Thinking Of Starting A Meal Prep Business? 4 Key Tips To Get Going

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StrategyDriven Starting Your Business Article |Start a meal prep business|Thinking Of Starting A Meal Prep Business? 4 Key Tips To Get GoingWith every generation that passes, we become more and more conscious of what we are putting into our bodies. The science of food, in particular, has led to more focus on ever-more diverse diets, superfoods and eating plans. As we gain more awareness of what the benefits and disadvantages of certain foods are, we’re also seeing this expertise gaining coverage in terms of the foods that hit our supermarket shelves. And for people with an interest in food, this is creating business opportunities – which include the possibility of starting a ready-made meal-prep business.

One of the major ways in which a line of business changes over time is the addition of choice – once upon a time, the vast bulk of ready meals in a supermarket would be from a few basic choices. Now, the range of choice is increasingly wide. So if you fancy taking your nutritional and culinary expertise to market, it’s worth knowing what you need to get right before going into business with a line of ready meals.

Pick your niche

As we’ve noted, the range of choice for ready meals has exploded in recent years, and if your business line is simply “ready meals”, it’s hard to attract the kind of attention you want. You need to have something more identifiable going for you. What about keto meals? This is a field where easy food is hard to come by, so if you can launch a decent line of carb-free convenience food, you could have a marketable business. Or you could be looking at a specific type of cuisine. It’s not hard to find pre-prepped Italian cuisine, but there are other national styles that are less well-served. Why not try Korean or Moroccan dishes?

Think from field to fork

Convenient food is popular because people, at the end of a long day of work, don’t want to have to put in too much hard graft or time in the kitchen. That means that you’re the one taking on this effort, so you need to break down every step of the process. You’ve got to source ingredients; blend them to make a meal that will survive cold storage & logistics; package them in a way that makes them stand out in a supermarket; figure out and communicate cooking instructions. You’ve got to do all of this without overspending, so break the steps down and then look for ways to make it cost-efficient in every one of those steps.

Plan how you will sell your meals

One major advantage a meal prep business has these days is that you can sell your dishes in more ways than were available even ten years ago. You used to have to persuade supermarkets and convenience stores to carry your brands. Then you had to hope they displayed them prominently. Now, while brick and mortar stores are useful to have on your side, you can sell directly to the public. An ecommerce site with a decent design and SEO can allow you to reach a considerably-sized customer base. From there, you can build a substantial brand.

Find a facility

You may well be great at crafting delicious, nutritious and healthy dishes in your own kitchen, but if you want to sell to a wide market, you’re not going to be working in your own kitchen. That’s because first of all, you won’t have the industrial-sized ovens and cooking facilities needed for mass production, and second of all you won’t want health inspectors coming in and out of your house as and when they want. So you will need to find a place to work out of.

You’re also going to need the equipment to package and vacuum-seal your meals as well as storing them before distribution – and there is the question of distribution itself. Will you be sending meals to stores and markets, in which case you’ll need to send them en masse? Or, if you’re going e-commerce and sending directly to homes, you’ll need space to store the meals and to find a way of sending them securely – usually in a thermally-controlled box with ice packs.

Selling pre-prepared meals can be a way to make a decent buck or two in the business world, but you need to be conscious of the scale of job it takes to get up and running. There’s a lot to stay on top of, but if you put the thinking in then there’s no reason you can’t make a success and even a household name out of your culinary expertise.

What Every Start-up Needs to Know Before Going Online

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StrategyDriven Starting Your Business Article |Going online with your start-up|What Every Start-up Needs to Know Before Going OnlineWhether or not you intend to actually do business online or are simply going to be using your business website to build brand, there are a few important things you should know before going online. Make no mistake about it. Business websites are important on several levels even if you aren’t going to be engaging in eCommerce but first take the time to understand how to make your website work for you and not the other way around!

Time Is Money

One of the things that altogether too many startups fail to realise is that managing a business website, even a bare-bones WordPress theme, takes an ungodly amount of time to develop and maintain. Instead of spreading yourself too thin once the site is developed, have you considered the benefits of using IT managed services?

Just keeping a business site up and running securely takes an enormous amount of time and effort and that’s something you probably don’t have to spare – especially in the early days. To borrow an old cliché, time is money, and this is why you would be better spending your time developing and running your business. Let IT managed services do what they do best for you while you do what you do best for your company. It’s a simple formula for success.

A Look at Important Elements of IT Management

One of the leading concerns within the private sector as well as the public sector is theft of intellectual property. Even if you aren’t going to be selling anything online, a website can open back doors to your business’s mainframe where all your proprietary information is stored. IT managed services that focus on safety and security can help protect the backbone of your business and that would be your products, current or in development. You could also leave company and client data vulnerable to breaches without managed IT security.

