Starting a business takes more than ambition — it takes grit, risk, and, as Ayesha Foote of Southern Dwellings and Designs Inc. will tell you, the right legal support. In this fun interview, I sat down with Ayesha, a real estate entrepreneur from Little Rock, Arkansas, who shared how she built her company from scratch, the role Rocket Lawyer played in her journey, and why every small business owner — no matter how small — should protect their “baby” from day one.

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From Dental Hygienist to Real Estate Visionary

Ayesha didn’t plan to start a business. In fact, she began her career in healthcare as a licensed dental hygienist. But after an unexpected layoff and a series of life changes, she felt a deeper calling.

“I was complacent,” she says. “But I knew God was pulling me toward something more.”

That “something more” eventually became Southern Dwellings and Designs, a full-service real estate firm in Arkansas that’s expanding into interior design and new construction.

Why Legal Support Matters — From Day One

Like many first-time entrepreneurs, Ayesha didn’t realize how important legal protection was until she needed it — fast.

“Immediately after I opened my firm, my first client presented an issue I had never faced before,” she recalls. “That’s when I learned I needed to cover my assets.”

Ayesha signed up for Rocket Lawyer right away, a platform that gave her peace of mind and access to legal documents, advice, and protection without hiring a full-time attorney.

“Rocket Lawyer gave me that layer of safety as a new business owner. You never know what could come up when you’re dealing with the public.”

Scaling Up with Rocket Lawyer

Ayesha hasn’t looked back since. Over the years, she’s used Rocket Lawyer to:

• Create custom contracts and legal forms
• Get advice from licensed attorneys
• Trademark her business name, slogan, and logo
• Create third-party vendor agreements
• Protect her real estate transactions

Through Rocket Legal Plus, she gained access to on-demand legal resources, which proved especially valuable as she began scaling her business and engaging with investors and developers.

“Too Small” for Legal Help? Think Again.

To the business owners who say they’re too small for legal services, Ayesha offers a strong warning:

“Get Rocket Lawyer. When you start a business, it’s your baby. You’re feeding it, nurturing it, protecting it. Why wouldn’t you safeguard it legally?”

She emphasizes that size doesn’t matter — any business can face legal challenges. In fact, the earlier you prepare, the fewer headaches you’ll have down the road.

Building with Faith, Research, and Risk

Ayesha’s growth hasn’t come without risk. She candidly shares how starting her firm felt like walking off a cliff — but also how faith, family, and proper preparation kept her grounded.

“I had to walk by faith. I had to launch out into something I wasn’t planning,” she says.

She also warns against the “fake it till you make it” mentality. Instead, she advises entrepreneurs to:

• Do the research: Learn the numbers. Understand your business. Know your profit & loss and balance sheets.
• Seek business education: Take free courses on business management, accounting, or marketing. Use university-based Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs).
• Write the plan: A written business plan and financial projections are essential for growth and funding.

The Importance of Knowing Your Customer

Ayesha also learned the hard way that not every market is a fit.

“I went into areas that didn’t match what I was offering,” she admits. “I had to reset, recalibrate, and literally move the business.”

But that experience helped her refine her strategy and reinforced the importance of knowing your customer — and knowing when to pivot.

Embracing Risk as a Growth Tool

“Without risk, there’s no growth,” Ayesha says. “Comfort will kill your vision.”

Ayesha encourages entrepreneurs to surround themselves with mentors, supportive family, and business friends who challenge them to step outside of their comfort zones — even if they’re naturally introverted like her.

Her advice? Take calculated risks. Learn from every step — even if it doesn’t go as planned.

Final Words: Believe in the Vision

Ayesha’s closing message is simple, yet profound:

“It’s your vision. No one else will believe in it like you will. So do the work. Build the foundation. And protect your business with the right support — like Rocket Lawyer.”

Learn More About Ayesha Foote’s Work

• Business: Southern Dwellings and Designs Inc.
• Website: southerndwellingsinc.com
• Location: Central Arkansas, serving Little Rock and surrounding areas
• Services: Real estate sales, interior design, new construction consultation

Ayesha is a testament to what’s possible when purpose meets preparation — and a reminder that protecting your business legally is not optional, it’s essential.