Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Sebastian Cortez, owner of Sebastian & Co., located in West Vancouver, BC, Canada.

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

I own an artisanal high-end butcher shop With a South American style combined with European flair. Most of my customers are Foodies looking for high-quality ingredients.

Tell us about yourself

I ended up butchering by accident. I say I wanted to leave the restaurant industry, take a summer job cutting meat and never look back. I would say my motivation to keep doing what I do is to have the freedom of cutting and displaying my products the way I want to, which has put us on the map.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Being able to open a thriving business in Vancouver's risky city and actually make it.

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

It's all on your shoulders. Every little problem some of your staff might have always come to you plus I am a lead by example kind of boss and a team player I still work really hard doing grunt work.

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

I think it's very important to learn how to run a business first. I know for a fact that I was up not being able to do this without my partner; not everyone is good at everything, so I recommend it's always a good idea to have good business partners that are very different in skill settings than you are.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

I have a lot of friends who own businesses. Everyone says it is really hard work, especially when you're getting started, so my advice to anyone thinking about this is to be ready and prepared to work extremely hard like never before.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.sebastianandco.ca/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Sebastian-Co-178426962221050/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sebastianandco/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/sebastianandco

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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