Uptime, Downtime and No Time

If you find IT managed services as part of a provider package, all the better. One of the things which frustrates customers and potential customers most is when they have found your company in a Google search but are unable to click through because your site is down. Uptime is important but downtime leads to no time, for your business that is, and no pun intended. Downtime for your audience leads to no time for you as they simply move on to the next link on the SERPs.

Your Key Takeaway in All This

There is no denying the importance of creating a business website but only to the extent that you can ensure it will be well maintained. Sometimes it’s better to have no website at all than one which frustrates potential clientele. If you are going to go online with your startup, make every effort to ensure it will be an enjoyable (engaging) experience for your customers. Customer experience, UX, is the main path to success and the roadmap for their journey is your website. That’s what you need to take with you to the bank.

Getting It Right When Setting Up A New Business In The US

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StrategyDriven Starting Your Business Article |Setting up a new business |Getting It Right When Setting Up A New Business In The USMany people who want to start their own business in the US often don’t know where to begin.

What are the legal prerequisites for starting a company in your region? What do you need to go through? What is the process like from beginning to end? How long does it typically take, on average, for a company to be finished setting up operations?

These are questions that can be asked when someone wants to start their own business in the US and get it all done correctly.

Let’s break this topic down into some easy steps and see what it takes!

Business Regulations You Need To Know

From which tax records to submit to understanding everything you need to know about an EIN, setting up a new business is full of regulations, and it pays to collaborate with someone who knows exactly what they are doing in this field.

On the bright side, however, the US is actually one of the easiest countries in which to set up a new business.

To start, you will need to file some paperwork with your local government. If your company is a large corporation, then it might be better that you hire an attorney to ensure that this part of the process goes smoothly.

Choosing Your Company Name And Registering Your Business

You’ll need to file an “article of organization” with your state government which is the first step in getting the business started.

Before filing this document, you should reach out to your state’s secretary of state and get the specifics on how to file this document.

Again, you don’t have to do it all at once; it’s good to work carefully and piece by piece, starting with just a few basic steps such as filling out a proper business license.

How to Fund Your New Business

When you’re ready to start the business, you’ll need to find an initial investment. A good place to start is with a visit to your local bank.

You might find that the bank will help you arrange a loan through their Small Business Administration office, and you can get an individual loan from this office.

Although there are thousands of banks in the country, it’s best that you check with your local branch of this government office for more details on how to do this.

Branding and Marketing Your New Business Online

If you don’t want to go the DIY route, then it’s a good idea to hire a freelancer who can design and set up your commercial branding.

You’ll need all the particular web domains and important information, WordPress, images, copy, and anything else you’ll need for your online pages.

Finding Employees and Hiring Vendors

Once you have all the systems set up for your website, it’s time to make things happen.

It’s time to go out and hire some employees who will make it possible for your company to start rolling.

If you are not the type of person who can sit at a desk every day (or if you’re running a smaller business), then it might be better that you get some help.

6 Crucial Mistakes People Make When Starting a Clothing Line

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StrategyDriven Business Startup Article |Starting Your Own Business | 6 Crucial Mistakes People Make When Starting a Clothing LineBuilding and marketing a clothing line these days is easier than ever with easy access to manufacturers from all over the world, private label options, and cheap marketing methods. But that also means the market is more saturated than ever, and for every clothing startup that succeeds, thousands fail. That’s just the reality of the business. However, in many cases, clothing startups with great concepts and products fail because they committed some crucial mistakes that could have easily been avoided. Let’s take a look at some common mistakes clothing startups make and how to avoid them.

Trying to Start Too Big

One of the most common mistakes is trying to start too big and having too wide a selection when getting started. Buying tons of inventory is also a bad idea.

You should only start with a handful of items, or with one signature product. A lot of clothing companies started that way and made it big. Now successful Johnny Cupcakes started by selling t-shirts with their logo on it. Jac Vanek is another example. She started by selling simple bracelets at music festivals and now owns a multi-million-dollar label. Starting small will allow you to limit your overhead and initial investment while building brand awareness.

Ignoring the Small Details

When starting, it’s important to have a solid marketing strategy and great designers, manufacturers, and distribution channels. But it’s also easy to overlook the simple things, like label design and manufacturing, for instance.

These are the kind of things you cannot ignore when you start building a brand. You want to design a label that represents you and that will leave a lasting impression. People often don’t realize how important the role labels play in a purchasing decision, but it could actually make or break a purchase. If they like your product and your label looks cheap or poorly written, it will reflect on your brand as a whole.

You not only want to work with a label designer that will be able to help you with your design and help you bring your ideas to life but you also need someone who can deliver consistent results and on time. That’s why you have to do your due diligence and work with manufacturers with a solid reputation in your business.

This label manufacturer, for instance, has worked as nominated label supplier for major brands like Calvin Klein and Ralph Lauren. That’s the type of manufacturer you should be looking for if you want to make a mark with your brand. Don’t make the mistake of cutting corners in this area – invest in quality labels for your brand if you want to give off the right impression.

