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David Mattei of Cambridge, MA felt there was something lacking in the fast casual restaurant sector. With more of an emphasis being placed on personal wellness now more than ever before, as well as a growing consciousness about where food comes from, people are craving nutritious alternatives to fast food that take the guesswork out of transitioning into a healthier lifestyle. So Mattei decided to fill this void by formally establishing Nourish Foods, LLC in April of 2014. He plans on introducing the concept using a food truck and brick-and-mortar restaurant in the greater Boston area.
“I decided to start this business because I felt there was a real market opportunity for thoughtfully raised food that’s good for the customer and the environment,” he says. “Helping local farmers in New England distribute their meat and produce is a key component of our business model.”
In addition to a growing demand for this type of service, Mattei believes Nourish Foods, LLC will be successful because it simplifies the process of attaining a nutritious meal. The health food industry can appear exclusive to those who don’t have the funds to buy organic produce, or the time to prepare meals. With Nourish Foods, those looking to better their lifestyle can order a meal rich with health benefits as easily as they can a cheeseburger and fries.
“There’s a growing demand and need for this kind of option and already we’re seeing interest from local businesses and institutions. That’s how I’ll define success: Are we selling out? Are we experiencing high traffic and volume throughout the day? Are we serving a wide range of customers? And, most importantly as an indicator, are we generating revenue and hitting our income goals?” Mattei explains.
What Mattei enjoys most about this line of work is knowing that he is helping his community by collaborating with local farms, building a diverse workforce and offering consumers food that is good for them. While the small business owner is aware that the food industry is competitive, he is one of few filling this niche around New England. The demographic for Nourish Foods is all-inclusive, and the business’ website can be located at&nbsp;<a class="link" href="http://www.nourishfoods.com/">www.nourishfoods.com</a>.
“The people who are going to be eating at Nourish Foods care about their health, the environment, and their community. It’s not just millennials or a small segment of the population anymore — it’s become the standard,’’ he elaborates.
<h2>Challenges of Small Business Ownership</h2>
“Raising sufficient capital for infrastructure and growth operations has been the biggest challenge so far. Narrowing the scope of the company — doing a couple of things well and doing them better than anyone else is a challenge,” he admits. “I’m constantly asking myself, ‘How can we position Nourish to effectively communicate our message and drive sales and loyalty — some of this comes through trial and error and some comes from having more experienced advisors critique your business model.”
<h2>Tips for Aspiring Small Business Owners</h2>
“Do your homework, speak with as many people as you can, and do your best to get an idea of what the financial reality of the situation will be. Understand how you’re going to get from Point A to Point B before you jump right in. Follow your instincts and ask for help when you need it. Make sure that the reality of your dream is attainable. 1-800Accountant can help you with that,” he chuckles.
<h2>Experience as a 1-800Accountant Client</h2>
David Mattei is a satisfied client of 1-800Accountant.
“I like knowing that I have a partner overseeing all of the details that I just can’t keep track of as a small business owner, like the financial and tax issues that my company is dealing with,” he says. “With 1-800Accountant I have complete confidence that I’ll receive the guidance necessary to operate a financially successful business.”
Photo credit: The photograph and logo included in this blog post were provided by Nourish Foods, LLC and are used with permission.

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Giving Back to the Community by Nourishing Your Health

