Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Phil Hennenfent, co-founder of Henn House BBQ, located in Altona, IL, USA.

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

Henn House BBQ is a full-service catering company that also owns a food truck and produces our own bbq sauce in local retail stores.

Tell us about yourself

Our story is quite unique! What started our business in 2014 was actually winning a Smoker in a local recipe contest in 2012. I am a farm boy and grilled a lot but never smoked meat before. I am also completely self-taught. So in 2014, my wife Johanna decided to go to nursing school, and we thought this would be a good side business while she focused on school.

Wow, we were not ready for the explosion in business! Within a year, I worked 50 hours a week at a full-time job while cooking overnight, and Johanna would deliver during the day. Talk about burning the candle at both ends! In 2015 we also launched our own line of bbq sauce that is still in stores today. My wife graduated from nursing school in 2016, and by 2017 we decided that I would become full-time in the bbq business.

Walking away from a paycheck was the scariest thing I have ever done but by far the most rewarding! Our weekends were filled with weddings and events almost every weekend, but now being full-time, I felt we needed to be working during the week, so we started the food truck locally, setting up at various businesses around town. Last month, we just added to the fleet a 30ft food trailer, and we supply food at a new local brewery. The business has grown over the years, and I think that is what motivates me, along with helping other entrepreneur's on their journey. My motto is "Always Chase Your Dreams" you never know where they can take you!

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Building a successful business from the ground up with no idea what I was doing.

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

With everything we do on our phones now, I feel one of the hardest things to do is separate business and family time. Along with the costs of everything rising and still trying to remain profitable.

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

  1. Ask for help! There are so many more programs available to help answer all the start-up questions than when I started.
  2. Remember where you started! There will be days that you want to give up, everyone has those days. Just keep driving to that next goal, and it will all be worth it as you remember why you started.
  3. Don't let other people get you down. It takes a special person to go out on their own and not under the safety net of a job and paycheck, and some people just can't grasp that. Your closest friends and family will be your biggest critics as they care and worry about you; mine did for sure! And now they are some of the proudest fans!

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

If I can operate a successful business, you can too!

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.hennhousebbq.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HennHouseBBQ
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hennhousebbq/

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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