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Posted: Mon 31st Aug 2026
5 min read
"That first project gave me the confidence that I was on the right path."
That's how Iselle Maddocks, founder of Rhoam, describes landing her first proper client. It's a line that sums up something every new founder needs to hear: the first "yes" isn't just a sale. It's proof.
Iselle set up Rhoam in Cheltenham to help small and independent businesses untangle the systems behind their work, from Shopify stores to Squarespace sites, stock management to day-to-day design support. But before any of that, there was one client who said yes first.
Iselle's first proper client didn't come from a cold pitch or a paid ad. It came from a local business workshop, the kind of room full of people figuring things out at the same time she was.
She recalls:
"My first proper client was . We met at a local business workshop while we were both setting up our businesses.
"I built her website, and we've grown together ever since. What started as my first client has become a genuine friendship and one of my biggest cheerleaders."
It's a reminder that the first customer doesn't always come from the most obvious channel. Sometimes it comes from simply showing up, in a room, at an event, alongside other people building something of their own.
For Iselle, that first project changed the way she thought about the whole idea of client work.
"It reminded me that running a business isn't just about finding customers; it's about building relationships," she says.
That shift matters for anyone starting out. It's tempting to think of a first customer as a transaction to tick off, a line on a spreadsheet that proves the business idea works.
Iselle's experience suggests something different: the value of a first client can outlast the project itself, becoming a source of support and referrals long after the invoice is paid.
The Bird's Nest Consultancy project wasn't just an emotional turning point. It was also where Iselle worked out how she actually wanted to run her business.
She notes:
"That first project gave me the confidence that I was on the right path.
"It pushed me out of my comfort zone and gave me the chance to test, refine and improve the way I work with clients. Those early lessons still shape my business today."
That's an important distinction for anyone about to take on their first paying client. It's not just an exchange of money for a website, a design, or a service. It's an opportunity to find out what working with real clients actually feels like, and to build the habits and processes that will carry the business forward.
"Every new project taught me something," Iselle adds, "helping me build the processes and confidence that have become the foundation of my business."
Today, Rhoam works with small and independent businesses across Gloucestershire and beyond, from record shops to motorsport venues, helping them bring scattered platforms and systems into something calmer and easier to manage.
It's a world away from that first workshop meeting, but the foundations were laid there.
Your first client might not come from where you expect: Iselle met her first client at a local business workshop, not through marketing or paid outreach. Showing up to rooms full of other founders can be just as valuable as chasing leads.
Treat the first project as a test, not just a transaction: It's a chance to refine how you work with clients, not only to prove you can deliver.
Relationships outlast projects: A first client can become a long-term supporter, referrer, and friend if you treat the relationship as more than a one-off sale.
Every project is a lesson: The processes and confidence that shape a business rarely come from one big leap. They build up, one client and one project at a time.
