Woman on iPad next to little

Running two Businesses: Confident Cooking and Tea for You

Tell us your name and a bit about your family? When did you become a Mum and to whom?

Jacky Farbrace and I am 54. My husband is Kevin, 56 and we have been married 15yrs. We have two children, Michael 20yr and Lucy 17yr.  We also have our spoilt Westie Darcy.

What’s your business called?

I have two business. Confident Cooking and Tea to You.

Can you describe it in one sentence?

Confident Cooking –  I will show you how to cook basic, tasty family meals and support you in ditching the ready meal and takeaway along with meal planning and easy to use recipes.

Tea to You – I provide an Afternoon Tea service which is delivered to your home for your enjoyment as well as traditional cakes and cupcakes made to order.

When did you become a Mumpreneur and what inspired you?

I had my first business 7yrs ago doing Book keeping for self employed individuals.  This came about wanting to be flexible around the children when they were at school and being able to do more things with them in and around the school, like attending ALL the plays, fairs, PTA events, sports days etc etc.  It also overcame the need for constant child care during school holidays.

How did you fund your start up?

Out of my own money.  I cut down my days at my paid job and started taking clients on until I had enough to quit my job.

How do you manage working around your children?

When they were at school all my work was done between 9am -2.30pm and in the evenings if necessary.  Now it is done around being a taxi service for my daughter between college, work and boyfriend. My son is at university now so he is completely independent.  I also have the added responsibility of taking my elderly mother to and fro doctor and hospital appointments, so the flexibility still comes into play.

Can you describe a typical day, what tasks do you have to get done, how do you manage your time?

I get up around 8am (I know that’s late, but I can) quick cuppa and a look at facebook & Instagram. Take daughter to college, 16mile round trip. Home, a bit of breakfast, tidy kitchen, put any washing on and attend to any other household jobs I may have.  If I have a Tea to deliver that day, then all household jobs wait until the afternoon as I have fresh scones to make and sandwiches to prepare.  All Cakes would have been made the night before. Most Teas are booked between 12pm & 2pm.  Squeeze in some lunch have another look at Facebook & Instagram.  In the afternoon I will plan content for Confident Cooking, recipes, meal plans, What will I video or photograph me cooking.  Plan dinner (will it be something I can use in my cooking group).  4pm, collect daughter from bus stop in town (the bus doesn’t come out to us).  I then sit and have a cup of tea and a natter about her day for half an hour.  5pm, check diary to remind myself what I am doing tomorrow and rest of week, it’s an age thing, brain of a gold fish, then start preparing dinner.  I may or may not set up camera ready to video or photograph what I am doing.

This is a typical day, but on a busy day, I will fit in grocery shopping, a trip to the doctors or hospital with my mum (she has regular check ups for her cancer for which she is in remission and on a waiting list for a new knee).  Squeeze in a trip to the dog groomers and vets, a catch up with friends over a latte or a chat with my dad and there you have my life.  Oh, Husband comes home anywhere between 6 & 8pm, so a catch up with him, back on Facebook & Instagram, then my time (Corrie), glass of red or a G&T, soak in the bath and bed around 11pm.

What challenges have you faced in your business and how have you overcome them?

The main challenge is always money.  Wanting to invest in the business with coaching, Website development, Social media campaigns and support, merchandise and advertising material.  Have I overcome them, not really, it is all on a wing and a prayer and what I can afford at the time.  It’s frustrating because I know to be able to invest would grow my business and allow these things to happen.  Chicken & Egg.

What’s the best thing about being Mumpreneur?

Doing what I want to do when I want to do it.  Having control over what I do and how I do it and being able to drop everything to be there for my family and friends.

What are your plans for the future?

I want to grow my cooking business passively to a point where it is earning me enough money that my husband can take early or semi retirement. The plan is that he will be able to do this in 5yrs time.

What advice would you give for someone just starting out in business?

Just do it.  I spent too many years thinking about my business until I was so unhappy with the constraints of a paid job that I decided to go for it.  Don’t be scared.  It does help to having a really supportive husband.

Is there anything else you’d like to tell us?

Don’t let other people put you off, follow your own instinct and do what you love.  They say hindsight is a wonderful thing, but I wasted so many “what if’s” and “if only’s” that I could have been at my 5yr plan and beyond by now.  But, better late than never, at least I won’t wonder now, because now I know.

facebook.com/confidentcooking

www.confidentcooking.net

Confident Cook on Instagram

Tea to You on Facebook

www.teatoyou.net

Tea to You on Instagram