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After noticing a lack of classic coffee shops in the historic district of Troy, Missouri, Nancy Wyatt and her family took the plunge and decided to take matters into their own hands to fill this void. In December of 2014, the Wyatts formally established Roasted Bean, LLC. In addition to Nancy, the team includes her husband, Randy, their daughter, Kristen Glenn, and her husband, Justin. The coffee shop resides in a building built in the 1920s that the Wyatts are renovating.
The Roasted Bean will serve pastries, donuts, and muffins in the morning. Then, at lunchtime, they’ll switch up the menu items and serve soup and cold sandwiches. In the late night hours, the coffee house will sell desserts like cheesecake. In addition to fresh coffee and food, the family’s renovated space includes new furnishings to create a relaxed and comfy atmosphere.
Wyatt explains why she and her family decided to start a project as huge as this.
“Well, there was nothing like it in the city of Troy. I’ve talked with a lot of different people around the city and they expressed a desire for some kind of coffee shop, and I thought we needed something like that. There are several bars, but no coffee shops! So we got a building that was reasonable in price and decided we wanted to attempt it. We made connections with coffee roasters and baristas, so we’re going to have professional training,” she shares.
The Wyatts have enjoyed the ordinarily hectic process of renovating an old structure. Gutting the building to accommodate the required service stations has given the family the creative freedom of designing their new space. Because their shop is more of a hang-out spot for coffee and conversing, they’re not too concerned about the competitors in their region that mimic more of a fast-food style.
In the meantime, while the renovations are taking place, the family is working on spreading the word about the Roasted Bean on&nbsp;<a class="link" href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Roasted-Bean-Coffee-Shop/945401158826768?ref=ts&fref=ts">Facebook</a>&nbsp;and building the website for the small business.
“Mostly a lot of word-of-mouth is going on right now because we’re on the main street in historic Troy, and we’ve talked to a lot of business owners and got the word out through them, and they’re spreading the word. They’re all looking forward to having coffee!” she enthuses.
<h2>Challenges of Small Business Ownership</h2>
In addition to financing the building, the renovation has proven to be challenging for the family – albeit an exciting challenge.
“Getting the financing for the building was a new obstacle, but it didn’t stop us. And we’re the ones getting our hands dirty with the renovations. The drawback to small business ownership is that you have no one else to blame but yourself if it fails. There will always be more than you expect going in,” she explains.
<h2>Benefits of Self-Employment</h2>
Fortunately, small business ownership has been a worthwhile endeavor for the Wyatt family, and they love their new roles as self-employed entrepreneurs.
“I like being my own boss! I like that I actually get to implement my ideas, rather than people say ‘No, you can’t do that.’ I can set my own hours, and work as much or as little as I want. I just like that freedom. If it’s successful, then we will be able to reap the profits of our ideas and hard work, and not somebody else,” Wyatt says.
<h2>Experience as a 1-800Accountant Client</h2>
Nancy Wyatt is a satisfied client of 1-800Accountant. She is receiving assistance in the form of tax consulting and tax preparation.
Image credit: The logo included in this blog post was provided by Roasted Bean, LLC and is used with permission.

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Bringing a Coffee House to a Historic Downtown District

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Jose Lugo puts on a show when he cooks his famous authentic paella. He then loves seeing a silent table of 50 hungry eaters enjoying the classic Spanish cuisine, not uttering one word as they savor every last bite of the delectable dish.Lugo, who is a client of 1-800Accountant, serves as CEO of Senor Pepe’s Paella Catering, LLC in Ft. Myers, Florida. He formally registered the small business in March 2014.The entrepreneur, who loves spending time in the kitchen with everything he needs within arm’s reach to make his magic happen, explains how his catering service is unique.