Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food services but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Julie Anne Rhodes, Owner and Chef of The Roving Stove, located in Los Angeles, CA, USA.

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

My clientele ranges from A-list actors and pro athletes to busy families and everyone in between. Serving such a wide range of palettes means I get to constantly develop and test new recipes within a wide range of cuisines.

Tell us about yourself

Nurturing is a deeply inherent part of my soul, so when my own daughter "flew the coup," I found a way to nurture other people's households while still indulging my creative side in developing recipes and menus to meet their specific requirements.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Staying in business for over 20 years and still feeling passionate about what I do comes to mind first - I've been blessed with great customers, interesting experiences dabbling in Food TV, and won a few awards along the way, but nothing beats the happy reviews from the customers I serve. I love knowing I am making lives easier, eating healthier, and helping families gather around dinner time.

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

Setting boundaries. As a freelance business that is highly customized to each individual client, I can only take on 3-4 clients per week, so I do have to set some rules around last-minute cancelations in order to stay solvent. Most clients respect this once I explain why those rules are in place.

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

  1. Know exactly who your target market is and how best to reach them through social media and other means of marketing.
  2. Listen to your customer and ask for constructive feedback. Not only will it help enormously with customer retention, it only makes your business stronger.
  3. Recognize new opportunities when they appear, especially when it means pushing you beyond your comfort zone, so both you and your business can grow and prosper. It will also help you adapt to the times.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

"If you love what you do, you never work a day in your life."

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.therovingstove.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/therovingstove/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/julieannerhodesofficial/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/therovingstove
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julieannerhodes/

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.

Turn your craft into recurring revenue with Subkit. Start your subscription offering in minutes and supercharge it with growth levers. Get early access here.