Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Suzana Abdul-Samad, founder of Butternut Bakehouse, located in Arlington, MA.

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

Butternut Bakehouse is a small batch bakery specializing in handcrafted pastries such as croissants, pies, and cakes. The menu is seasonally inspired using local produce and quality ingredients. We serve the suburban town of Arlington in the Greater Boston area. Our customers are primarily local to the area - parents, neighbors, area workers, teachers, and students. We are grateful to our supportive and dedicated regular customers who have allowed us to weather the pandemic.

Tell us about yourself

I have not always been a baker and only discovered the comforts of baking as a young adult. I graduated with a degree in Economics and was a banker after graduation, but an office job was not the right fit for me. I was truly inspired whenever I walked into a bakery. The smells of fresh baked goods and coffee as well the bustling of a little café was always a moving experience for me. Building my own bakery took about 15 years of planning. Initially, I went to pastry school and worked my way in restaurants and bakeries from New York, Boston, and Kuala Lumpur (my hometown in Malaysia). I had a little career pause where I stayed home to raise my two boys for about nine years, but the dream to run my own bakery with all the pastries I love was always there. Once the kids were old enough, I took the next step and started my business from my home and tested my products at farmer's markets for a few seasons. That's when the wheels started to really turn, and I had to commit to action to realize my goals finally.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

I have had so many accomplishments or milestones. Getting to opening day for the bakery was huge. Having customers tell us they love our products. A family comes in and buys out our entire menu for the day to celebrate their son's graduation and then shares the pastries with their friends, families, and strangers.

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

As a business owner of a physical brick and mortar, you are always "on," even on your weekend or days off. Machines break down. There could be flooding in the basement. There could be an electrical outage. Unpredictable things happen, and you learn to fix things on your own (like plumbing), and it can get stressful.

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

1. When starting a business - commit and persevere. Have daily goals you can achieve even when things look bleak. During construction, nailing down the whereabouts of the contractor was stressful and town permits took so long. But have faith and fill your days with little progress.

2. Hire the right people. You cannot do everything yourself. Learn how to interview, learn how to motivate people, learn how to make the work environment enjoyable for all.

3. Understanding numbers - cash flow, profit, loss, etc. Know how much you are spending. Collect data on sales. Make predictions for growth based on these numbers.

Anything else you'd like to share?

I find joy in what I do. It can be stressful and cause me anxiety at times but the accomplishments feel true.

Where can people find you and your business?

https://www.butternutbakehouse.com

https://www.instagram.com/butternutbakehouse/

https://www.facebook.com/butternutbakehouse

https://twitter.com/butternutbakeh/

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.