“I try to stay as authentic as I can as far as what I cook up,” he says. “Most of my equipment and ingredients come directly from Spain. I go out to a client’s location, which could be a home, pool deck, park, or banquet hall. I set up all of my equipment and prepare the dishes right in front of everyone. People find it entertaining to watch as it’s all being prepared in front of them before it’s served. A lot of times, people are taking pictures of the entire process.”His specialties are paella valenciana (meat paella), paella marisco (seafood), and mixta paella – a combination of meat and seafood. But he has also come up with a Mexican version of paella, which he makes with Poblano peppers, re-fried beans, rice, beef, and chicken. While paella is typically what people want to eat, he can serve anything from Italian to Greek to Japanese offerings as well. For the kids, he’ll cook up some tasty chicken tenders or macaroni and cheese.“I take a lot of pride in preparing all of my dishes,” he says. “It’s just a privilege to be able to make authentic cuisine.”Lugo’s small business primarily serves the central and southern parts of Florida. He travels 180 miles north and south from his home in Ft. Myers on the west coast of the Sunshine State.He has a long background in the food industry, having previously owned businesses in New York and even serving up hot dogs on the corner of 56th&nbsp;Street and Madison Avenue.“I have always had a passion for food,” he says.<h2>The Perfect Recipe for Startup Success</h2>Small business owners give various reasons for what they think are the keys to making their ventures sustainable. In Lugo’s eyes, he thinks he has found a recipe for startup success that others simply don’t utilize.“This is completely out of the box,” he says. “From the presentation to the decoration to the flavors, you’re just not going to get this from other caterers. The fact that I use authentic ingredients from Spain is big. Plus, I go to your location and prepare the food there as opposed to getting food coming in on a metal tray.”<h2>Handling Small Business Competition</h2>The food service industry can be quite competitive, Lugo admits. The good news for him is that he knows he has some very special ingredients in his kitchen that others simply can’t offer.“I follow and watch what my competitors do,” he says. “I’ve noticed that some of their ingredients are store-bought. You can’t compare what you buy in a local grocery store to what I get directly from Spain. In my paella, the rice is the key. It’s special because it holds 3 times more of the broth and flavor than regular pearl rice. It’s a lot pricier, but at the end of the day, it is worth every penny.”<h2>Advertising A Small Business</h2>When starting a business, entrepreneurs should put marketing strategies near the top of their priority lists. Lugo has done just that by implementing a wide array of methods to get the word out about Senor Pepe’s Paella Catering. He currently has a website – <a class="link" href="http://www.senorpepespaella.com/">www.senorpepespaella.com</a> – and <a class="link" href="https://www.facebook.com/SenorPepesPaella">a Facebook page</a>. He also uses a site called Thumbtack that sends him a text message when someone is looking for catering services. He and his assistants wear polo shirts with the company name on them, and he hands out flyers with his contact information. In the future, he hopes to potentially put up a billboard and run commercials on TV.Among the challenges he’s faced in starting a business in the catering field, Lugo admits finances and holding himself back have been the biggest ones.“I don’t want to rush into things so I can do things the right way,” he says. “I don’t want to over-purchase or try to be bigger than I can be. I just want to grow into it and keep that same authenticity that really comes with having a small business.”<h2>Tips for Entrepreneurs</h2>Based on his experience as one of the millions of proud American small business owners pursuing their passions, Lugo offers some tips for entrepreneurs.“Follow your dream and focus on your goals,” he advises. “Stay on track and don’t take on more than you can handle. Starting a business is a step-by-step process. Don’t give up because there will be lots of obstacles. Learn from every mistake you make and make everything better in the future. Don’t go backwards – go forward.”While he loves being his own boss, he points out that there are both advantages and disadvantages to being self-employed rather than working for someone else as an employee.“You definitely control your destiny. You can make it exactly what you want it to be and grow as much as you want to grow.“The drawback is that there is not as much family time because you’re married to your business. But you get to share your benefits that come with owning a business with those around you.”Lugo speaks highly of 1-800Accountant, the nation’s leading accounting and consulting firm for small business owners and entrepreneurs.“I’ve had a lot of questions about the taxes involved in owning a business. I can call 1-800Accountant and get all the answers I need. Becoming a client has definitely benefited me.”Photo credit: The photograph of Jose Lugo was provided by Senor Pepe’s Paella Catering, LLC and is used with permission.

