Whenever he’s not teaching Biology at South High, you can often find science teacher Brad Zerman in his kitchen, kneading dough.

Zerman has done something that most teachers wouldn’t think twice to do. Either it’s too exhausting or they say they don’t have enough time. Zerman has created his own bagel company while being a coach and a teacher. He spends meaningful time preparing his own ingredients and creating unique bagels. 

“I decided, one day during quarantine, to learn to make and bake bagels. I would post about it on my Instagram and people started reaching out. It took a run from there,” Zerman said. 

Though the COVID-19 quarantine of 2020 was a big reason why he started baking, he also said he wanted to learn how to do it because of his family 

“It’s definitely food that my whole family has at gatherings. It’s a special feeling to make them, knowing they’ll love it,” Zerman said.  

Creating a small business in the depth of quarantine is already hard, but students, family, and friends made his business boom and get well-known around the area. 

“The support from everyone in the community is something that motivated me to keep this business going and not give up on it just because quarantine is over,” Zerman said. 

Zerman wants this business to be successful just like any other business, but he said he knows he’ll have to put in a lot more time and effort into it and become almost distant from his other cares and hobbies.

“I would have to drastically increase how much I make at a time,” he said. 

Not only will he have to throw away other hobbies but create a whole new system to keep it thriving. Zerman said he is not willing to go that deep into the business just yet and likes where he’s at right now. 

“I don’t do many sales during the year, so I don’t have to balance it with coaching and teaching too much,” he said.

Again, he said has a system that works for him and it makes people want to buy bagels. When Zerman is baking a batch, he posts the necessary information on his Instagram, @z_bagels. People who want to purchase, order through direct message and pay through Venmo. His bagels are New York style, and his top-sellers are “cinnamon sugar” and “everything.” Zerman said his favorite bagels to eat are sesame. His bagels cost $12 and come in orders of 6. 

Something that a lot of small businesses think about when they first start is how they can make money to even begin. 

“There was very little money needed; I had most of the equipment upfront and ready,” he said. 

Since he picked a hobby that was close and personal to him, he was able to start it with ease and not have to worry about the little things. 

“When I am busy though, I wake up early and go all the way till night. It takes a long time to bake them since it’s just me and the oven,” Zerman said. 

Obviously, it takes dedication, but for Zerman it’s not something that he stresses because of the love that goes into the business. 

“Something I would like to say to anyone wanting to create a small business or any kind of sales, is to do your research and don’t hesitate! Do what you love to do and make it your joy. Do something that is worth doing for you,” Zerman said.