A
accounting, 112–120
break-even point, 116–117
courses in, 113
deductible expenses, 23, 45, 119–120
financial statements, 108, 112–113
installment payments, 116
pricing, 114–115
small expenses, 115
advertising, 31, 123, 125. See also marketing strategies
agreements, 49
alcohol licenses, 47. See also licenses and permits
alcohol sales, 16
antivirus software, 70
asset protection, 46
audience engagement, 97–98, 135–136
auto insurance, 47. See also insurance
automobile expenses, 120
B
balance sheets, 112. See also financial statements
bartering services, 114
beer and wine licenses, 47. See also licenses and permits
benefits, employee, 100. See also hiring employees
beverages, 15
blogs, 136–137
bonding, 48
bookkeepers, 100. See also accountants
botanicals in beverages, 15
brand recognition, 70
branding, 81–82
break-even point, 116–117
brochures, 124–126
Burns, Susan Desjardins, 24, 28–29, 78–79
business cards, 124
business consultants, 109
business licenses, 46. See also licenses and permits
C
cameras, 70
cancer diets, 14
capital and cash-flow management, 57
cash flow statements, 113. See also financial statements
catering, 108
cell phones, 69
charity work, 129. See also community involvement
cheese market, global, 3
chefs, 100
commercial kitchens, 78–80
community involvement, 22, 129
compensation, employee, 104–105. See also hiring employees
competitive analysis, 67–68
competitive edge, 59–60
Confectionately Yours, 28–29, 78–80
conference and seminar expenses, 120
consultants, 108–109
consumption occasions, 85
contact information, 94–95, 131
content, 94
conversion, 137
copyright, 97
corporate taxes, 46, 118. See also taxes
corporations, 46. See also business structures
cottage food industries, 76–81. See also homebased businesses
county permits, 47. See also licenses and permits
credit cards as financing source, 64. See also financing
credit profiles, 65–66
crowdfunding, 65. See also financing
customer engagement, 97–98, 135–136
customer loyalty, 128–129
customer service, 83–84, 127–129
D
DBA (doing business as), 40, 45
deadlines, 23
debt, 65–66
deductible expenses, 23, 45, 119–120. See also taxes
delegating, 21–22
Department of Agriculture (USDA), 17
design and development plans, 68
design-and-print services, 126
dieticians, 15
differentiation, 59–60
digital media, 130
direct costs, 114
direct mail, 125, 126. See also marketing strategies
display space, 56
displayware, 74
distributor networks, 57
DIY design-and-print services, 126
doing business as (DBA), 40, 45
domain names, 96–97. See also naming your business
donating unsold goods, 23
DPI Specialty Foods, 42
dues, 120
E
ecommerce regulations, 6. See also regulations
edible insect market, 2–3
email, 131
emergency funds, 66
employees, hiring. See hiring employees
employment ads, 102–103. See also hiring employees
enrolled agents, 108
entertainment expenses, 120
environmental impact of packaging, 58
EPA regulations, 4. See also regulations
equipment and supplies, 68–73, 77–78, 83
equity as financing source, 64. See also financing
estimated tax payments, 119. See also taxes
estimates, 117
event listings, 132
executive summaries, 67
existing businesses, purchasing, 40, 73
F
factory model, 25
fair use, 97
family and friends as financing sources, 64. See also financing
family members as employees, 102. See also hiring employees
FDA (Food and Drug Administration), 17, 85, 88
female business owners, 22, 23
financial management. See accounting
financial management courses, 113
financial statements, 108, 112–113
financing, 61–74
business plans and, 66–68
credit profiles and, 65–66
for existing business purchases, 73
fixed costs and, 62–63, 68, 117
networking for finding, 66
startup costs and, 6–7, 32, 61–63, 69–74
five-year plans, 33
floor space, 55–56
focus groups, 59
Food and Drug Administration (FDA), 17, 85, 88
Food Code, 85
food labels, 88
food safety, 16–17, 83, 85. See also regulations
Food Safety and Inspection Service, 17
food service licenses, 5. See also licenses and permits
food specific insurance, 48. See also insurance
food trucks, 12–14
fragile products, 86–87
franchises, 73
fruit stand model, 25
funding. See financing
G
general liability insurance, 47. See also insurance
general partnerships, 45. See also business structures