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Feeding Hungry Clients Authentic Spanish Paella

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Scott Beer of Oceana, California didn’t ask to become a small business owner. On the contrary, it was practically demanded of him once he started bringing his unique cookie creations with him to the sales expos his day job required him to attend. When Beer’s signature maple-bacon-Tabasco cookies caught the attention of grocery stores in Pismo Beach, Beer had no choice but to turn his hobby into a small business so his cookies could be sold in stores. In April of 2015, Come Get Your Cookies, LLC was formally established. Come Get Your Cookies is operated by Beer and his business partner, Robin Preheim, out of a home office.
“We make gourmet cookies that have a cult following. The maple-bacon-Tabasco cookie is a big hit, but we also have piña colada and strawberry-basil cookies, among others,” Beer says of his cookies.
It was Beer’s background in sales that launched him into the world of small business ownership, using cookies to lure in potential clients.
“I’m a salesman, and people don’t want to talk to salesmen. But if I have cookies, then suddenly they have a couple minutes to talk. One time, I was at an expo and I had some cookies around my table. Someone came up to me and said that I should be selling cookies! People started stopping me on the street and would say, ‘You’re the cookie guy!’ Eventually we were on the news showcasing our cookies, and we were even invited to the Emmy’s to give cookies to the stars!” he exclaims. In addition to the exotic gourmet flavors that get people’s attention, Beer believes the hard work he puts into the small business will be what brings them continued success. Although the business has an official website and online store –&nbsp;<a class="link" href="http://www.comegetyourcookies.com/">www.comegetyourcookies.com</a>&nbsp;– word-of-mouth has been the most effective marketing tool – and it comes with the most desirable price.
“We show up and we demonstrate our cookies, but the word-of-mouth has really been the biggest asset. People say, ‘You’ve got to try these cookies!’ We sold 17 dozen boxes of cookies in a new store in the first couple minutes they were on the shelves. Stores will call me and say, ‘We have someone who drives 45 minutes to get your cookies.’ It’s very cool,” Beer explains.
It is this validation that Beer enjoys most about being a small business owner.
“Every ‘Wow!’ makes me feel good,” he confides.
Beer’s brand combats competition by offering a unique product that feels like an event with every bite. Come Get Your Cookies has been particularly successful with the senior citizen crowd since they use the treats as conversation cookies and aren’t watching their figures as much as the younger crowd.
In addition to word-of-mouth advertising, an online store, and a&nbsp;<a class="link" href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Comegetyourcookies/600555506737258?fref=ts">Facebook</a>&nbsp;page, Beer gets his cookies out into the public through community outreach. He is active in local charities and non-profits like Relay for Life, and his cookies are a big hit at charitable events.
<h2>Challenges of Small Business Ownership</h2>
Beer didn’t start off with aspirations to become a small business owner, but he had to learn the ropes of entrepreneurism fast in order to please the fans of his cookies. Not knowing where to begin was the first challenge he faced.
“Nobody had any knowledge about how to start a cookie business. We got bounced around to different offices and ran wild because we had no checklist. Even making the cookies, we had to come up with a standard. There’s no format. You just have to decide, ‘I’m going to do this and I’m going to do that!’ We didn’t start out to be a cookie company, we just had to because grocery stores wanted to sell them, so we had to do what the stores required and make that happen. It’s all trial and error! But it pays off. You’re obligated by cookies!” Beer enthuses.
<h2>Tips for Aspiring Entrepreneurs</h2>
Beer believes that aspiring entrepreneurs should believe in and trust their vision of what success looks like to them. For those looking to become small business owners someday, he offers this piece of advice.
“Be yourself. So many people out there say, ‘I know a guy who tried that and it didn’t work.’ Don’t listen to anybody! Just be yourself,” he advises. I look at all of those businesses out there that succeeded, and I know there was somebody out there at one point who told them they couldn’t do it.”
It is Beer’s entrepreneurial spirit he didn’t know he had that has carried him through the uncertain beginnings of the small business.
“We hold ourselves accountable. We discipline ourselves and see what works and what doesn’t. We want to be in charge of our own destiny. We don’t like to be ruled.”
<h2>Experience As a 1-800Accountant Client</h2>
Scott Beer of Come Get Your Cookies, LLC is a satisfied client of 1-800Accountant.
“We’re actually surprised. We said, ‘Wow, we wish we would have known about this sooner.’ They’ll call us and say, ‘Here is your next step,’ and we didn’t even know we had extra steps! The people at1-800Accountant have been holding our hands throughout all of this. It’s a relief for us,” he raves.
Photo credit: The photograph included in this blog post was provided by Come Get Your Cookies, LLC and is used with permission.

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Achieving Startup Success with a Unique Cookie Business

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For commuters driving in and out of Atlanta every day, it’s easy to get stressed out by accidents and congested highways—not to mention the busy workday and the daily deadlines that come with it. One coffee shop tries to bring a little peace and joy to that frenzy with gourmet coffee on the go. What’s better than the intoxicating smell and taste of fresh-roasted espresso to soothe your nerves?&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Since 2013, <a class="link" href="https://www.dripthrucoffee.com/about/">Drip-Thru Coffee</a> has been bringing high-quality and convenient coffee to Atlanta area commuters. It draws on the tradition of gourmet drive-through coffee stands in the Pacific Northwest and pairs that with a commitment to the local community and a passion for hospitality amid a busy commuter culture.&nbsp;Drip-Thru Coffee came entirely from Christy Deen’s hard work and ambition. After more than 25 years working in the food and beverage industry at venues like Walt Disney World and the Atlanta airport, she decided it was time to go into business for herself.“I decided I wanted to work just as hard—actually harder—and build something of my own!” said Deen. “I truly just wanted to do something for myself.” And so she got to work sharing her passion for hospitality with Atlanta commuters.&nbsp;<h2>Commitment to Community</h2>Deen is showing drivers in Atlanta that you don’t have to choose convenience over quality when it comes to coffee. The Drip-Thru Coffee drive-through coffee stand gets people the gourmet coffee or tea they want without having to wait. And that’s not all they do, either.&nbsp;Drip-Thru Coffee is a small business rooted in the community and committed to “loving local.” Deen uses local vendors and suppliers as much as possible and sources her coffee from Cafe Campesino, a Georgia organization that imports organic, fair-trade coffee from Guatemala.&nbsp;&nbsp;Drip-Thru then offers that fresh, high-quality coffee with the convenience of a drive-through. Drivers order, pay, and pick up their coffee at the same window.&nbsp;Incredible customer service is also a crucial part of what they offer. The friendly and compassionate baristas help make the morning a little easier and a little more joyful for each customer.&nbsp;<h2>The Struggles of Starting a Small Business</h2>Deen loves being her own boss, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy. One of the biggest challenges she faces is maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Deen said she’d learned the importance of “making time for yourself [and your] family, and remembering that some things can simply wait.”&nbsp;Running a business will take a lot out of you, but it shouldn’t take everything. You have to be dedicated to carving out time for your other priorities when necessary.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Deen’s advice for new small business owners is to “never stop learning!” It’s so valuable for your business and for your own growth to keep learning about new things, meeting new people, and having new experiences. “Take classes, webinars, read books, attend city meetings in the prospective town you want to open up shop in, and network.”&nbsp;And Deen doesn’t get by without a bit of help sometimes, either. Her vision and passion are supported by the hardworking people at 1-800Accountant.&nbsp;“It has been a lifesaver!” said Deen. “It fits our small business budget, and I truly enjoy the availability of support when I have questions or need financial advice about the business.”&nbsp;Running a small business requires connecting with your community and investing in those relationships, both in-person and virtual. 1-800Accountant is honored to be a part of that community.&nbsp;&nbsp;

