1. Familiarize Yourself with Rules, Regulations and Local Laws
If you want to run a business out of your home, you want to contact Your city or county office for instructions on licensing, permits and local zoning laws that affect businesses run from home.
In addition, you want to check with The Department of Health for your state about getting your cooking area inspected for commercial cooking. You can get licensed after your cooking space passes inspection. If you plan to make, package and sell food products, get information on labeling requirements too.
2. Get Your Business Plan Together
A business plan can show you whether or not a business concept has the potential to be lucrative, therefore it's best to complete this step before spending money on supplies and equipment. A business plan will also help you discover the best way to acquire customers, and the time it will take to profit.
Many small business owners get templates to help them write their plans. Templates allow them to avoid the expense of hiring a professional while at the same time avoid mistakes that people typically make when they try to write a plan themselves.
3. Get Your Cooking Gear
Once you know you have a viable business idea and you've passed inspection, you can buy the supplies and equipment you need. If you already cook in your spare time, your shopping list may be small. If you need additional cookware or food prep items, restaurant supply stores can be a good resource for wholesale equipment.
What you may not have are packaging supplies like bags, boxes, tins, shipping materials and product labels. You can find a variety of companies online that sell a diverse range of items - from pink cake boxes to plastic bags to candy jars to wine boxes and shipping supplies - to the other end of the spectrum, complete one-of-a-kind packaging.
4. Find Clients
In the case that you dislike selling, a different tactic to bring in new customers is by letting consumers try out your creations for free. Write down several local companies, organizations and activities where you can offer free samples as a gift.
People like to try things for free, and once they know about you, they can buy more products from you. In general, people like to reciprocate a friendly action or gift. In addition, you'll get more bang for your buck by contacting larger groups of people instead of individuals. Not only do you reach more people at one time, you put yourself in a position to get larger orders in the future.
Don't forget to provide your business card, a food selection or list of items you carry plus instructions on ordering. As a bonus, include a voucher or special offer. Ideally, you want to get them accustomed to doing business with you.
If you want to run a business out of your home, you want to contact Your city or county office for instructions on licensing, permits and local zoning laws that affect businesses run from home.
In addition, you want to check with The Department of Health for your state about getting your cooking area inspected for commercial cooking. You can get licensed after your cooking space passes inspection. If you plan to make, package and sell food products, get information on labeling requirements too.
2. Get Your Business Plan Together
A business plan can show you whether or not a business concept has the potential to be lucrative, therefore it's best to complete this step before spending money on supplies and equipment. A business plan will also help you discover the best way to acquire customers, and the time it will take to profit.
Many small business owners get templates to help them write their plans. Templates allow them to avoid the expense of hiring a professional while at the same time avoid mistakes that people typically make when they try to write a plan themselves.
3. Get Your Cooking Gear
Once you know you have a viable business idea and you've passed inspection, you can buy the supplies and equipment you need. If you already cook in your spare time, your shopping list may be small. If you need additional cookware or food prep items, restaurant supply stores can be a good resource for wholesale equipment.
What you may not have are packaging supplies like bags, boxes, tins, shipping materials and product labels. You can find a variety of companies online that sell a diverse range of items - from pink cake boxes to plastic bags to candy jars to wine boxes and shipping supplies - to the other end of the spectrum, complete one-of-a-kind packaging.
4. Find Clients
In the case that you dislike selling, a different tactic to bring in new customers is by letting consumers try out your creations for free. Write down several local companies, organizations and activities where you can offer free samples as a gift.
People like to try things for free, and once they know about you, they can buy more products from you. In general, people like to reciprocate a friendly action or gift. In addition, you'll get more bang for your buck by contacting larger groups of people instead of individuals. Not only do you reach more people at one time, you put yourself in a position to get larger orders in the future.
Don't forget to provide your business card, a food selection or list of items you carry plus instructions on ordering. As a bonus, include a voucher or special offer. Ideally, you want to get them accustomed to doing business with you.
About the Author:
Jerrie Fields writes for Home Business Center, Inc., the resource for home-based entrepreneurs since 1997. HBC's latest book, "21 Food Businesses You Can Start from Home" is now available, and you can download it free from their website.
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