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.

Lucas Evans | Director of Sustainability and Research

I grew up in nature and earned a degree in Environmental Science. What I found in the workforce/modern society is a lack of context within the natural world. It’s very difficult to make positive profit without negatively impacting the planet. Our every day lives don’t account or respond to nature, rather we remain at odds or exploiting it. Coming from Texas my options were limited to working for an oil company or counting fish for various water authorities. I wanted a free market solution with a core mission of sustainability. Combing agriculture and construction became the obvious answer and is now central to the success of my previous and current business. We provide sustainable building materials to construction companies and contractors. Allowing growth and the American dream to prosper while supporting farmers, what more could you ask for?! Read more>>

Ellen McGinty | YA Fantasy Author and Editor

Authors often dread the question, “So, do you write books?” Because it’s often asked with the assumption that writing is a creative outlet only, a hobby to fill the gaps in our day. This couldn’t be further from the truth. To be a successful indie author, you must be the CEO, marketing executive, administrator, publicist, and don’t forget the intern who refills the coffee–arguably the most important job! Publishing is a business, albeit one that runs on creativity and passion. Read more>>

Jessica Hensley | Founder and CEO

My journey into starting Business Buddy was driven by a blend of passion, hard-won experience, and a deep-seated desire to support small business owners. My background is rich with formal education and a genuine love for design, coding, and marketing. However, it was the unexpected turns in life that truly positioned me to embark on this venture. Read more>>

Art Houzze | Art Curators for Boutique hotels, restaurants, luxury homes and Corporate spaces.

Courtney Bohman started Art Houzze in 2018. The idea was to take Greenville artist work into new cities. Create an Art event, partner with art enthusiast host and give back to their favorite charity in that city. The events served to showcase artists and give them a new audience. These art events were extremely successful but exhausting. This model has changed over the years, Kim Glenn joined as partner in 2021. Together they ventured into a new business direction as art curators helping to bridge the communication and creation gap between our clients and artist. Our goal is to make every project turn key an simple, that includes handling everything from the ideation, artist selection, logistics down to the installation. Read more>>