If you’ve ever found yourself cooking at midnight, posting on Instagram at 6 a.m., and still feeling behind by lunchtime… welcome to the reality of food entrepreneurship. Growing a food business in Vancouver requires passion, but passion alone isn’t enough. Time management is what keeps your business sustainable.
Balancing production, marketing, admin, and personal well-being can feel impossible, but with a few simple systems, you can stay organized and protect your energy (and sanity).
Here are key strategies to help you manage your time more effectively while supporting your business growth.
1. Plan Your Production Like a Pro
Production eats up the most time, which means it needs the most structure.
Smart production tips:
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Batch your cooking days instead of spreading them out
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Standardize recipes and processes to reduce guesswork
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Create weekly prep lists so nothing gets forgotten
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Use timers, schedules, and workstation systems to stay efficient
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Track how long tasks actually take - you may be surprised
When production is predictable, everything else becomes easier to plan.
2. Schedule Marketing Instead of Doing It “When You Can”
Marketing is usually the first thing to fall through the cracks, even though it directly affects sales. The trick? Treat marketing like a production task.
Try:
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Setting one day a week for content creation
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Pre-writing captions for promotions and product drops
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Using simple scheduling tools (Meta Planner, Later, Buffer)
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Repurposing content - one video can be 5 posts
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Creating a monthly marketing calendar you can actually stick to
A little consistency goes a long way, especially for food brands relying on visuals and storytelling.
3. Protect Your Admin Time
Admin tasks aren’t glamorous, but they keep your business running. Ignoring them only creates stress later.
Weekly admin essentials:
- Invoicing and bookkeeping
- Ordering ingredients
- Communicating with suppliers or retailers
- Forecasting production needs
- Checking your margins and pricing
Block off one quiet hour per week, preferably not after midnight, to handle everything calmly.
4. Learn to Say No (or “Not Yet”)
Not every opportunity is a good opportunity. New entrepreneurs often say yes to everything, which quickly leads to burnout.
Ask yourself:
- Does this help me grow?
- Do I have the capacity?
- Will this pay off long-term?
5. Rest Isn’t Optional, It’s Strategy
This industry is demanding. Long hours, physical work, and constant decision-making take a toll. Without intentional downtime, creativity, quality, and productivity all drop.
Rest can look like:
- Taking one full day off (yes, truly off)
- Walking without your phone
- Meal prepping for yourself
- Delegating tasks when possible
- Setting non-negotiable personal boundaries
Remember: a burnt-out chef can’t run a thriving business.
