How a Backyard Hobby Became a Thriving Bee Hive Business

🐝 Episode Overview

In this episode of Houston Hustle, we sit down with Cyrus Nasr, a Houston-area beekeeper who turned an unexpected hobby into a thriving full-time business. With over 200 hives across multiple counties, Cyrus shares how he transitioned from the restaurant industry into beekeeping, built a sustainable business model, and created a lifestyle rooted in freedom, purpose, and service.

This conversation dives deep into entrepreneurship, mindset, customer service, health, and the unseen realities of running a local product-based business.

🔑 Key Topics & Takeaways

• From Restaurants to Beekeeping

• Cyrus spent 15 years in the restaurant industry before pivoting.
• What began as his wife’s gardening interest and a single beekeeping class quickly evolved into a business.
• A chance opportunity to buy 34 hives launched the venture headfirst.

• Turning a Hobby into a Full-Time Business

• Started with backyard hives and outgrew their home.
• COVID unexpectedly became a growth period rather than a setback.
• Built a workshop on personal property and scaled intentionally.

• The Business of Honey

• Operates hives across Harris, Montgomery, Fort Bend, and Waller counties.
• Sells raw honey, honeycomb, beeswax candles, bee pollen, and propolis.
• Supplies farmers markets, restaurants, and specialty retailers.

• What Makes His Honey Different

• Minimal processing to preserve natural benefits.
• Unfiltered/strained honey to retain pollen and enzymes.
• Emphasis on ethical, sustainable beekeeping practices.

• The Reality of Entrepreneurship

• Losing a top wholesale client and navigating financial uncertainty.
• Why mindset matters more than circumstances.
• The importance of adaptability and consistency.

• Customer Service as a Competitive Advantage

• Lessons from the restaurant industry applied to beekeeping.
• Why taking care of customers creates long-term success.
• How service builds trust and referrals organically.

• Redefining Success

• Freedom over hustle culture.
• Designing a business that supports life, not consumes it.
• “I can make any business work” mentality.

🌱 Favorite Quotes

• “The beehive is a medicine cabinet.”
• “You don’t worry about it — you just keep going.”
• “Customer service is everything.”
• “Success is building a business that gives you your life back.”

📍 Where to Find Cyrus

• Visit him at local Houston-area farmers markets
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hivebeefarmtx/
• https://www.hivebeefarm.com/
• Ask questions in person — education is part of the mission

Podcast Hosts:

https://www.championforestchiro.com