Spicing Up the Entrepreneurial Game: An Interview with a Home-Based Food Business Owner

“I started cooking and selling food out of my passion for it," says Tosiya, a home-cook based out of Bangalore. “For me, it's always been a passion and hobby, not just a means to make money.”

In India especially, there's a long tradition of homemakers who sell their delectable treats right from the safe space of their homes. Many start out by just cooking for their family and friends, but soon word spreads and they end up with a regular customer base. Tosiya is one of those entrepreneurs and a recognised member of this community of talented cooks.

"My roots are in Mughlai cuisine, so that's my favourite type of cuisine to cook,” she says about how her values and beliefs merge with her business. “For me, honesty in delivering a good product that provides value for money for the customer is important, and I try to honour that. I'd say my most popular dish is the mutton haleem, which people love for its taste, quality, and quantity.”

These women challenge the notion that starting a business requires a large capital or exclusive, dedicated space. Many of them have found creative ways to market their products, such as leveraging social media and partnering with local businesses.

The same follows for Tosiya, who says that word of mouth and social media have been her go-to strategies when it comes to marketing. Her food is delivered fresh through self-pickup or delivery via partner apps.

One of the biggest challenges home cooks face in their business is the misconceptions that follow it. The lack of recognition and support for this line of work perpetuates the view that it is a ‘side hustle’ rather than a legitimate business. However, the reality is that these women are creating successful businesses that not only provide economic benefits but also preserve cultural traditions and promote healthy eating habits.

Tosiya says her ultimate source when it comes to staying inspired and coming up with new ideas for her business, comes from her family and friends who have always been supportive, and the compliments her food has received. These testimonies can be seen on the highlights of her Instagram page which is nearing a thousand followers and features pictures of her creations.

Outside of work and cooking, she tries to balance her personal and professional life by setting dedicated hours for each. Her tried-and-tested method for unwinding involves having a cold coffee after a long day, and shopping.

There are several opportunities provided for entrepreneurs to meet with prospective clients and other players in the field. For now, Tosiya says she hasn’t considered expanding her business to a physical location outside her home as her only vision, for now, is to continue delivering tasty and good quality food. She adds that being an entrepreneur gives her a sense of satisfaction and a zeal to always experience new things.

As for advice for someone who wants to start a similar business: don’t compromise on quality and taste and try your best to position your product to the right target market.

Finally, on being asked who she would have dinner with, dead or alive, she says it would be her husband and if there was something about her that might surprise people, it would be her age."

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