Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Robyn Parets, Founder, and CEO of Pretzel Kids, located in Boston, MA, USA.

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

My business is Pretzel Kids. We offer branded children's yoga classes, training courses for those who wish to teach kids yoga, and a nationwide licensing program to offer our teachers all the tools and resources they need to teach successful classes. Our customers are afterschool programs, preschools, K-8 schools, daycare centers, parents, educators, yoga instructors, and children!

Tell us about yourself

I started Pretzel Kids as a program under the umbrella of my former yoga studio. That was 17 years ago! I knew yoga was beneficial for kids in so many ways, but at the time, there wasn't a high demand for children's yoga classes. Eventually, demand grew, and so did Pretzel Kids. I created a curriculum with two educators (who were also yoga teachers), and we began offering weekend trainings so that others could teach our effective curriculum and classes. From there, things began to snowball. I began offering trainings in other states and soon developed an online course so that people could train from the comfort of their homes. In 2016 I sold my yoga studio in suburban Boston and spun out Pretzel Kids into a separate company. I launched a subscription membership program and web platform soon after that. With the licensing program in full swing, we now offer others the opportunity to grow a Pretzel Kids class-based business in their own communities. Seeing our classes and training help so many women become entrepreneurs - and help children get fit and destress - is what keeps me motivated every day!

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

I would say taking Pretzel Kids from a seed of an idea to an entirely bootstrapped business.

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

For me, one of the hardest things is juggling so many balls at the same time. Along these lines, it can be challenging to let go and accept that it's ok to ask for help or bring on someone to take over a particular job.

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

  1. Don't quit your day job until your business is generating enough revenue to support you (or at least help pay your bills). You certainly don't want to go into debt right out of the gate.
  2. As soon as your business can support additional help, hire someone(s). It doesn't have to be an employee. I would start with bringing on a contractor or freelancing to offload some tasks so that you can stay in your zone of genius.
  3. Prioritize self-care. Running a business is hard, and it's easy to keep running around the hamster wheel day in and day out. This is a surefire way to burn out. So, make sure you build in time in your day to exercise, eat well, get enough sleep, and take time out to do things that give you joy.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

Please see my personal website for more about my journey: https://robynparets.com/about/ And here's my story on the Pretzel Kids website: https://pretzelkids.com/our-story

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://pretzelkids.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pretzelkids/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pretzelkidsyoga/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/robynparets
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robynparets/

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.