Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Byron Hailey. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Byron, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Are you happier as a business owner? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job?
Lately, I’ve been grappling with the idea of whether being a business owner is worth the constant uncertainty. The thought crosses my mind more often than I care to admit—especially during moments when I feel financially stretched. At the moment, my business is still in the early stages, and while I’m passionate about what I do, it hasn’t yet reached the level of financial stability that I need for the future I’m envisioning. I’ve been thinking about the kind of stability a full-time job could provide—consistent paychecks, health insurance, a 401K, and the ability to save up for long-term goals like buying a home. These things are hard to come by when your income is unpredictable, and right now, the uncertainty of my business sometimes feels like too much of a risk.
The last time this thought hit me hard, I was sitting at my kitchen table, calculating how much more I’d need to save in order to qualify for a mortgage. The numbers weren’t adding up, and I realized that if I had a regular job with benefits and a steady paycheck, I could reach these goals much faster. I felt the weight of reality: owning a home, saving for the future, and securing things like healthcare were all slipping further away. The freedom of entrepreneurship felt less like a privilege and more like an obstacle to achieving the financial security that’s crucial to my peace of mind. I found myself wondering, “Wouldn’t it be easier to just take a job where I don’t have to worry about how to pay for things each month?”
I spent the next few days weighing the pros and cons of going back into the workforce full-time. The stability that a job could bring seemed like a safe choice, but at the same time, I felt torn. Giving up on my business wasn’t something I was ready to do, but the idea of stepping back and putting my focus on something more financially secure was becoming increasingly tempting. There’s a part of me that enjoys the freedom of being my own boss—the flexibility, the opportunity to create something from scratch—but then there’s the reality that those benefits don’t pay the bills. I thought about the long-term goals I have, like saving for a house, securing healthcare for myself and my family, and planning for the future. Right now, it feels like my business is holding me back from achieving those things as quickly as I’d like.
Ultimately, the conclusion I came to is that while a full-time job could provide the immediate financial security I’m craving, it doesn’t necessarily have to mean giving up on my business. Instead, I’m leaning toward taking a step back to focus on building up my finances with a stable job while continuing to nurture my business on the side. This could give me the security I need to eventually take my business to the next level without the constant pressure of struggling to make ends meet. It’s about balancing both my financial needs and my passion, and finding a way to have stability now while still working toward the future I want.
Byron, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
About Everybody Eatz, B!:
I am the proud owner of a growing catering business that I founded four years ago in North Carolina, shortly after graduating from North Carolina A&T State University. With a deep-rooted passion for food and hospitality, I began my business with the vision of bringing people together through the comfort of home-cooked, Southern-inspired meals while providing a modern touch to both intimate gatherings and large-scale events. From my humble beginnings, I’ve had the privilege of expanding my services and products, allowing my brand to reach an ever-growing audience.
My business has become well-known for its ability to craft delicious, home-cooked, country-style meals, renowned for their warmth, flavor, and authenticity. I specialize in a diverse range of meal types, ensuring my offerings can meet the unique needs of a variety of occasions. Whether it’s a private dinner, a grand wedding, an intimate holiday gathering, a large corporate event, or even a family reunion, my catering service prides itself on versatility, creativity, and excellent customer service. Over the years, I’ve catered events of all sizes, stretching from local gatherings to major events on the Eastern U.S. coast, building lasting relationships with my clients who appreciate the care and attention to detail I put into every meal. As the business has grown, I’ve continued to refine and expand my menu options, ensuring that I can serve dishes that fit any dietary need or preference. I have built a reputation for being able to tailor my meals to suit specific tastes, with an emphasis on fresh, local ingredients and traditional Southern recipes that are infused with love and care.
Recognizing the need to offer something beyond just catered meals, I expanded my business into the creation and sale of signature seasoning blends. These seasonings are designed to bring the same warmth, flavor, and Southern flair to people’s homes as I do in my catering. My seasoning line includes an array of products, such as:
All-purpose seasoning for everyday meals
Dessert seasonings for baked goods and sweet treats
Seafood seasoning to enhance fish and shellfish dishes
Vegetable seasoning for fresh produce
These seasonings have been incredibly well-received, and I have shipped them across the United States, allowing customers to experience the unique flavors of my cooking at home. This expansion has not only increased my revenue streams but also introduced my brand to a wider audience who may not be able to access my catering services.
In December 2021, I was thrilled to release my first cookbook, which is deeply personal and meaningful to me. The cookbook not only shares a collection of my favorite recipes but also celebrates the role that food plays in fostering family, community, and connection. The book reflects my belief that food has the power to bring people together, creating bonds and memories that last a lifetime. It highlights how the love of cooking is intertwined with the love of family and how, at its core, food is about creating joy and sharing experiences.
