Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Jason Suski, Founder of crEATe by Chef Jason, located in Arendtsville, PA, USA.

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

At crEATe by Chef Jason, we offer:

  • Personal Chef Services For Private Dinner Parties.
  • Catering For Small Events.
  • Dine-In And To-Go Small Plates Available @ The Markets Of Hanover.

Tell us about yourself

I was born and raised in Buffalo, NY. My passion for food started at a very young age. My father was a chef who operated his own catering business, molded young minds as a culinary arts vocational school instructor, and maintained his active duty in us army national guard.

At the age of 14, I began to follow my father in the kitchen, going to work with him on the weekends. Even though I was only washing dishes and peeling potatoes, this is where I would find my passion for culinary arts. I began to watch, listen and learn the ins and outs of a professional working kitchen, all while skipping paychecks because my father believed in building a work ethic.

I continued to hone my skills, then attended Johnson & Wales university in Charleston,SC, where I graduated with an associate’s degree in culinary arts. I fell in love with Charleston and the delicious low-country southern cuisine and thus decided to continue to work and live in charleston post-graduation.

I held multiple positions while in Charleston as an executive chef, banquet chef, and corporate executive chef in local restaurants and hotels. While in Charleston, I had the opportunity to cook for several high-end clients. While I can’t name anyone here, it will make for a great dinner party conversation!

I love to engage our clients in any and all conversations about food. My attentiveness, creativity, and passion are tangible in all of our food! And what motivates me every day is challenging myself to perform better than the day before, creating something new for our customers to enjoy!

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

I would say the biggest accomplishment as a business owner is that I get to "Practice what we preach," and that is building a relationship with local vendors! We pride ourselves on purchasing locally and supporting our community! We strongly believe in fresh, local food.

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

The hardest thing that has come with being a small business owner is that you have to wear multiple hats, like hr, payroll, marketing, and purchasing!

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

3 Tips That I Would Give To Anyone Looking To Start There Own Business Today are;

  1. Know your "Magic number"! Everyone will have a magic number that will relate to how much products/services you need to sell in order to turn a profit!
  2. Be prepared to work! Day in and day out. Owning a small business is very rewarding because you get to see how your business grows, due to the hard work you put into it!
  3. Schedule time off! Yes, making money is vital to your business success, but if you don't take time for yourself to relax, you will not be mentally and physically prepared for the daily challenges of running a small business.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

Our team has an extensive amount of culinary knowledge to be able to customize menus to suit a wide array of customer needs. So don’t be shy in letting us know what we can create for you!

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://createbychefjason.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/createbychefjason
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/createbychefjason/

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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