Anyone here start a small packaged food business in California? I'd love to learn from your experience!
🚨 PLEASE ROAST THIS PLAN AS HARD AS YOU CAN. My savings will thank you later 😂
Hi everyone!
My family has been making a spicy seasoning recipe for years, and I'm finally wondering if it could become a small business.
I'm still at the very beginning. I've started doing some taste tests, and the feedback so far has actually been really encouraging. Now I'm trying to figure out everything that comes next.
So far, this is the plan I've come up with:
- Start a TikTok/social media account and marketing stuff.
- Apply for a California Cottage Food permit (probably Class B, since I'd love to eventually get into local stores).
- Use my existing LLC from a previous business and look into product liability insurance.
- Figure out how importing spices works and whether I should work with a customs broker.
- Start talking to local shops and see if anyone would be interested in carrying the product.
- Join local food events and farmers markets to get more feedback and hopefully make some early sales.
I'd really appreciate it if you have advice on my list Or if you've been through this yourself, I'd love to hear what you'd prioritize if you were starting over with a limited budget.
If you've built a food business or really any packaged food brand, I would also be incredibly grateful for any advice you're willing to share.
Looking back:
- What do you wish someone had told you before you started?
- Were there any expensive mistakes or unexpected challenges that caught you off guard?
I know building a small business isn't easy, and I'm sure I'll make mistakes along the way. I just hope to avoid the expensive ones. I'd be incredibly grateful for any advice. Thanks sooooo much!!!!!!