Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Kristin Hoffman, owner of Baker Bettie, LLC., located in Chicago, IL, USA.

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

I am a baking educator focusing on fundamentals, baking science, yeast breads, and sourdough. I teach in a variety of different ways, both online and in person. I create approachable tutorials on my website, YouTube Channel, TikTok, and Instagram. Additionally, I teach baking workshops virtually and in the Chicago area, as well as present at corporate events and conferences. I also host baking retreats for those who want a more immersive experience. I just published a baking fundamentals book, Baker Bettie's Better Baking Book!

People come to me who are looking to gain baking confidence. My students range from high schoolers who are just learning to bake and watching my tutorials in their cooking class to 30 somethings who found a passion for sourdough during quarantine to those who have been baking for 40+ years and never want to quit learning, and everything in between. They all seem to have the common goal of gaining a deeper understanding of how baking works and are eager to learn. My goal is to guide them through the process in the most approachable way possible.

Tell us about yourself

I started teaching myself how to bake when I was 19 years old. I quickly became fascinated with baking science and learned everything I could about it. It didn't take long before I started developing my own recipes. I started a blog in 2011 as a hobby to write down my recipes and share what I knew about baking science. Baker Bettie was the persona I created for the blog. I've always been into retro fashion, and I thought it was cute and catchy. Before I knew it, thousands of people were coming to my website to read my articles and use my recipes. I got tons of feedback that I had a talent for teaching, and I fell in love with explaining how baking works.

As my business grew gradually as a side hustle, I decided to dedicate myself to a profession in food for good. I went to a professional culinary school and worked as a private chef for a few years. But my love for making baking feel approachable only grew and grew, and I decided to go full-time with Baker Bettie in 2018.

Memories tend to be made around food. We remember the strawberry cake our grandmother always made for our birthday or the blueberry muffins our mom made on Saturday mornings. It's nostalgic and comforting. I want to help people feel confident with their baking so they can create more memories as they share their baked goods with those they love.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

My biggest accomplishment is getting over my fear of being on camera and speaking in front of people. I was an incredibly shy person in the beginning, but I knew that one of the most effective ways of teaching was through video and in-person classes. But the thought of speaking in front of people or in front of a camera was terrifying and uncomfortable. It finally dawned on me that I couldn't expect myself to be good at something I'd never done before. So I made a deal with myself that I was allowed to do these things poorly as long as I did them and worked to get better. It took some time, but I can now say that I am super comfortable and confident in front of a camera or an audience. It doesn't make me nervous at all anymore, and it has allowed me to grow my business exponentially and be a more effective teacher.

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

I find it incredibly difficult not to take on too much work and to set boundaries with myself with work. I absolutely love what I do, which means it doesn't feel bad to constantly be working. But this ultimately isn't good for my own mental health and for relationships with friends and family.

It is so important to be strict with yourself about how much you work. It's so easy to open your email on your phone at 10 PM and get sucked into a work rabbit hole before you know it. Nobody is there to set these boundaries for you when you own a business. You must do it for yourself.

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

  1. Don't expect perfection out of yourself. There is so much to learn, and you will make mistakes. Those mistakes are just another opportunity to learn and grow.
  2. Keep your "why" in mind when making business decisions. It will always guide you.
  3. You can't do everything! In today's world of constantly changing social media platforms and ways to promote your business, there is no way to do everything! It's great to stay in the know with what is new, but it's ok to pick and choose where to focus.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

When you're ready to start hiring for your business, be the boss you would want! Being a boss is scary and a huge responsibility. But it's so incredibly important to show your team how much you respect them and how valuable they are to the business. When employees know they are valued, they will only be more invested in doing their best for your business.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://bakerbettie.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BakerBettie
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bakerbettie/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bakerbettie
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/bakerbettie

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.

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