Becky Tranchell is no stranger to the hospitality industry, having successfully built two small businesses. Her first restaurant, Rose & Fern, did so well that she was able to self-fund the opening of Rough Pony, her Traverse City coffee shop.

Over the course of her entrepreneurial journey, Becky developed a relationship with Michigan SBDC Business Consultant Joni Krolczyk, who assisted with one-on-one consulting, business plan development, access to capital, marketing and ongoing financial analysis.

“I’ve had pretty much every job in hospitality – bartender, line cook, server, etc. I learned early on that what wasn’t going to be provided for me I had to do for myself. In my last venture, Rose & Fern, there was no such thing as work / life balance,” said Becky. “Rough Pony is a different concept by design to help me and my staff have a more balanced structure between work and life. Someday I’d like to find the right person to transition out of the business. Until then, I try to be mindful and realistic about the physical, mental and emotional effort it takes to run a small business.”

Rough Pony features Stockist Coffee, which is roasted in-house. The menu extends to fresh juice, smoothies and spritzers, and also serves simple and tasty food. It focuses on offering local items from local establishments such as Bubbie’s Bagels, Grocer’s Daughter Chocolate Shop and Lakeview Hill Farm.

Learn more about Rough Pony here.