In addition to featuring delicious recipes, the cookbook serves as a reminder of the values that have guided me throughout my journey as a business owner—family support, resilience, and the pursuit of excellence. Through this book, I aim to inspire others to not only embrace their love for food but also to understand the power of cooking as a vehicle for strengthening relationships and building communities.
Business Vision and Future Growth: Since founding my business, I have witnessed tremendous growth and success, and I remain committed to further expanding my reach, both geographically and in terms of product offerings. Looking ahead, I plan to continue growing my catering services and seasoning line while also exploring additional avenues for business expansion. This includes the possibility of opening a brick-and-mortar location for events and cooking classes, expanding my cookbook to include a broader range of recipes and meal planning resources, and increasing my marketing efforts to build brand awareness.
Additionally, I am passionate about giving back to my community and am committed to using my platform and success to support local farmers, young chefs, and aspiring entrepreneurs. I plan to create opportunities for others to learn and grow through mentorship, workshops, and collaboration.
We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?
Building my audience on social media was definitely not an easy journey, especially since I initially just wanted to focus on cooking and selling food/products. At first, I didn’t realize the importance of creating a strong social media presence, but I quickly saw how much it could help me grow my business. I started by observing my peers on various social platforms, studying their content, and understanding what made their posts successful. I began to realize that to stand out, I would need high-quality videos and pictures that truly showcased my food and products in an appealing way. That’s when I made the decision to invest in better equipment and hire a marketing/media team to help with creating professional content.
Once I had the right tools and people in place, I focused on consistently posting content that resonated with my audience. I shared videos of myself preparing easy, delicious meals, highlighted the unique aspects of my seasonings, and recapped events I catered for. Additionally, I began doing interviews and behind-the-scenes glimpses of my work, which helped humanize my brand and connect with followers on a deeper level. It wasn’t an overnight success, but as I continued to post consistently, I started to see more engagement from my audience. Slowly but surely, my reach expanded across multiple platforms.
Over time, my social media presence began to grow significantly. I saw my follower count increase and more people engaging with my content, asking about my products, and booking my services. The key to this growth was not just the quality of the videos and photos I was sharing, but also the consistency of my content. I learned that building a social media presence is about being persistent and patient—it took a few years, but by continually putting out valuable, engaging content, I was able to reach a much broader audience than I could have imagined.
For those just starting to build a social media presence, my advice is to be patient, stay consistent, and invest in the quality of your content. It doesn’t have to be perfect at first, but over time, people will begin to recognize the effort you put into your posts. Don’t be afraid to study what’s working for others and apply it to your own brand. And, if possible, consider hiring professionals to help with photography, videography, or marketing, as it can make a huge difference in how your brand is perceived online. Most importantly, stay true to what you love, and your audience will connect with your authenticity.
Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?
Building a reputation within my market as a caterer and private chef has been a combination of passion, consistency, and a deep commitment to delivering experiences that go beyond just food. I’ve always believed that food should do more than just satisfy hunger—it should evoke memories and emotions. That’s why I make sure every dish I prepare transports my clients to a place that reminds them of home, childhood, or their favorite family meals. I take pride in making food that not only tastes amazing but also connects on a personal level with the people I’m serving. That emotional connection is something I believe has helped me create a lasting impression within my market.
Another key factor in building my reputation has been my focus on presentation. I truly believe that the way food looks is just as important as how it tastes. It’s an experience, and presentation is the first step to setting that tone. Whether it’s an intimate private dinner or a larger catering event, I put in the effort to make every plate and dish a visual masterpiece. This attention to detail shows my clients that I care about every aspect of their experience, and it helps elevate the overall enjoyment of the meal. It’s about creating something that excites all the senses, and I think that’s something my clients really appreciate.
When it comes to the products I sell, like my seasonings, I wanted to create something that would make the process of cooking easier and more enjoyable for my customers. I know how stressful it can be to figure out the right balance of flavors, and I wanted to take that worry away. With my seasonings, I want consumers to feel like all the hard work has been done for them, so they can just sprinkle it on their food and experience something truly delicious. Knowing that my seasonings help people create meals that taste incredible with minimal effort is something that really resonates with my customers, and I believe that convenience and quality have contributed to building my brand in a meaningful way.
Finally, the consistency of delivering high-quality food and products has been crucial in building my reputation. I’ve worked hard to ensure that every meal I prepare, every event I cater, and every jar of seasoning I sell is consistent in both taste and presentation. Word of mouth has played a huge role in my growth, and people trust me because they know they can count on me to deliver excellence every time. Whether it’s a regular client or a new one, I want to make sure they feel like they’re getting something special, and that dedication has certainly helped me build a strong and positive reputation in the market.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.everybodyeatz.us
- Instagram: Everybody Eatz.b_
- Facebook: Byron Hailey
- Linkedin: Byron Hailey
- Youtube: Everybody Eatz, B!
- Yelp: Everybody Eatz, B!
- Other: TikTok: Everybody Eatz, B!
Image Credits
FlicksbyJ – Jamar Plunkett