Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Vanessa Bond, Founder of Bond With Health Inc., located in Toronto, ON, Canada.

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

Bond With Health’s mission is to help clients increase energy, reduce chronic inflammation and build physical strength and mental fortitude while living with an autoimmune diagnosis or inflammatory arthritis so they feel confident in their bodies and their ability to thrive while living with a chronic illness.

We do so by teaching our clients how to target nutrition and lifestyle imbalances, along with root causes for autoimmune inflammation and flares. These imbalances show up in everyday life as extreme fatigue, inflamed joints and muscles, headaches, weight challenges, and digestive distress (gas, bloating), which can impact a person’s career, ability to feel present for their family, range of motion, ability to exercise and their overall stress resilience.

Using elements like the Autoimmune Nutrition Triad, Reality-Based Planning, and functional lab testing, we can help our clients improve energy by 70%, digestion by 90%, and reduce pain scores by 30-50% within the first 8 weeks. Our business is 100% digital and serves clients across North America.

Tell us about yourself

When clients share results like, “My digestion hasn’t been this good in years” (Colitis) or “I can make a fist for the first time in a year” (Rheumatoid Arthritis), or “My doctor is taking me off biologics” (AS, RA, Sjogren’s)… That is what motivates us.

Our team members also have personal missions… we all live with autoimmune and want to help others live their best lives. My daughter lives with an ultra-rare rheumatic condition called CRMO (similar to JIA or RA). Targeting root causes and adopting anti-inflammatory nutrition and lifestyle plans have been essential in helping my teen live medication free, on her own terms. She is my daily inspiration.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Our biggest accomplishment was the launch of the Integrative Autoimmune Network in August 2022. It’s an affordable monthly online membership that brings scientifically proven anti-inflammatory nutrition, movement, and nervous system support together under one roof. Having affordable options for autoimmune is a must-do in order to truly make a difference in Health. Medical treatment can cost upwards of $25K per disease in the US and Canada; medications aren’t covered without benefits. This matters because once you have an autoimmune diagnosis, you’re at risk for developing more.

While we do offer private client support, we feel this is a much-needed service. Yes, there are many excellent programs that target various aspects of autoimmune, yet few are financially accessible to the average person living with autoimmune, nor do they provide ongoing support beyond the 8, 12, or 16 weeks. This is where our membership fills the gap.

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

Our business is 100% online, which is a blessing in many ways, especially for clients, so they don’t have to travel to appointments. They love the apps we use and prefer online appointments and coaching calls because they can meet at work, at home, and sometimes in their cars! As a business owner of an online company, it can feel isolating in terms of camaraderie with team members as we all work remotely. So we make sure we build in time for “water cooler talk” at all of our weekly online meetings. It’s essential for relationship building, planning, and fulfilling our mission.

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

For anyone looking to start a health-focused business, I think it’s important to take time to figure out who exactly you want to help, where they need the most help (that you can solve), and then WHY you want to do this. This will help with motivation on your part and will naturally attract the types of people you want to work with.

Next, find a professional community you can bounce ideas off of. Each of our team members came from referrals within my professional network.

Lastly, watch your own energy hygiene. Energy is everything, and the stress of entrepreneurship can take a physical toll. Don’t forget the basics - water, protein, sleep, and movement. This will go far in helping you stay focused, improve stress resilience, and nourish your personal, professional, and financial growth.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.bondwithhealth.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/theautoimmunefamily
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vanessa_bondwithhealth/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vanessa-bond/

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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