Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in marketing but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Amy Myrdal Miller, Founder, and President of Farmer's Daughter Consulting, Inc., located in Carmichael, CA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Farmer's Daughter Consulting provides professional services to food companies, commodity boards, marketing orders, seed companies, and non-profit organizations. Services include nutrition communication, nutrition marketing, influencer outreach, social media, and event planning and management.
Tell us about yourself
I grew up on a family farm in North Dakota. I started my professional career in public relations working for companies and organizations that represented farmers. I later worked for organizations like the California Walnut Board and Dole Food Company, sharing insights with influencers and consumers about how and where our food is grown. My last employer was The Culinary Institute of America, where I planned professional conferences and leadership retreats for food service and culinary professionals. These professionals knew very little about agriculture and how hard farmers and ranchers worked to provide food for the rest of us. After seven years in that job, I decided to found Farmer's Daughter Consulting to be an advocate for farmers and to help build bridges of understanding between farmers and food system leaders.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
I've been in business for nearly nine years, which I consider significant. Launching a business is hard work, but maintaining success requires even more work. I've managed to maintain or increase revenue year over year by diversifying services and revenue streams, including publishing a cookbook titled Cooking a la Heart: 500 Easy and Delicious Recipes to Help Make Every Meal Heart Healthy.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
While I've hired attorneys, CPAs, website developers, IT specialists, and a few sub-contractors for specific projects, nearly all the work that this business requires must be done by me. I started the business knowledge. I didn't want to have employees, which meant I needed to be committed to doing the work for each client project. I also have to manage tasks like payroll, bookkeeping, accounts payable, and more. The work never ends...but I love what I do and am inspired to keep doing this work on behalf of farmers and ranchers across the US!
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Talk to a lawyer and a CPA to ensure your business entity makes sense in terms of taxes. I started as an LLC and quickly learned my business should be a corporation to save money on taxes.
- Find mentors who can coach and encourage you when you need support.
- Be honest about how hard you want to work. Owning your own business should bring you joy, not be a tiresome chore you dread.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.farmersdaughterconsulting.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FarmersDaughterConsulting
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amymyrdalmiller/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amymyrdalmiller/
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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