Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Jacob Cohen, Co-Founder of Kismet Bagels, located in Philadelphia, PA, USA.

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

My business is called Kismet Bagels. We make an old-school, water-boiled long fermented Bagel. We also made several flavors of cream cheese, special Bialys (Bagel's long-lost cousin), and spices.

Our customers are honestly everyone. Anytime you're dealing with food, even bread specifically, it's universal. We'll have a 19-year-old walk into the Fishtown shop who found us on Tik Tok, and then the next customer will be an 85-year-old couple who exclaims, "I haven't seen Bialys in 30 years!" and buys a dozen. It's a wonderful feeling to be able to cater to EVERYONE.

Tell us about yourself

I have always been naturally drawn to business. Even as a child, I have my own resale business on eBay selling Beanie Babies during the 90's boom. My wife and I were baking just for fun in the early days of March 2020 when everyone was quarantined. We loved the bagels we had made and started selling them & donating the money to hospital workers and charities. It took off, and we now make over 20,000 bagels a week. We are in 50 stores for wholesale, have our own shop in Fishtown, and are opening a stand at Reading Terminal Market in the Fall of 2022.

What motivates me each day is that I spent a number of years doing things that I didn't want to be doing. I never felt like I had found my purpose; I was always searching. When this business took off (by accident, mind you) - I knew immediately that it was what I was meant to do - so I hung onto that feeling. I genuinely love what I do - the people that work for us, the customers we know and love, the beautiful food we get to make and share with the world, all of it. It's incredible. I will wake up at 3 am 7 days in a row on 2-3 hours of sleep and not complain because it's just the most fun I've ever had in my life.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

I'm incredibly proud of our culture. The food business can be a nasty, toxic place, and I am beyond proud to say that we've cultivated a positive, supportive and respectful culture (all while having fun and laughing a ton) in our various locations. I never want to let that go, no matter how much we expand. We have a zero-tolerance policy for egocentric behavior, attitude, and any sort of nonsense. Just be a good human, that's all we ask - we'll teach you the rest.

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

Resisting the urge to try and please everyone. I myself am the type of person that wants to say yes to absolutely everything - but that can be dangerous for far too many reasons to list.

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

  1. Make sure that you have savings in the bank - you're going to need them for at least two years.
  2. Never stray away from your values.
  3. Don't be afraid of anything. Dive in and give it; you are all. Don't listen to any of the naysayers - do what you feel is right and what you believe in - you'll never have any regrets.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

I'm always available to consult for anyone that needs anything business-wise. Hit me up on Instagram at @jacobcolincohen or @kismetbagels - thanks for reading!

Where can people find you and your business?

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

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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