Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Nicolette Richer, CEO of Green Moustache Organic Cafes, located in Canada.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

We are Canada's only collection of 100% organic plant-based, whole-food, vegan, gluten-free restaurant chains that source from local farmers. When you eat at our cafes, you'll leave feeling better on the way out than when you first came in. Our food is scientifically designed to reverse chronic illnesses, eliminate inflammation, heal your gut by restoring your microbiome, and reverse chronic lifestyle conditions. We don't use refined salt, sugar, or oils in our meals, and every bite is highly nutritious and always delicious.

Our customers are people who put their health first or who are health curious. And we are more than just a cafe - we are a health education hub where you come to learn about what it means to reverse your chronic conditions using food that not only heals your body but also heals the planet.

Tell us about yourself

22 years ago, my friend Bill - 72 years old at the time - was diagnosed with cancer and was given 3 months to live. He adopted a plant-strong diet, did metabolic, nutritional therapy, reversed his cancer, and lived another 22 years without any conventional treatment. That's where I jumped into the scientific nutritional research that proves that food is, in fact, medicine. I knew that I had to share this info with the world - chronic diseases can be and are easy to reverse.

So I created our collection of companies - Richer Health Consulting Inc. and later - the Green Moustache Organic Cafes. Helping people learn and heal their bodies and understand their relationship to food, where food is grown, their body's connection to soil and our internal and external microbiome, transcends learning about climate change and the planet - this is what motivates me to work each day.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

I've had many flashy wins in my life as a business owner: My book - Eat Real to Heal, having Tony Robbins reach out to us to have me on his Force for Good podcast. Landing a deal on Dragons' Den (which we didn't take in the end), delivering a TEDx talk, having the Provincial Government ask us to put our food into hospitals, getting to speak on stage with Rich Roll, teaching Physicians in China, and so much more.

But none of this compares to teaching a client how to reverse their chronic health condition - like diabetes, heart disease, autoimmune disorders, infertility, etc. When a client calls and tells me that their doctor has officially cancelled a surgery or has taken them off their meds because they no longer have their disease symptoms - there is no great feeling of accomplishment - helping people heal and reclaim their life—the biggest win of all.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

Not enough time or money. I have so many big dreams for my business - such as helping millions of people so we can crush the chronic disease epidemic that plagues our societies. Choosing to slow down and focus on a few projects is hard for me, and being weighed down by the corporate and less exciting tasks like insurance, bookkeeping, etc.

I'm a visionary, and it takes practice to know your strengths and the strengths of your team - and it takes vulnerability and skill to lead a team effectively. I try and do my best in these areas each day, but it's hard to get it right. It's also hard to simply trust that you are making the right decisions to ensure that your business succeeds each day, each quarter, and hopefully each year.

While it's exciting to be a business owner - it's also a lonely and scary role. But I wouldn't change it for the world - you just have to feel the fear and do it anyway b/c that's how you make a change in the world.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. Make a one-page business plan and only a one-page business plan before moving forward. This will show you that you have thought through every aspect of your business.
  2. Make a three-year financial cash flow forecast and present it to someone who understands numbers and isn't afraid to question every projection you make. Be open to the feedback, and then adjust your numbers.
  3. Get a mentor - a competitor crush so you have someone to call you on your sh*t, someone who'll also hold you accountable, and someone who will show you how f*king incredible you are for being brave enough to want to launch a business. You can do this - set up your systems well and then launch.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

The world needs small businesses, so launch yours today.

Where can people find you and your business?

Websites: https://www.greenmoustache.com/
 https://richerhealthretreatcentre.com/
 https://www.seatoskythrivers.com/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

Feel inspired to start, run or grow your own subscription business? Check out subkit.com and learn how you can turn "one day" into day one.