Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food services but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Michael Weinberger, Founder of Chef Michael's LLC, located in Berwick, ME, USA.

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

I am the chef/owner of Chef Michael's Personal Chef Service in Berwick, ME. My core business is cooking for clients on a weekly basis. We create a menu, I shop for the ingredients (utilizing local, organic, and farm fresh produce, meats, and fish), prepare the meals in their kitchen, package them and store them in their refrigerator or freezer. I also cook for dinner parties, cooking classes, and prepare ala carte-delivered meals.

Tell us about yourself

The easy answer is: I love cooking! I've cooked in restaurants since I was 12 years old (I'm 55 now). I gained experience through training with many talented chefs in several Boston area restaurants. After I moved to southern Maine, I began building a business plan to start my own personal chef business. The idea actually came from an article my mom sent me about a chef from the Boston area who started one. At the time, personal chefs were fairly rare. I shelved the idea for several years but revisited it after my son became ill with a rare form of Epilepsy called Lafora disease. As his health declined, I decided it was the perfect time to launch the business. Mostly to have the flexibility of schedule to spend as much time as I could with him. That was back in 2017. After 5 years, the business is booming. By far, the best business decision I've ever made.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

I love bringing my experience and personality to my clients in the form of cooking and food. Whether it's my weekly clients or single dinner parties, I give all I have to make their experience positive and memorable. Most of my dinner party clients are repeats or guests from previous years, so I truly feel I've accomplished what I set out to do.

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

Because I'm a business of one, I'm responsible for everything from bookkeeping and billing to scheduling, paying taxes, health insurance, client correspondence, and of course, cooking. I do have servers I will use for larger jobs, but the vast majority of the business rests on my shoulders.

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

  1. Hussle, Hussle, Hussle. Join your local chamber of commerce and attend as many networking opportunities as you can. Hand out business cards to everyone. Educate yourself on social media marketing. There are so many opportunities to advertise for free or very little. Facebook, Instagram, and Google all offer free platforms to grow and promote your business. Also, build a website that will draw people in. If you believe in your work, let it be seen in your advertisements and website.
  2. Run your business the way you'd expect a business to run if you were the client. Respond to emails quickly, respect your clients and do everything in your power to give them the absolute best experience you can. Also, know when to outsource. If you're not good at bookkeeping, hire a CPA who is. If website design is foreign to you, look into someone who specializes in it. Know your strengths and your weaknesses as business begin to come in.
  3. Have a vision of where you want to be in a year, five years, or ten years. Be flexible but also keep yourself focused on those goals. As my business continues to grow, I am in a situation where I need to decide whether to take on additional employees or keep the business where it is. In my field, the demand for the service is definitely there. Regardless, keep your audience engaged and excited about what you're doing. Word of mouth is an amazing tool for growing your business.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

There was some great advice I got from an entrepreneur workshop I took when I was building my business. A funny but great tip that came from a small business lawyer was: take the job and figure out how to do it. Sounds funny, but in my first couple of years, it proved to be a mantra for me. Sometimes going just outside your comfort zone can make all the difference in your growth. Listen to those who are successful. It doesn't even have to be in your field. There are many similarities in any successful small business.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.chefmichaelsme.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chefmichaelsme
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therealchefmike/?hl=en
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-weinberger-4b29b593/

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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