Gilliard, Judy, 34
giving back, 129
gluten-free product production, 57
goodwill, 129. See also community involvement
guaranteed sales, 114
H
hazardous food, 86
health care costs, 4
health department permits, 46. See also licenses and permits
health related cooking specialties, 4, 14–15, 57
high-acid foods, 86
hiring consultants, 108–109
hiring employees, 99–109
determining staffing needs, 100–101
employee benefits and, 100
family members as employees, 102
independent contractors vs., 118–119
interns and part-time employees, 105
interviewing candidates, 101, 104
job descriptions and, 101
paying employees, 104–105
payroll taxes, 118
recruiting, 101–103
seasonal workers, 105
selecting candidates, 101, 104
terminating employees, 106–107
training employees, 105
home equity as financing source, 64. See also financing
homebased businesses, 5–6, 44, 45, 47–48, 67, 76–81
homeowner’s insurance, 47. See also insurance
homepages, 92–94. See also websites
homestead licenses, 79. See also licenses and permits
Horrigan, George, 25
hosting services, 91, 98. See also websites
I
image, 130
income statements, 112. See also financial statements
income taxes, 118, 119. See also taxes
incorporating, 46. See also business structures
independent contractors, 118–119
industrial catering vehicles (ICV), 13
industry research, 52–53. See also specialty food industry
Instagram, 139
installment payments, 116
insurance brokers, 109
intellectual property, 97
interior space, 44, 45, 55–58, 77, 82–84
internet access, 69–70
interns and part-time employees, 105
interviewing candidates, 101, 104. See also hiring employees
J
job ads, 102–103. See also hiring employees
job descriptions, 101, 104, 105. See also hiring employees
Judy a la Carte, 34
K
Kitchen Debauchery, 29–30
kitchen help, 100–101
kitchens, 5, 7, 10, 12, 14, 28, 76–80, 84–85
L
labeling, 88
landing pages, 92–93
laptops, 72
layoffs, 106
leadership, 21
leasing commercial kitchens, 10, 12, 14, 79
liability insurance, 47. See also insurance
licenses and permits, 5–6, 46–47, 79. See also regulations
limited liability companies (LLC), 45–46. See also business structures
Lincoln Olive Oil Shop, 30–31
LinkedIn, 138
liquor licenses, 47. See also licenses and permits
liquor sales, 16
LLC (limited liability companies), 45–46. See also business structures
local products, 58
locating your business, 75–88
distribution businesses, 88
factors to consider, 30, 42–44, 75–76
food truck businesses, 14
homebased businesses, 76–81
mail order businesses, 85–88
neighboring businesses and, 82
production-only businesses, 8, 84–85
researching locations, 54–56
retail shops, 6, 54–56, 81–84, 87
loss leaders, 117
M
magazine ads, 123
mail order businesses, 2, 58, 85–88, 92, 114–115
market research, 51–60
market trends, 22, 58, 81, 85, 112
marketing directors, 100
marketing materials, 49, 124–127, 132. See also websites
marketing strategies
audience engagement in, 97–98, 135–136
brochures, 124–126
business cards, 124
customer service and, 127–129
described in business plans, 67
ecommerce regulations and, 6
goodwill as, 129
importance of, 121–122
logos and, 124
networking as, 123
newsletters, 126
photos in marketing materials, 49
print advertising, 31
for production-only businesses, 10
social media marketing, 130, 133–139
targeting markets, 134–135
for websites, 95–96
markup, 115–116
membership dues, 120
Microloan program, 5
mission statements, 42–43
mobile food preparation vehicles (MFPV), 13
mobile phones, 69
mobile websites, 90. See also websites
motivating staff, 21
N
naming your business, 38–41. See also domain names
netiquette, 131
New Hampshire regulations, 5, 15–16, 79. See also regulations
newsletters, 126
non-sales floor space, 56
O
offer letters, 104
office equipment and supplies, 68–73
office management software, 70
office managers, 100
Omaha Steaks, 42
online ordering, 58
online retailing vs. physical store, 6
operations and management plans, 68
opportunities, 122
organic products, 58
OSHA compliance, 4
overhead costs, 114
P
P&L (profit and loss statements), 112. See also financial statements
partnerships, 7, 45–46. See also business structures
paying employees, 104–105. See also hiring employees
payroll taxes, 118–119. See also taxes
perishables, 23, 53, 86–87, 115
