After hearing numerous people tell you that you should sell food, you’ve finally decided to give it a try. As a beginner, it may be intimidating to start a business. These four tips will help get you started with your food business.
Find your niche
Even if you can cook various styles, sell the food you’re best at making. For instance, Jimmy Dean probably makes more than breakfast sandwiches, but they are a niche brand. Niche businesses create products that meet a certain customer need. Whether you decide to cater or sell packaged items online, understanding your specialty will help identify your consumer base.
Do your research
Once you’ve chosen your niche market, you must do proper research. The food industry is competitive, so it’s important to be as educated as possible. This includes attending workshops, business networking events, etc. Surround yourself with people in your field to get premium feedback.
Another great and simple way to do research is have people sample your product. You can invite your family and friends to a private tasting and collect their feedback on the items you plan on selling. This way, if you plan on selling an item and your audience enjoys or dislikes it, you can make adjustments before going mainstream.
Create your business plan
You’ve found your niche and did the necessary research for your business. Your next step is to create a business plan. This will act as the written blueprint for your food business from the beginning until it has reached fruition. Business plans are also beneficial if you’re trying to receive outside funding. Having a well-thought out plan will attract more investors.
Licensing and Promotion
Once you have the proper funding for your business, you must meet the legal licensing requirements. This includes cleanliness, coding, and food handling. Make sure everything from your brick flooring to your dishwasher will be safe and sanitary. You must also properly investigate your state and local requirements to avoid citations and potentially being closed down.
After meeting your legal obligations, you must promote your food business. This is a great time to contact your previous networking connections and friends to spread the word on your business. You should also have a website that people can easily find.
Starting a business can be overwhelming. By picking a niche, getting proper feedback, building a strong foundation, and meeting your legal requirements will put you on track for a successful food business.
Dixie Somers is a freelance writer who loves to write for business, health, and women’s interests. She lives in Arizona with her husband and three beautiful daughters.