Napkin LLC
About the Company
Napkin LLC is a consulting company focused on mission-driven food and farm businesses at the intersection of hospitality, sustainability, and business. Founded by Maura Rapkin in August 2019, the company aims to provide solutions-oriented business planning, considering profits, hospitality, and sustainability. Napkin LLC offers services on a sliding scale, charging $50-$150 per hour based on the client’s needs. The company emphasizes community engagement and enlightened hospitality to help small businesses thrive.
Idea Behind Company
Maura initially planned to start a hard cider company, inspired by her mission to build equitability and sustainability in the food system. The idea was to grow and purchase pesticide-free apples and sell cider, a high-profit-margin product in the food industry. However, differences with the orchard owner and the impact of Covid-19 led her to pivot. In early 2020, she connected with a farm-to-table restaurant owner, which sparked her interest in back-end systems work. This experience, along with her first consulting client, the Chatham Center for Women’s Entrepreneurship, motivated her to transform Napkin into a consulting company.
Creating the Company
Maura’s consulting business began by providing operational systems development for small businesses. Her first major client was the Chatham Center for Women’s Entrepreneurship, which hired her to provide one-on-one business counseling. Over time, she realized that small food businesses often operate on tight margins and adjusted her target clientele. She leveraged her network to secure projects and applied for programs like the URA Get Online Grow Online to expand her services. Through trial and error, Maura refined Napkin’s offerings to include production capacity, system integration, hospitality management, and demand generation.
Launching the Business
Launching Napkin LLC involved a strategic pivot from a cider company to a consulting practice. Maura invested in a consultant to handle the business's clerical setup, which eased the transition. She relied on her network, friends, family, and online resources to navigate the initial stages. Website design, proposal writing, and service offerings were developed with input from trusted advisors. The launch required significant patience and continuous effort, but Maura’s dedication to her mission-driven consulting practice drove her to persevere and grow the business.
Earnings
Napkin LLC generates $8,000 in monthly revenue through two steady income streams and consistent projects. Maura’s focus on aligning her services with grant-funded organizations supporting food systems has been successful. She plans to expand the practice and build a robust roster of clients in the coming years. The key lessons learned include the importance of saying “no” to misaligned work and continuously refining her consulting skills. Today, Napkin LLC is poised for growth, with Maura actively seeking partnerships and opportunities to enhance her impact on sustainable food systems.
