Triangle entrepreneurs share secrets to six-figure salaries

Perry said she still has that old desk “as a reminder of how far we’ve come.” Her business, Taylor Made Cases, employs 17 people who create custom-designed cases for handheld computers.

Even in this tough economy, people are building their own successful businesses, with some making more than $100,000 a year.

Perry says she was making six figures within two years of starting her business. Now, eight years later, she has customers around the world.

“I went out on a limb. It's a risk that you take, but no regrets,” she said.

The economy also forced Jamie Rohrbauck to take that step. As her career in sales stagnated, she and her retired mother started cleaning houses on the side.

“I knew I had the work ethic to do it,” she said.

Today, Rohrbauck owns Dust and Mop, a Triangle-based house-cleaning company. Several cleaners work for her, and she's starting a new errand-running service this summer.

“It goes back to I wanted to be my own boss, and I wanted to create my own success,” she said.

About 10 years ago, Joe Bunn decided he wanted to go full-time working as a DJ at parties and weddings, so he hired his competition. Now, when Bunn isn't working as a DJ, he's the booking agent for 18 other Triangle DJs.

He says earning his six-figure income has been hard work.

“People think I put on a suit and tie on Saturday, and I go do a wedding, and that's the only day I work. I'm here every day,” Bunn said.

All three entrepreneurs say there is a secret to their success – hard work.

“You can go as far as you want,” Perry said. “You get back what you put into it.”