Ryan and Bre Elliottās story begins at a restaurant. They worked there together for 5 years and after some time, they started thinking of ways to open their own restaurant. The stars aligned one day when they happened to drive by an old Little Caesarās building for lease. They knew that the location was meant to be.
Ryan and Bre credit the local community as a key part of what makes their businesses successful. They offer affordable food and their eggs and some of their protein is sourced locally from farmers around the Creston, IA area. One big surprise that has come from owning a restaurant is the catering orders. Ryan said one of the best days for Begginā for an Egginā was the day they fulfilled a 600-person catering order for the local college. Another highlight was when Begginā for an Egginā was named one of the top 5 omelets in all of Iowa!
The biggest learning experience for the Elliottās was when they were trying to open their business. āThe initial budget completely changed from what it started at,ā Ryan said. āThe day-to-day stuff was easy. Figuring out overhead costs and the little things were hard.ā Reflecting on the opening for Begginā for an Egginā, Ryan stated that he wished they wouldāve opened sooner than late fall.
There have been a few constants that have contributed to Bre and Ryanās success. Shopping locally and finding deals have remained important since the beginning. Begginā for an Egginā possesses a unique name, which makes it easy for customers to find online. Takeout food has been a huge hit since the pandemic started and the Elliotās have adapted their business to better accommodate that increase.
The first four months of Begginā for an Egginā were challenging. However, word of their exceptional food eventually started to spread, and they began to gain customers. One of the key pieces of advice the Elliottās shared for new business owners is, āFind someone you trust and something you know. Background experience helps a lot. Working as a team is why we do so well.ā
Begginā for an Egginā received a loan through the SICOG revolving loan program which they said was very helpful. The Elliottās also thanked Jamie David, Regional Director for the South Central Iowa SBDC for her help. āShe was very concise and organized. She gave us a lot of pricing options for our menu and went over every aspect of our business with us.ā Looking towards the future, Bre and Ryan would eventually like to open their own sit-down location. They would like this location to be within a 45-minute radius to ensure it runs smoothly. If you would like to keep up with all Begginā for an Egginā has to offer, check out the links below.
Website/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/B4anE
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/b4ane/