Lynsi Baker opened her first business 19 years ago to meet the needs of her children, whom she was raising as a single parent. That first business, a daycare named Strictly 4 Kids, was just the start for this Des Moines-based entrepreneur.
“I never thought we would be as successful as we have become. When I started, I was just doing what I could in order to get by,” Baker said.
She and four of her six children, Eriana Brown, 23; Alexis Brown, 19; Kenadi Brown, 17; and Aaron Brown, 14, operate four businesses. Baker also has two other sons, James Shorter, 29, and Emmanuel Baker, 5. The businesses are Strictly 4 Kids, child care; Strictly Good Eats, which is a food truck; AB Kid N Play, which specializes in children’s parties and a catering business that is an offshoot of the food truck.
Baker has encouraged her children to become involved with their own businesses so they will not have to depend on anyone for a living — and also to keep them busy.
“My oldest son being incarcerated for a crime he didn’t commit led me to become more protective of my younger children,” Baker said. “Keeping them booked and busy also adds a layer of guidance and protection for the younger children.”
She added: “I’ve told my children to always keep a good name and to stay humble as you meet with success. And most importantly, always talk to God first before you start any venture,” said Baker.
Building good credit and making an investment and watching it grow are some of the life lessons Baker is teaching her children through entrepreneurship. On his 14th birthday, Baker presented her son Aaron with the equipment to run a business. It’s called AB Kid N Play and sets up everything customers need for a child’s party, such as bouncy houses. This business is a good fit for Aaron because he loves children and has already experienced some success. He was booked for most of the summer.
Alexis Brown works at the day care business with assistance from her mom and her sister, Eriana Brown. Kenadi Brown is in a Culinary Arts program at Des Moines Area Community College in Ankeny. She also helps with the businesses. Eriana Brown runs the food truck with the help of her siblings. The entire family teams up to do catering jobs. The food truck is not open daily, but Baker operates it as a pop-up.
“My children have school and other jobs, so they are not available every day. Also, by being a pop-up, we create a desire for our product,” said Baker.
The family has loyal customers and regularly sells out of food. Eriana Brown lets her 1,700 Snapchat followers know when the truck will be open. Fried catfish fillets and gigantic stuffed baked potatoes are two of the most popular items on the menu. Baker also ran an Airbnb in a house she owns. She now has a plan to turn the house into a respite home for people with Down syndrome. Baker would also like to open a commercial kitchen in the future where she would lease space to others.
For the second year, Baker and her children offered free meals on Thanksgiving Day to Des Moines-area residents as a way to give back to the community that has shown them so much support, she said.
