Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Eben Altmann, Founder of Alt Kitchen, located in Philadelphia, PA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Alt Kitchen is a ghost kitchen facility that offers an alternative to high-overhead, long-term leases. We provide entrepreneurs with the kitchen space and all the equipment they need to scale their businesses. Our customers are small business owners that need a lower barrier to entry and growth within the food industry.
Tell us about yourself
I started out in B2B marketing before leaving my desk job to become a butcher and charcuterie maker. I eventually started my own craft meat business and, in doing so, recognized the need for alternative commercial kitchen spaces in the marketplace. What motivates me every day is being able to help small business owners take a chance at following their passion and making their dreams a reality.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Operating a business that truly meets a need within the marketplace. It's incredibly rewarding to provide business owners with the resources they need to take the next step with their businesses and their careers. It feels less like providing a product or a service and more like giving people opportunities.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
Finding and maintaining a balance between running a business and leading a life outside work. Our business is a 24/7 operation, which adds an extra layer to ownership and management. It's important to put guardrails in place for yourself to ensure that running your business isn't coming at the expense of everything else in your life. That is a challenge and something that needs to be consistently worked on and maintained.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Be prepared to adapt. You can and should have a well-considered plan for your business, but understand that chances are very good that you'll need to change that plan based on real-world factors, and you'll need to adapt on the fly.
- Don't be afraid to ask for help. In my experience, the personality types that are drawn to being an entrepreneur often skew toward people that want to do as much as they can on their own. This determination can be useful, but don't let it become counterproductive. Understand when you need to ask others for help.
- Take time to reflect on and appreciate your accomplishments. People that are driven are often always looking to tackle the next challenge. Don't forget to appreciate achievements before moving on.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.altkitchen.co/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/altkitchenphiladelphia/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/altkitchenphila/
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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