What are some good guidelines for starting a small business making specialty foods like granola?
97514
Read Rich Dad Poor Dad Series by Robert Kiyosaki. A perfect way to guide you through your business
5234
Vision:  Paint a picture of what ideals you want to strive toward.  How about "To be recognized by the city as having the best baked goods and most comfortable atmosphere of any shop in town."\n\nMission:  More like Marching Orders.  how about:  "To produce and serve quality, fresh baked goods with variety which keeps our customers coming back, particularly the corporate customers  (I am making stuff up here), insuring maximum longterm profitablity.  You may want to add specifics about WHICH customers are important, which aspects of the bakeshop are important (quality food, on time delivery(?), high customer service and happy people, good atmosphere).  You may want to add specifics about which products are important (cakes, morning goods, high-end coffee, etc).\n\nGoals and Objectives, I think you take it down a level toward specific actions:\n\n1) Improve customer satisfaction (+10% as measured by our survey (or something)) \nTactic 1a)  Train all employees on customer service skills.\nTactic 1b)  BE 10 minutes early for all deliveries.\n\n2)  Improve Freshness\nTactic 2a) mark baking time on all goods - pitch goods after x hours\nTactic 2b)  Recommend items that are newly out of the oven\n\n\n3) improve profitability\ntactic 3a)  Measure production and wasted goods; reduce waste\ntactic 3b)  Put a marketing program in place to market to local businesses, and increase sales\n\n\nJust some random thoughts .. hopefully mine plus others will give you a start!  Best of Luck.
33336
You can find all your answers here:\nhttp://www.sba.gov/starting_business/startup/guide.html
520701
Start my baking business.
437990
Entrepreneur Magazine has made a list of low cost businesses that you can start:\n\nLow Cost Startup Businesses http://www.entrepreneur.com/lowcostbusinesses/0,6617,,00.html\n\nStarting a small business takes a lot of courage. But, as they say, courage does not pay the bills. To be successful – to stay in business – you need more than courage. You need a combination of hard work, skill, perseverance, and lots of luck. \n\nSome things you need to consider:\n- "How can I support my family while I build up by business?" \n- "What are my abilities?" \n- "Is there a market for the product or service I have chosen?" \n- "How long will it take this business to reach the financial goal I have?" \n\nYou may want to read the article "How to Start a New Business Successfully" http://www.powerhomebiz.com/vol51/launch.htm , which lists six steps to launch a new business successfully:\n\n1. Provide a benefit.\n2. Determine the fit with your market.\n3. Right timing is everything\n4. Be ready to support your business\n5. Develop a blueprint for success (business plan)\n6. Market, market, market\n\nI recommend that you read the following books:\n\n- What No One Ever Tells You About Starting Your Own Business : Real Life Start-Up Advice from 101 Successful Entrepreneurs \n- Starting From Scratch: How To Start A Business When You Don't Have Money \n- If You're Clueless About Starting Your Own Business and Want to Know More \n- On the Move : How to Succeed and Survive As an Entrepreneur \n- How to Make 1000 Mistakes in Business and Still Succeed \n\nThe best home business that you can be sure is not a scam is one that you start yourself. It will depend on what you want, how you define to be interesting. A person may consider a pet sitting business to be the most exciting work in the world, while another person would rather watch TV than take care of dogs. \n\nThe key is to determine what your interests are, what you want to do, what is suitable for your lifestyle and your overall goals, and what can fit with your resources.\n\nDan Ramsey in his book "101 Best Home Businesses" has a chapter on how to find YOUR best home business. He suggests these 10 steps:\n\n1. List 5 things you do best\n2. List how others would benefit from what you do best\n3. Find out how to give people what they want\n4. Learn the value of your services to others\n5. Find out who else offers similar services\n6. Learn from the successes of others\n7. Learn from the failures of others\n8. Plan your own success\n9. Make low cost mistakes\n10. Enjoy what you do and how you do it\n\nHe then made suggestions on the best home businesses according to type. Here are a few of them:\n\nBest Businesses Using Craft or Physical Skills\n- antique restoration\n- auto detail service\n- carpet cleaning business\n- errand/delivery service\n- housecleaning business\n\nBest Service Businesses \n- bed and breakfast operator\n- caregiver\n- catering service\n- senior day care center\n- tutoring service\n\nBest Professional Businesses\n- desktop publisher\n- magazine writer\n- import/export service\n- income tax preparation service\n- event planner\n\nSome other home business ideas:\n\nTop 10 Home Businesses with Rapid Break-Even Time http://www.powerhomebiz.com/vol33/breakeven.htm\n10 Profitable “Go-Out" Home Businesses http://www.powerhomebiz.com/vol31/goout.htm\n\nYou can also check out the following books:\n\nTurn Your Talents into Profits: 100+ Terrific Ideas for Starting Your Own Home-Based Microbusiness \n The Best Home Businesses for the 21st Century \n 121 Internet Businesses You Can Start from Home \n The Best Internet Businesses You Can Start \n 101 Ways to Make Money at Home
961837
It sounds like you would be great at running a business- something in baked goods or floral baskets perhaps?
1068274
First, find a need to fulfil. Perhaps you could get in on the organic foods market, they're getting pretty big now and definitely more popular. Do some research on the companies that you are planning to mimic, ie other grain/coffe suppliers. See which ones are doing good and learn from some of their business strategies. If there are ones that aren't doing so good, find out why and maybe you could find a window into the market there. Whatever business you go into, you can go local or you can go with chains. Try to avoid supplying wal-marts, as that is a huge undertaking. Good luck, you can try local grocery chains, natural foods stores, etc.
17786
Research yourself first.  A new business must come from something internal encompassing things, or at least some things, that you love.