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Drip-Thru Coffee Spotlight Blog (2)

Christy Deen: Taking a Chance on a Dream

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Alex Pasternak and Aaron Shapiro are crazy about hummus. After the two roommates discovered that their hummus consumption was beginning to dent their wallets, the roommates decided they’d better learn how to make it themselves. The pair discovered that they had a knack for making their own hummus creations, and Two Brothers Hummus, LLC was born from there. The small business was formally established in August of 2014 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They do paperwork inside of their home office, but have a kitchen outside of their home where they prepare the food. Once their orders are prepared, they deliver them locally.“When we started making our own hummus, our friends tried it and they loved it. So one day I sat down with Aaron and said, ‘We should sell this and deliver it.’ From there, we started from basic recipes and then we started to adapt those recipes. We’ve made loaded baked potato, buffalo chicken, and guacamole hummus. We also do seasonal flavors. Our main goal is to bring familiar flavors to healthy foods because humus is insanely good for you,” Pasternak explains of the objective of the small business. “Our aim is to give hummus a familiar flavor to those who have never tried it — and promote wellness.”The ambitious duo is hoping to slowly replace “Super Bowl foods” like pizza and wings with healthier, fresher options. Although Pasternak and Shapiro’s small business has deviated from their majors in film at college, they’re using their film expertise to develop a social presence for themselves to sufficiently act as the faces of their company. Their small business has pages on <a class="link" href="https://www.facebook.com/TwoBrothersHummus?ref_type=bookmark">Facebook</a> and <a class="link" href="https://twitter.com/__twobrothers__">Twitter</a>.Pasternak offers the following advice for aspiring small business owners.“As someone that has no entrepreneurial experience, if you have a good idea, just find someone or find the knowledge to do it and just go do it. The only way to do it is to do it,” he says.<h2>Local Competition with Small Business Owners</h2>“There are 2 other places that are very hummus-themed in the general area. We’ve done our research and these are the only places that would provide a threat — if any — only because they make hummus. I haven’t found anyone who has done anything remotely similar to what we’re doing. In terms of advertising, our edge is going to be that we are film majors and will present ourselves with an informal attitude,” Pasternak confides.<h2>Challenges of Small Business Ownership</h2>According to Pasternak, the challenges he and Shapiro face as small business owners are still the same set of problems they experienced in the very early stages of achieving startup success.“We have a consistent client base and we’ve got some really great connections, but I still feel like the same challenges we face now are the same ones we faced awhile ago in terms of paperwork and just finding the time to get stuff done. We’ve given up every weekend we’ve had to cook and deliver,” Pasternak says. “No one cares about this company more than me and my partner. It’s thriving and it’s incredibly motivational, but at the same time, we can get caught up in school or working on film sets, so it can be very time-consuming.”<h2>Experience as 1-800Accountant Clients</h2>Alex Pasternak and Aaron Shapiro are satisfied clients of 1-800Accountant.“1-800Accountant has been really great about reminding me when calls are. When we talk, we find out something new that we didn’t know before, and it’s always something helpful,” Pasternak says.Image credit <a class="link" href="https://www.facebook.com/TwoBrothersHummus?ref_type=bookmark">Two Brothers Hummus Facebook page</a>

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Achieving Startup Success with a Hummus Delivery Service

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