Building Bliss: How Sara Alepin Created Community and Found Her Flow with 17hats

When Sara Alepin started her entrepreneurial journey, she had no idea where it would take her—but she knew she didn’t want to do it the way everyone else was.

Back in 2014, Sara was still teaching high school photography, spending her summers doing what many teachers do—running a side hustle to make ends meet. Her hustle of choice? Wedding photography. That summer side gig eventually turned full-time. But like many small business owners, Sara quickly realized that being talented wasn’t enough—especially in an industry where scarcity mindset often overshadowed collaboration.

“I was trying to network, but it was rough,” Sara recalls. “People would ice me out of conversations because they saw me as competition.”

Instead of letting that toxic culture drive her away, Sara leaned in. She founded District Bliss, a networking organization focused on inclusivity and real connection—where creatives and entrepreneurs could feel welcome, inspired, and supported. And in those early days of building something new and values-driven, she discovered another kindred spirit: 17hats.

A Platform That Aligned with Her Purpose

“I think you all were sponsoring a creative conference,” Sara shared. “We didn’t even go to the event, but we saw the sponsorship and thought—this platform feels like it could work for us.”

Sara signed up for 17hats in 2014—before most people had even heard of it. And she didn’t start by managing photography clients, like many do. She actually used 17hats to run District Bliss first. When she learned she could manage multiple brands in the system, she added her photography business. From that moment on, 17hats became a central tool in her business toolkit.

What drew her in wasn’t just the functionality—it was the shared philosophy.

“We wanted to feel like we were working with companies that aligned with our values,” she said. “17hats made me feel like I was valued—not just as a customer, but as part of a community.”

Contracts, Invoicing, and Ease of Use

One of the very first things Sara set up in 17hats? Contracts. She was ahead of the game.

“So many people don’t use contracts in their business, but for me it was non-negotiable. I needed something that was professional, legally binding, and easy for my clients to use—especially if they weren’t tech savvy.”

From contracts to invoicing, Sara found that 17hats made the essentials feel effortless. “The transaction fees were reasonable, it was easy to navigate, and it looked professional,” she said. “And on top of that, it made it easy for people to pay me, which is huge. If it’s hard to pay you, people won’t do it.”

Community Over Competition

In 2016, Sara’s relationship with 17hats deepened when she invited the company to attend one of District Bliss’s in-person networking events in Los Angeles. She flew out from D.C. for the occasion, and in return, 17hats invited her and her team to visit their office.

“It was really cool,” she said. “We were building a community, and 17hats said, ‘We see that, and we want to be part of it.’ That stuck with me.”

At its core, Sara’s journey reflects the best of small business ownership—resilience, creativity, and a drive to build something that brings people together. And through it all, 17hats has been there, not just as a tool, but as a partner.

“I could not have done it without 17hats,” she said with a smile.

We’re beyond honored to be a part of Sara’s journey—and to celebrate 10 years of supporting small business owners like her. Here’s to another 10 years of growing, evolving, and building something meaningful together.

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