Meet the woman who has made $10 million from rolling protein balls

When Charlie de Haas quit her job four years ago and was left wondering where she would find the cash to pay her next rental installment, she found herself at a crossroads.

What would and could the now 34-year-old do next that would provide her with a fulfilling and creative job she might want to stay in?

Four years later, the Sydney-based owner behind the Clean Treats Factory has turned over $10 million from rolling protein balls and making other healthy treats. 

‘Clean Treats happened purely as an idea to pay my rent,’ Charlie told FEMAIL. ‘I went to Coles one day while unemployed, picked up some ingredients, put them in a blender and it worked.’

Sydney-based 34-year-old Charlie de Haas (pictured) has turned over $10 million from rolling protein balls; she started up when she was unemployed as a fun project

Charlie (pictured) shared her business story with FEMAIL, after she bought some ingredients from Coles one day, whipped up some bliss balls and sold them to a local cafe

Charlie (pictured) shared her business story with FEMAIL, after she bought some ingredients from Coles one day, whipped up some bliss balls and sold them to a local cafe

'I'm not even a good cook. In fact, I hardly do any cooking,' Charlie laughed-  but she said she 'seemed to be good with treats and they just worked' (pictured: her protein balls)

‘I’m not even a good cook. In fact, I hardly do any cooking,’ Charlie laughed-  but she said she ‘seemed to be good with treats and they just worked’ (pictured: her protein balls)

Speaking about how her multi-million-dollar business took off, the 34-year-old explained that after she whipped up the batch of bliss balls in her home kitchen, she took them to a local cafe where they proved popular with customers:

‘I’m not even a good cook. In fact, I hardly do any cooking,’ she laughed. ‘But I did seem to be good with treats and they just worked. It was what I would call a “universe nudge”.’

Coming from a business development background, Charlie said she soon realised that ‘every no is closer to a yes’:

‘I would walk in to cafes and say, “Hi, my name is Charlie, would you like to eat my balls?”, which of course created laughs as well as breaking the “sale” wall,’ she explained.

She said that she would walk into cafes and say 'Hi, my name is Charlie, would you like to eat my balls?,' which always broke the ice with would-be stockists

She said that she would walk into cafes and say 'Hi, my name is Charlie, would you like to eat my balls?,' which always broke the ice with would-be stockists

She said that she would walk into cafes and say ‘Hi, my name is Charlie, would you like to eat my balls?,’ which always broke the ice with would-be stockists

Before she knew it, Charlie's (pictured) Clean Treats Factory products were starting to gain a name for themselves

Before she knew it, Charlie’s (pictured) Clean Treats Factory products were starting to gain a name for themselves

Before she knew it, Charlie’s Clean Treats Factory products were starting to gain a name for themselves. 

‘After a while I got to a point when I thought this could actually be something,’ she said. 

Recently, Charlie even launched her own ‘Clean Treats Cafe’ in Sydney’s Alexandria, where she serves up her delicious plant-based rainbow food and gluten and dairy-free treats.

‘There have been so many moments over the years that make me want to pinch myself,’ she said.

‘Hiring my first full-time employee, achieving one million in sales, signing the lease to the 1400 square metre facility, opening the doors to our space and feeling like this is a real business has all been fantastic.’

Recently, Charlie even launched her own 'Clean Treats Cafe' (pictured) in Sydney's Alexandria

There, she serves up her delicious plant-based rainbow food and gluten dairy-free treats (pictured)

Recently, Charlie even launched her own ‘Clean Treats Cafe’ (left) in Sydney’s Alexandria, where she serves up her delicious plant-based rainbow food and gluten dairy-free treats (right)

While Charlie admitted that she suffered a little from imposter syndrome when she first opened the cafe, she said that she has struggled and worked past it:

‘I felt a disconnection with the congratulations that people were giving me at one period, I didn’t feel as though I deserved it or was worthy.’

Since then, the 34-year-old said she’s worked on herself and has learned how to know both herself and how capable she is.

Speaking about her business tips for other women looking to strike out on their own, Charlie explained that one of the biggest things she's learned is how to 'ask for help and be okay with receiving help'

She struggled with Imposter syndrome at one stage (pictured: her treats)

Speaking about her business tips for other women looking to strike out on their own, Charlie explained that one of the biggest things she’s learned is how to ‘ask for help and be okay with receiving help’ – she struggled with Imposter syndrome at one stage (pictured: her treats)

Charlie de Haas’s business tips for making your millions 

* Learn to ask for help and be okay with receiving help. In fact, it can be useful to hire someone who is better than you at doing something you’re only half good at.

* Know yourself and realise that you’re capable of more than you believe. Forget Imposter syndrome and breathe, knowing that you can handle something.

* Know your numbers inside out and don’t be afraid to talk about profit.

* When making any business decision, think about the three Ps – passion, people and profit. Neither will work without the others.

* Trust in the universe a bit and do the hard work.

* Remember every no is closer to a yes, and use failures as an opportunity to learn.

Speaking about her business tips for other women looking to strike out on their own, Charlie explained that one of the biggest things she’s learned is how to ‘ask for help and be okay with receiving help’.

‘For so long I tried to do everything on my own, and I do understand that when you start you have no time and money, so therefore you feel like you need to do it all on your own.

‘But in actual fact, you should ask for help. It’s actually good business sense to hire someone who is better than you to do something you can only kind of handle.’

The 34-year-old also recommends learning to break through your own barriers and ‘stop being your own worst enemy’.

‘Whether that’s your procrastination, avoiding doing the hard things and holding yourself accountable, don’t hold yourself back in your business.’

She said that finally, you need to ‘know your numbers inside and out’.

‘Talk about profit, and use the three Ps for every business decision.

‘Passion, people and profit – neither will work without the others and you need to ensure all are thought of when making any decision.’

‘Use failure as opportunities to learn and always take time out to reflect on what you’ve learned,’ Charlie concluded.

‘Then trust in the universe once you’ve done the hard work. That should help.’

For more information about The Clean Treats Factory, please click here. You can also follow Charlie on Instagram here



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