Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Andrea Sprague, CEO of The Holistic Chef, located in Sandy, UT, USA.

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

The Holistic Chef is a personal chef service for busy, health-conscious individuals and families. I specialize in cooking for people with food allergies and on special diets and showing them that food can still be delicious and satisfying even without the ingredients they need to avoid. I prepare all meals in my client's homes with the highest quality local and organic ingredients. All of my menus are customized to each client's specific dietary needs, health goals, and taste preferences. I typically cook one day per week in each client's home and create meals for 3 to 5 days, leaving it all in the fridge ready to heat at dinner time. My customers are mostly busy professionals who have at least one food allergy in the house. They are frustrated over how to get everyone to eat together at the dinner table without making many different items. I also cook for many people who are about to go through cancer treatment or surgery and want extra support to get nutrition in while they might not feel like eating.

Tell us about yourself

I am a Health Supportive Chef & Nutritional Therapy Practitioner. I left a steady corporate career to attend culinary school back in 2007 when I had to relearn how to cook for myself after I found out I had multiple food allergies. I had been sick for years, suffering from daily headaches, joint pain, mysterious rashes, and weight gain, and no one could tell me why. It was through experimenting with my diet and trial error that I discovered the immense healing power food could have. All of my health problems went away, only from changing the foods I was eating. I then became a trained Chef and dedicated my life to helping others heal in the same way.

I am on a mission to help people live their best life, focusing on nutrition's role in their overall wellbeing. I utilize healing diets and nutrient-dense foods to create menu plans that are health-supportive for each client and delicious and satisfying. I have a passion and talent for taking traditional recipes and figuring out how to make them allergy-free and STILL impress even the pickiest eater.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

I am extremely proud of the online course I created, showing others how to cook gluten-free and create the level of savory dishes and baked goods that I do myself. But I think my biggest impact has been helping people discover what foods make them feel better and which ones lead to an increase in poor health. I have done this for people I cook for, but also those who have attended my lectures and classes. This is my biggest joy, helping to clear up all the confusion and supporting people in listening to their bodies, and learning how to eat in a way that supports their health.

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

Trying to be good at all parts of running a business and doing everything myself. I started my business because I love cooking for people and am passionate about how food can impact health. That does not mean I am good at marketing, sales, or social media. I have learned over time that I do best when I hire people to do those functions for me that they are best at, so I am free to do what I am best at. This is a big struggle when you don't have a ton of money in the bank. But our service suffers when we try to be all things.

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

  1. Gather a team! You don't have to do everything yourself. Establish what you are good at and hire help for areas you are not.
  2. Establish a solid presence online and be clear about what you offer and how to reach you. Create a website and match social media platforms. People will go online to check you out and get a first impression. If your website is weak, or all you have is a Facebook page for your company, they may keep looking elsewhere. Help yourself to be seen and found.
  3. Network with other businesses which complement what you do but don't compete with you. Who would be a good fit to partner with, possibly do an event together, or put your services or products into a bundle together? This doesn't have to be forever. It could just be a one-time promotional event. If you have a brand new company that no one knows about yet, partnering for an event with a company that already has a following can help you get new customers.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.theholisticchef.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theholisticchefandrea
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/holisticchefs/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chefandreasprague/

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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