At a month old, Bella Sera Café is Fishtown’s newest coffee shop. Just off the busy Frankford Avenue corridor, it’s a sunny room full of large pastries, friendly locals, cozy décor, tasty organic and vegan foods, and one energetic mother-daughter team. Since the doors opened, new customers have been steadily trickling in.

I spoke with Bella Sera’s Joann Regan about her newfound business relationship with her daughter. While she’s quick to emphasize their new time commitment, she offered some hope: “We’re learning each other.” Here are some tips from Regan:

1) Don’t get stuck in the old roles. The other week, Fuchs accidentally cut herself on the job. Regan realized that the mothering role doesn’t always translate into a professional environment. “I realized that I have to not yell at her like she’s my daughter, but be concerned for my co-worker,” she elaborated.

2) Divide the time. Regan admitted that constant proximity can sometimes hurt the relationship. “We’ve learned to split it more so that we’re not always here at the same time.”

3) Use third parties wisely. Often having other people around can prevent the constant proximity from getting tiresome. Regan said that often Fuchs’ boyfriend helps out around the shop, and helps keep their relationship healthy.

4) Look up to good examples. While this is Regan’s and Fuchs’ first business venture together, Regan’s extended family members run many small businesses together. “It’s a big, Italian family,” she laughed, “We have a lot of small, family-run businesses as examples.” There’s no reason to re-invent the wheel with the fragile work/family relationship dynamic. If other people seem to have a good system in place, don’t be hesitant to ask questions, or try to emulate their healthy habits.

Bella Sera has a variety of coffee treats and large, delicious vegan baked goods. With recently extended hours, there’s plenty of time to stop by and see what this spunky mother-daughter team is cooking up.