permits and licenses, 5–6, 46–47, 79. See also regulations
personal chefs, 14–15
personal income taxes, 118, 119. See also taxes
pet food business, 6
Phoenix Wrappers’ stretch wrapping, 53
phones, 69
photo sharing platforms, 138–139
physical store vs. online retailing, 6
pricing, 114–115
print advertising, 31, 123, 125. See also marketing strategies
printers, 70
printing services, 126
prioritizing, 40
product display space, 56
production-only businesses, 5, 7–8, 10–11, 84–85, 87
production/retail combos, 57–58
profit and loss statements (P&L), 112. See also financial statements
profit needs, 114
proposals, 48–49
R
receipts, 49–50
recruiting, 101–103. See also hiring employees
registered dieticians (R.D.), 15
registering your business name, 40
regulations, 5–6, 7, 10, 12, 15–17, 76, 79–80, 88. See also food safety; licenses and permits
retail businesses
advantages of, 25
business structures for, 7, 44–46
customer service in, 83–84, 127–129
display needs of, 83
financing, 6–7
leasing space for, 87
locations for, 6, 55–57, 81, 82, 87
phone vs. walk-in customers in, 83–84
physical store vs. online retailing, 6
regulations governing, 7, 15–16
store size determination, 56–57
storefronts, 81–82
waiting for customers in, 24
retail providers, 84–85. See also production-only businesses
retail/production combos, 57–58
Rob, Baker, 30–31
S
sales estimations, 117
sales staff, 100
sales taxes, 118. See also taxes
SBA (Small Business Administration), 3, 5, 65
SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives), 4
seasonal workers, 105
selecting candidates, 101, 104. See also hiring employees
Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE), 4
sign permits, 47. See also licenses and permits
small business, 2–3, 8, 21–22, 25
Small Business Administration (SBA), 3, 5, 65
Snapchat, 139
social media marketing, 130, 133–139. See also marketing strategies
SocialOomph, 135
software, 70
sole proprietors, 45. See also business structures
sous-chefs, 100–101
spamming, 131
special display needs, 83
special order businesses, 12, 23
Specialty Food Association, 52
specialty food industry
consumer statistics in, 17
industry research, 52
options in, 1–2, 4–8, 12–15, 22, 58
pitfalls in choosing a business in, 24
professional association in, 52
regulations in, 5–6, 7, 10, 12, 15–17, 76, 79–80, 88
revenues in, 15
starting a business in, 6–7, 19–25, 34–35, 50
state of, 53
threats to businesses in, 57
staffing. See hiring employees
staging space, 85
standing out, 59–60
starting a specialty food business, 6–7, 19–25, 34–35, 50
startup costs, 6–7, 32, 61–63, 69–74
storage space, 77
store size determination, 55–56
storefronts, 81–82
storing and shipping perishable products, 86
strengths, 122
stretch wrapping, 53
subscriptions, 120
succession planning, 103
supplies and equipment, 68–73, 77–78, 83
sustainable products, 58
SWOT analysis, 122
T
tablets, 72
target markets, 8–9, 58, 80, 134–135
tax deductions, 23, 45, 119–120
tax planning, 119
technology, 38
telephones, 69
template web designs, 91
terminating employees, 106–107. See also hiring employees
testimonials, 49
threats, 122
traditional media, 130
traffic generation, 96
training employees, 105. See also hiring employees
travel expenses, 120
U
unique packaging, 53–54
unsold goods, 23
URLs, 96–97
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), 17
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), 17, 85, 88
used equipment, 83
user fees, 83
V
Van Gelder, Joni, 29–30
variable costs, 117
vehicle expenses, 120
vendor permits, 46. See also licenses and permits
venture capital, 64
visitor retention, 97–98
W
wages, employee, 104–105. See also hiring employees
weaknesses, 122
web designers, 91–92
website URLs, 96–97
websites, 89–98. See also marketing strategies
accuracy in, 92
attracting traffic to, 96
benefits of, 89
contact information in, 94–95
content for, 94
domain names for, 96–97
drilling down in, 93–94
ethical and legal concerns, 97
mail-order features on, 92
marketing, 95–96
menus in, 94
mobile sites, 90
must-haves for, 92–94
pop-up windows in, 93
retaining visitors to, 97–98
wholesale businesses, 44
Winnipesaukee Chocolate, 24, 32–34, 84–85
workers’ compensation insurance, 47. See also insurance
Y
Yellow Pages advertising, 123
YouTube, 134
Yummy Yammy, 31–32