660987
I recommend checking out the SBA, Entrepreneur, The Start Up Journal & Nolo. All 4 are great informational resources for the new/small business owner. I posted links for you in the source box.\n\nAssociations may be a good avenue to explore as well. These organizations will address many of the thoughts, questions and concerns you'll inevitably have as well as many you haven't anticipated yet. See the source box for some relevant links. \n\nResearch, research, research – this cannot be stressed enough. Read as much as you can about the industry. Here are some book titles that are relevant:\n\n* The Restaurant Business Start-up Guide by Paul Daniels\n* Restaurants That Work: Case Studies of the Best in the Industry by Martin E. Dorf\n* Restaurant Financial Basics by Raymond S. Schmidgall \n* Opening a Restaurant or Other Food Business Starter Kit: How to Prepare a Restaurant Business Plan and Feasibility Study by Sharon Fullen \n* Upstart Guide Owning & Managing a Restaurant by Roy S. Alonzo \n* The Restaurant Managers Handbook: How to Set Up, Operate, and Manage a Financially Successful Food Service Operation by Douglas Robert Brown\n\nThere are plenty of free informational resources out there. Check the source box for links to articles.\n\nHope that helps! I wish you much success & happiness in all your ventures!
839394
You will need to use sugar in your mixture to grow your stuff.\nHere are 2 links that have recipes.  One uses sugar and beef bullion, the other uses just sugar.  \n\nhttp://www.umsl.edu/~microbes/pdf/homemademedia.pdf\n\nhttp://www.hmhbwa.org/~hmhb/pdfs/BugsInBod_GrossGermsExperiment.pdf
291089
You can give them new ideas at their website:\n\nhttp://consumercontacts.generalmills.com/ConsolidatedContact.aspx?page=http://www.generalmills.com/corporate\n\nAlthough, what exactly you'd say to them I have no idea.  I suppose you should have a recipe ready.
710917
This should give you some ideas:\n\nhttp://www.wiktel.net/deew/Create%20a%20Business.htm
236583
You will need a number of licenses notably a public health license and preferably a liquor license as well. If you are customer with a bank and you have a good relationship with them, you would best off approaching them first. You might also want to read about setting up a business and writing a business plan. Finally, you might want to recruit key staff msot notably a chef if you are not planning to cook yourself. For advice relevant to your area, you might want to speak with your local chamber of commerce as well as your local business advice bureau. If you are a franchisee, the franchiser should provide you with advice about setting up your restaurant.
883751
The best routes to take are to research the process of starting a business as well as the industry you're interested in.\n\nI recommend checking out the SBA, Entrepreneur, The Start Up Journal & Nolo. All 4 are great informational resources for the new/small business owner. I posted links for you in the source box.\n\nAssociations may be a good avenue to explore. These organizations will address many of the thoughts, questions and concerns you'll inevitably have as well as many you haven't anticipated yet. See the source box for some relevant links. \n\nResearch, research, research – this cannot be stressed enough. Read as much as you can about the industry. Here are some book titles that are relevant:\n\n* The Restaurant Business Start-up Guide by Paul Daniels\n* Restaurants That Work: Case Studies of the Best in the Industry by Martin E. Dorf\n* Restaurant Financial Basics by Raymond S. Schmidgall \n* Opening a Restaurant or Other Food Business Starter Kit: How to Prepare a Restaurant Business Plan and Feasibility Study by Sharon Fullen \n* Upstart Guide Owning & Managing a Restaurant by Roy S. Alonzo \n* The Restaurant Managers Handbook: How to Set Up, Operate, and Manage a Financially Successful Food Service Operation by Douglas Robert Brown\n\nThere are plenty of free informational resources out there. Check the source box for links to articles.\n\nHope that helps! I wish you much success & happiness in all your ventures!
1114100
The best routes to take are to research the process of starting a business as well as the industry you're interested in.\n\nI recommend checking out the SBA, Entrepreneur, The Start Up Journal & Nolo. All 4 are great informational resources for the new/small business owner. I posted links for you in the source box.\n\nAssociations may be a good avenue to explore as well. These organizations will address many of the thoughts, questions and concerns you'll inevitably have as well as many you haven't anticipated yet. See the source box for some relevant links. \n\nResearch, research, research – this cannot be stressed enough. Read as much as you can about the industry. Here are some book titles that are relevant:\n\n* The Restaurant Business Start-up Guide by Paul Daniels\n* Restaurants That Work: Case Studies of the Best in the Industry by Martin E. Dorf\n* Restaurant Financial Basics by Raymond S. Schmidgall \n* Opening a Restaurant or Other Food Business Starter Kit: How to Prepare a Restaurant Business Plan and Feasibility Study by Sharon Fullen \n* Upstart Guide Owning & Managing a Restaurant by Roy S. Alonzo \n* The Restaurant Managers Handbook: How to Set Up, Operate, and Manage a Financially Successful Food Service Operation by Douglas Robert Brown\n\nThere are plenty of free informational resources out there. Check the source box for links to articles.\n\nHope that helps! I wish you much success & happiness in all your ventures!
809368
A copywrite attorney will help protect your idea. Unlike an invention, which are governed by patent law, recipes are covered by copywrite law. Then, if all you have is an idea, you should pitch it to a candy company that manufactures gum. If you have an actual recipe, and can produce a batch to distribute as samples, go out and get financing to start your own small plant.\nFind some people who like your product and sell them a portion of your company. Always maintain at least 51% of the responsibility for the company, so you will have the final say in all decisions. Find a mentor who can advise you and get started.
40098
A Bakery. If you eat the products regularly you can start off small and grow bigger overtime.