INTERVIEW | Make Money by Building a Business That Fits Your Life with Sanaa Abourezk

Sanaa Abourezk is a Syrian-born chef, cookbook author, and owner of Sanaa’s Gourmet Mediterranean in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. A 2023 James Beard Award finalist, Sanaa has spent more than two decades sharing the food and traditions of her Syrian heritage while championing healthy, plant-forward cooking. She has authored five cookbooks and built a thriving restaurant by staying true to her food, her values, and her community. In this episode, Sanaa shares the lessons she learned from surviving the early years of her restaurant, managing cash flow, retaining great employees, and deliberately choosing a business model that gives her both financial stability and a fulfilling life. On this episode we talk about: How Sanaa went from an agricultural engineering degree in Syria to becoming a chef and restaurant owner in South Dakota Why she refused to compromise her food by adding burgers, fries, or other items just because customers suggested them The importance of cash flow and why entrepreneurs should build more financial runway than they think they'll need How Sanaa managed every aspect of her business in the early days, from cooking and accounting to cleaning floors Why treating employees well and making them feel valued can dramatically improve retention and customer experience How she self-published cookbooks when traditional publishers told her there wasn't a market for her ideas Why Sanaa has intentionally chosen not to franchise or open additional restaurants How to design your business around the lifestyle you actually want Top 3 Takeaways Cash flow can make or break a business. Revenue and profitability aren't enough if you don't have enough cash to cover payroll, rent, insurance, supplies, and unexpected disruptions. Build enough runway to survive the slow periods before assuming your business will become cash-flow positive. Don't compromise what makes you different. Sanaa was repeatedly told to add familiar American foods to her menu, but she stayed committed to her Mediterranean concept. That consistency helped her build a loyal customer base that valued what she uniquely offered. Success doesn't have to mean constant expansion. Sanaa could have opened additional locations or franchised her restaurant, but she chose to build a profitable business that gives her employees stability, allows her to take vacations, and lets her continue doing what she loves. The best business model is the one that supports the life you want. Notable Quotes "If you think your business needs two hundred thousand dollars to build, you ask for four hundred thousand." "If you believe in something, you just stick with it." "I would never serve something I don't eat. Period. That's it." Connect with Sanaa Abourezk: Instagram: @SanaaCooks27 Cookbooks: Sanaa's five published cookbooks A Word from Our Sponsors: - The most successful business owners don't do it all themselves — they delegate. Upwork lets you build a team of highly skilled specialists for every function your business needs, so you can focus on what you do best and let experts handle the rest. Visit Upwork.com right now and post your job for free! - Go to Leesa.com for 30% OFF select mattresses (through September 13, 2026) PLUS get an extra $50 off with promo code TMM, exclusive for my listeners Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices