Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Alexander Teague, Founder of Chef Alex Teague LLC, located in Los Angeles, CA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
I have a private chef business that specializes in high-end dinner parties, restaurant consulting, private chef work, cooking classes, and any food-related project! I have a wide customer base, from VIPs and household names to your average household interested in a nice dinner party.
Tell us about yourself
I have been a chef for 15 years now and have always been interested in private chef work. Four years ago, I caught my lucky break and was the private chef for a professional sports team owner. This has led to other private chef work, sometimes temporary and other times long-term. Once I started getting lots of requests to do dinner parties and events, I figured I might as well turn it into a business. I enjoy bringing people together with my food and making sure people are happy.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
I would say my biggest accomplishment as a business owner has been to create a life where I am able to be flexible with my time and travel a lot. As a chef, traveling is very important to me because I love exploring different cuisines and cultures. I am also happy that I have created a solid team of people around me. Some business owners work 24/7 on their business, but I am happy to decide how busy I want to be and take the jobs that I want to do and have fun.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
I think one of the hardest things about being a business owner is that you have to learn to say ‘no’ to a lot of different people. When you start a business, people come out of the woodwork and try to sell you just about anything you can think of for your business. Deciphering the good people and opportunities from the bad is extremely important.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- I would highly recommend getting in touch with your local SBA offices (small business associations). They will assign you a mentor/s to help guide you through the paperwork, write a business plan, and help connect you with the right people to help you.
- I also highly recommend that entrepreneurs make time to take care of themselves by drawing a line between their business and personal life. It’s easy to get carried away and want to work on your business every day, but when you take time for yourself, you come back to things refreshed and with a different perspective.
- My third piece of advice is to stay passionate in your industry. Take time to see what other people in your field are doing and use their stories as inspiration and motivation to keep growing and evolving. Stagnation is about the worst thing in life and for a business. Always try to see what trends are popping up and adjust accordingly. Remember to have fun with your business and enjoy the ride!
Thank you for taking the time to interview me today!
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.chefalexteague.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Chef.Alex.Teague/
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.
Turn your craft into recurring revenue with Subkit. Start your subscription offering in minutes and supercharge it with growth levers. Get early access here.