Not Having the Resources

Another thing you’ll have to consider is resources. If you don’t have the resources to fulfill major orders from an important retailer, this could reflect badly on your business and you could potentially miss major opportunities. You have to make sure that you have the proper financial backing, either through a line of credit or a partner, so you can cover for any emergency. This also stresses the importance of starting small and limiting your overhead before you think of expansion.

Bad Promotion and Marketing

Yes, it’s true that social media is a cheap and simple way to market your brand these days. But it’s also very hard to stand out because of the thousands and thousands of other people marketing there. That’s why you need to use more than social media marketing and use all the options available to you. At first, you should calculate your projected revenue and spend at least 10% to 20% of it on marketing. You can then drop down to about 5% once you start getting recognition.

However, make sure that you use this money wisely and don’t assume that you need to spend tons of money on a fashion show. These can be very expensive and won’t give you much of a return on your investment. A much better idea would be to attend trade shows or have a launch party. These will give you both visibility and the chance to close some sales as well.

Not Building Good Relationships with Vendors/Stores

You’ll have to work with a lot of people when starting a clothing label and your relationships with them could play a huge role in how successful you’re going to be. You will be dealing with buyers, factories, and other businesses, all with their own agendas and timetables. So you have to make sure that you keep things cordial with them, but make sure that your objectives are met too.

If you want to sell your products to stores, you should make sure that you contact their buyer and schedule an appointment first. There’s nothing retailers hate more than walk-ins. You should also consider which stores you want to sell through at first. A bad retailer could potentially screw you over. This is why you should also have a lawyer draft proper contracts, so you’ll have legal recourse if anything happens.

Overspending

One of the most important things when you’re getting started is setting and keeping a budget. You should also avoid spending money on unnecessary things. Start learning about taxes, and how you can get deductions on things like office supplies, your company vehicle, or gas, for instance.

One of the major mistakes people make when getting started is spending thousands on a fancy website. Creating a website nowadays is extremely easy and cheap, even for someone with limited computer knowledge. Start small with a DIY website using one of the many drag and drop builders out there and wait until you have the money to have a professional site made.

Conclusion

Starting a clothing line might seem simple, but starting a successful one is a whole other ballgame. Make sure that you come prepared and have a solid plan before you even get started. And make sure that you have the proper people surrounding you that will have the skills and expertise to make sure your brand becomes a success.

How to Start a Business: A Guide for Young Entrepreneurs

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StrategyDriven Starting Your Business Article |Start a business|How to Start a Business: A Guide for Young EntrepreneursStarting your own business can be an enriching experience, but it can also be quite challenging. If you’re looking to start a business but don’t know where to begin, we’ve got you covered.

This blog post will discuss the basics of starting a business and provide tips for young entrepreneurs. We’ll also mention injection mold manufacturer as one of the many businesses you could start. So whether you’re just getting started or you’ve been in business for a while, this blog post is for you!

The Business Idea

There are many different business ideas that young entrepreneurs can explore. But, before you can start a business, you need to determine which type of business is right for you.

One option is to become a sole proprietor and operate your own business. This option has the advantage of being very flexible, and you have complete control over all aspects of the company. However, it also comes with some risks since you are personally liable for any debts or liabilities incurred by the business.

Another option is to form a partnership with one or more other individuals. This arrangement has several benefits, including shared responsibility and liability and pooled resources. However, disagreements among partners can quickly lead to problems and dissolve the partnership.

A third option is to incorporate your business. This will protect you from personal liability for debts and liabilities incurred by the industry. It also has some tax benefits. However, raising capital can be more difficult since investors will want a stake in the company.

The final option is to buy an existing business. This can be a good option if you don’t have the time or resources to start a business from scratch. However, it also comes with risks, such as inheriting the previous owner’s problems or not fully understanding the business’s financials.

Once you have decided which type of business is right for you, it’s time to develop your idea. To do this, you need to answer some crucial questions, such as:

  • What product or service will you offer?
  • Who is your target market?
  • How will you reach your target market?
  • What makes your product or service unique?
  • How much will it cost to start and operate your business?
  • How will you generate revenue?

Answering these questions will help you develop a business plan, which is essential in starting a successful business.

Another important consideration when starting a business is funding. You will need to determine how much money you need to get started and where you will get it from. There are many different options for budget, including personal savings, loans from family and friends, and small business loans from banks or other financial institutions.

Once you have a solid business plan and funding in place, it’s time to start working on your business details. This includes everything from choosing a name and registering your business to finding a location and hiring employees.

Starting a business is a big undertaking, but it can be gratifying. With careful planning and hard work, you can turn your dream into reality.

In conclusion, there are many different options for starting a business. Before starting a business, you need to determine which type of business is right for you and answer some essential questions. You also need to develop a solid business plan and funding in place. With these things in mind, you’re ready to start your own business!