Contents

    Preface

Chapter 1

    Who Puts the “Specialty” in Specialty Food?

          The Current State of Small Business in America

          The Small Business Administration (SBA)

          Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE)

          The Specialty Food Industry as a Whole

          Homebased

          The Retail Store

          Production and Distribution

                Production

                Marketing

                Distribution

          Other Specialty Food Venues

                Strictly Special Order

                Food Truck

                Personal Chef

          Retail Food Store Regulations

          Sites to Know

Chapter 2

    You Like to Eat but Is this Business Right for You?

          Test Yourself

          Small-Business Personality Traits

          Other Things to Consider

                The Pressure of Perishables

                Deadlines

                The Waiting Game

Chapter 3

    Meet Your Mentors

          Confectionately Yours Toffee

          Kitchen Debauchery Jams and Jellies

          Lincoln Olive Oil Shop

          Yummy Yammy Salsa

          Winnipesaukee Chocolates

          Judy a la Carte

Chapter 4

    Pass the Salt and Pepper: Business Basics

          It’s All in a Name

          On a Mission

          Choosing a Business Location

          Business Types

                Sole Proprietor

                General Partnership

                Limited Liability Company

                Corporations

          Licenses and Permits

          Choosing Insurance

          Forms

                Proposals

                Agreements

                Invoices

                Receipts

Chapter 5

    You’ve Been Chopped!: Market Research

          Industry Research

          The Specialty Food Business

                The Specialty Food Association

                State of the Industry

          Packaging

          Packaging Market Research

          Retail Market Research

                The Research

                Determining Store Size

          Production Space

                Special Diets

                Retail/Production Combo

                Mail Order

          Focus Groups

          What Makes You Stand Out?

Chapter 6

    The Necessary Ingredient: Financing

          First Things First

          Don’t Forget Life

          Finding Financing

          Get Your Credit in Shape

          Networking

          Your Business Plan

          The Components of a Successful Business Plan

          Buying Equipment and Inventory

          Essential Equipment

          Inventory

Chapter 7

    Home Is Where the Stove Is: Location

          Cottage Food Industry

          Supplies for Your Homebased Food Business

                The Commercial Kitchen

          The Retail Shop

                Outside

                Inside

                Special Display Needs

                Back Office

          The Retail Provider

                Staging Space

                Getting Product to Market

          Mail Order

                Shipping Service

                Special Considerations

          Distributors

          Food Labels

Chapter 8

    All Things Digital

          Mobile Websites

          Setting Up a Website

          Design

          Website Must-Haves

                The Homepage

                Drilling Down

                The Rest of the Site

          Contacting You from a Website

          Updating

          Marketing Your Website

          Your Website URL

          Keep ’Em Interested

          Choosing a Web Host

Chapter 9

    Chef, Sous-Chef, and Kitchen Help: Employees

          Who to Hire

          Reaching Out to Candidates

                Advertising

          Interviewing

                Interviewing Strategies

          Pay

          Training

          Letting Employees Go

                Seasonal Workers

                Layoffs

                Termination for Reason

          Vendors

          Professional Help

Chapter 10

    How to Not Cook the Books: Accounting

          Financial Statements

          Paying Vendors

          Pricing Your Products

          Gift Certificates

          Markup

          Maintaining Cash Flow

                Break-Even Point

          Taxes

                Deducting Expenses

Chapter 11

    When “To Market” Means Something Else

          Why Marketing?

          Networking to Business Success

          The Ins and Outs of Advertising

          The Small but Mighty Business Card

          Information Brochures

          Direct Mail

          Newsletters

          Press Releases

          The Power of Customer Service

          Retaining Customers through Top-Notch Customer Service

          Giving Back to Your Community

          Building Your Image

          Traditional Media with a Digital Twist

                Enewsletters

                Press Releases vs. Event Listings

Chapter 12

    Social Media

          Blogs

          Facebook

          LinkedIn

          Twitter

          Photo-Sharing Platforms

                Pinterest

                Instagram

                Snapchat

Appendix

    Specialty Food Resources

          Books

          Conferences

          Consultants

          Magazines

          Organizations

          Packaging

    Glossary

    Index