Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Janessa Sullivan, owner of Doubleside Toffee Co., located in San Antonio, TX, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Doubleside Toffee Company handcrafts delicious treats that taste good and do good through donations to local, faith-based non-profits. Our gluten-free chocolate-covered toffees, toffee popcorn, and savory almonds are consistently praised as the best our customers have ever tasted. The quality of our treats and our commitment to donating 10% of our profits to Young Life and For Her leads our customers to support us.
Tell us about yourself
Janessa Sullivan founded Doubleside Toffee in 2017 after ten years of perfecting her toffee recipe for family and friends who praised it as the best toffee ever. Sullivan is a native Texan and mom of 4 who loves making food and serving others. Sullivan desires to make a difference in others' lives and her community. "I am blessed to use the gifts God has given me to make delicious treats. The fact that this business has allowed me to support non-profits who empower youth and women in San Antonio to see their worth drives me to make more products and find more ways that I can support them."
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
I am most proud of two things: one, that my products continue to delight customers, and I cherish every review I have received. Two that I have learned so much about running a business. It has been a lot of work, but I'm thrilled that this experience has pushed me to learn so much. I have been able to take that knowledge to help fellow small business owners.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
There's no time off. I choose when and how much I work, but this business's success rests on me, and I have customers relying on me, so I work around the clock. There are so many facets to running a small business- responding to customers, posting to social media, advertising, creating products and packaging, bookkeeping, taxes, website design, cooking, delivering products, selling at markets, etc... I either have to find great employees, or I have to do it all myself.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Set up your pricing so that you are able to pay yourself. You are starting a business likely because you love what you do, but you are worth being paid for your efforts!
- Find a good method for bookkeeping. Either pay someone who knows what they are doing and learn from them so you understand your books, or find a class/mentor and learn how to do your own books well.
- Get help! Find good employees to pay for contract labor and learn from other small business owners. Another entrepreneur can encourage you, give you new ideas, teach you something, and help you find solutions.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.doublesidetoffee.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/doublesidetoffee/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doublesidetoffee/
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.
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