to grow and evolve in different areas where I started to feel I had something I could contribute to the culture discussion. Traveling was a big component for me as an adult because it helped me begin to truly understand what I liked more in depth. Read more>>

Priyanka Annuncia

My idea emerged from a desire to address a persistent issue I observed. After spending over 8 years in the fitness industry, I repeatedly saw my clients struggle to find affordable, high-quality activewear that was both flattering and available in their size. Six years ago, the market was lacking in inclusive options, with many major brands being more exclusive than inclusive. This left a lot of people without suitable choices. Read more>>

Laura Brown

From the first time I picked up a brush and painted for the first time I knew art was something I could not live without. As an artist you sort of have no option but to start your own art business. There are no companies that can hire you to paint for them, so if you want to sale your art, you have to take a deep breath and go for it. Read more>>

Deanne Panday

Motivation to teach & educate everyone the true way to health & wellness. Read more>>

Anna Hackman

Honestly, there wasn’t a thought process behind my business. Alot of what I produce is dictated by what the farm produces and how I have to figure out to use so it doesn’t go to waste. Case in point, how I started The Naked Botanical. Read more>>

Gina Stoj

I originally entered this business because my son is an actor. I noticed a lot of top agents/managers weren’t willing to invest time into developing highly talented emerging actors. They didn’t want inexperienced actors on their books — but without experience, how are these actors supposed to grow? It felt like a bit of a catch-22. I realized the industry needed an agent who was brutally honest and willing to work hard for their actors, even at the early stages of their careers.  Read more>>

Mike Capes

There is no clear or set path when you’re trying to break into filmmaking, so for me, as a writer/actor sometimes you have to create your own lane to get your work seen and out there at a significant level. After years of putting the work in and honing my craft, opportunity finally met me half way and that gave way to creating a production company with my creative partners, who are also great my friends. It’s a huge opportunity to find an investor who believes, not only in your creative project, but also believes in you and my thought process is always don’t mess this up. Read more>>

Tauni Maya

I wanted to make a difference and make an impact. Until recently “fertility” and “reproductive choice” was a taboo topic. People do not want to talk about it but the reality is infertility is just like any other disorder/disease. We have all kind of support, awareness, education for everything from diabetes to cancer but there’s not a lot going on for fertility when I first started 11 years ago. I wanted to help make this topic less “taboo” and provide support and education! Read more>>

Caroline Madden

The incredible story behind the business, called Never Say Die, came out in 2013. To summarize, Never Say Die was the first American-bred horse to win the Epsom Derby in England. The horse got the name because when he was born, he couldn’t breathe. The vet tried everything to save him, but nothing worked. Finally, Robert Sterling Clark, the horse’s owner, gets home late from a party, grabs a bottle of bourbon from the tack room, and shoves some bourbon down the colt’s throat. Read more>>

Ian James

I’ve always been creative and wanted my profession to be an output of my creativity. As a kid, I dreamed of being an architect (when other kids wanted to be exciting things like a race car driver or astronaut). When I entered high school, I began to appreciate the power of aesthetics and how clothing/accessories can influence people’s perceptions. Read more>>

Martha Santos

When I first brought my dog, Miru, into my life, he quickly became my world. Living in Washington, we spent countless hours exploring the stunning hikes and landscapes that the state has to offer. But as my partner and I prepared for our longer adventures, I noticed a glaring gap in the market: while we had endless options for portable energy bars, there was nothing equivalent for my dog—only single-ingredient treats or low-quality biscuits filled with fillers. Read more>>

Nem Perez

I started my company, Storyblocker, after recognizing the need for greater control in tools that integrate artificial intelligence. Moreover, I wanted to create a tool made by filmmakers, for filmmakers. It’s essential to build a tool that truly understands the market. We’re seeing a significant gap between traditional Hollywood production workflows and AI filmmaking seen online. Our plan is to create an all-in-one solution to bridge that gap. Read more>>

Hritik Mehta

create, and freedom to bring unique visions to life. Starting Sinema Inc. was a natural extension of my lifelong passion for art and creativity. This sense of liberty drives everything we do at Sinema Inc. Whether we’re crafting a commercial that captures the essence of a brand or telling a story that resonates with an audience, the goal is to create something that feels authentic and impactful.  Read more>>

Mayra & Robert Alvarez

Starting our own business has been extremely out of our comfort zone! We both went to college with the goal of obtaining a good steady job. Starting a business was never in our radar. We’ve always love hosting parties for our kids and one day it just hit us. We wanted to pursue our entrepreneurial impulse and decided to take a risk. Starting this business has been the most stressful yet rewarding experience of our lives and we couldn’t have asked for better business partners than each other. Read more>>

Valery Rieka

Starting your own business is always a challenge. It’s even more difficult when you’ve recently moved to a new country, don’t know anyone, and are building everything from scratch. The only thing you have is yourself. Read more>>

Sri Divel

I really had to find a solution for independent restaurants to strategically advertise. I founded the Culinary CMO to bridge the gap between the exceptional culinary experiences the locations are working so hard to create and strategic marketing, driven by a passion for both the art of food and the science of business. My goal was to help restaurants and food brands thrive by crafting compelling narratives that resonate with their audiences.  Read more>>

Vanessa Voltan

Starting my Pilates studio was driven by a deep passion for Pilates and a desire to share its benefits. Recognizing a market gap, I saw an opportunity to offer a unique, comprehensive experience by combining the Cadillac, reformer, and Pilates chair in one class. Additionally, I aimed to create a stunning, client-focused environment where individuals could feel inspired and motivated. This combination of factors led me to establish the most beautiful and innovative Pilates studio in Los Angeles, prioritizing high-quality instruction and a personalized experience for every client. Read more>>

Melanie Dieveney

I fell in love with Pilates when it transformed my body after having my daughter. I wanted to share that with other new moms. So I took the leap of faith and started my small business out of my garage until I grew big enough to rent a space. Read more>>

Jiaci Yan

As a videographer, my passion for my work has always driven me to invest time and energy into perfecting every project I take on. Initially, I believed that simply being a videographer or photographer would be fulfilling enough — being part of something great. However, as I participated in more projects and my reputation grew, I began to notice a shift. My voice started to carry weight, and people began adjusting their plans based on my ideas. Read more>>

Christina Hultberg

I have a very circuitous process for starting my business, it is not like many others. I really never thought I would begin or even own a business but Covid changed that, like so many other small businesses. I studied architecture in college and bought a 1910 Craftsman bungalow 22 years ago. My boyfriend and I had been planning on remodeling our kitchen beginning in April 2020 and then the Covid pandemic hit. Read more>>