Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and nutrition but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Briana Gee, Owner of ABLE Nutrition & Fitness, located in Tucson, AZ, USA.

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

ABLE Nutrition & Fitness provides nutrition coaching, personal training, and meal prep services. The meal prep services customers are local to Tucson and are often busy working professionals who want to eat as healthy as possible but don't always have the time to cook.

I offer nutrition coaching and personal training in both an online setting as well as in person so those clients can be anywhere. In general, my clients are men and women from about 20-70 years of age with the desire to look better, move better, and feel better.

Tell us about yourself

It was my mom who suggested I study Nutrition in college, and she was right- I found it really interesting. I knew right away that I did not want to be in the clinical setting and much-preferred sports nutrition and culinary nutrition. Once I graduated, I started working at a local gym where I opened the gym at 5 am and worked the front desk.

By noon I was "off" and had the afternoons to provide nutrition coaching to the gym members. I realized I also liked the idea of being able to train clients as well, so I got my certification in personal training and began doing semi-private training and teaching group, fitness classes. The ability to provide training and nutrition coaching to clients was really beneficial in that I could have an idea of how the client was doing in the gym and also how their eating habits were at home.

Adding the meal prep service was my way of making eating healthy more convenient because I found that many people lacked time to cook or weren't comfortable in the kitchen. Being able to offer a solution for many of the obstacles clients face when reaching for their goals is extremely rewarding.

I love being able to see a client push hard in a training session but also set them up for success with meals for the week so eating healthy isn't even something they have to stress about. Knowing that I'm providing a service that is helping people live better motivates me to keep going.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

My biggest accomplishment as a business owner was creating something that didn't exist or was hard to find at the time. Now, there are numerous meal prep companies, but when I first started the meal prep and delivery service, there wasn't anything like it in town. Clients could meet with a nutritionist but still have to figure out how to grocery shop and cook meals for themselves.

Alternatively, they could take advantage of ready-to-eat items at the grocery store, but it wasn't necessarily the healthiest choice. Bridging the gap between knowing what to eat and actually making it tangible is something that I'm extremely proud of. My meal prep focuses on eating real food from every food group, keeping portions in check, and making sure the meals are food allergy friendly.

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

One of the hardest parts about being a business owner is the hustle that comes with getting started and putting systems in place. There are times when you're not in front of a client, but you're still working because there are emails and phone calls to respond to and a lot of behind-the-scenes items that need to be done. Getting good systems in place is the key to running a business efficiently and maximizing your time so that you can still enjoy a work/life balance.

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

  1. Do your research- find how your business compares to the competition and what your niche is going to be so potential customers choose you.
  2. Organize your systems so that your business runs smoothly and do this for everything from onboarding and training new employees to the phone script when answering calls so that you're not in a position where you, as the business owner, have to do everything.
  3. Create a relationship with your community, such as an annual charity event or partnerships with fellow business owners. A great way to continue to grow your business is to get in front of people and have community events that you can invite them to.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

Don't forget to have fun. The instant your business is running your life, take a step back and evaluate the systems you have in place. Adjust when necessary so your business is providing you with the lifestyle you want.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://ablenutritionandfitness.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ABLEnutritionandfitness/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ablenutritionandfitness/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ablefit

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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