Know-How Exchange : Other

Loving food, being a great cook and having a passion for the food business are a small part of the equation. The food business (whether as a manufacturer or owning a restaurant) is a brutal business. Don't go into debt for this venture...it can destroy your financial future.

Start small and simple. Find a commercial kitchen where you can get time (a local caterer, a non-profit?). Sell in farmer's markets or perhaps do some social networking to cater very small events. Dip your toe in the pool and find your niche.

Define your goals. Is it creative expression...then perhaps the framework above will get you what you need. Do you need to support a household with the income...then you have a long way to go.

This can get very expensive, very fast. Careful, careful, careful.

Good luck!

Dear scoot272,

On Tuesday, I met and chatted with Jen Groover,
(about whom you will find more, here: https://www.jengroover.com/)

Jen is the entrepreneurial genius behind, among other things "The Butler Bag" https://www.butlerbag.com/

Her take on starting a business is that the fear of regret MUST overpower the fear of failure. Stop saying "I can't". Stop saying " ... some day". Take the advice above and ACT ON IT!

Ask yourself what will be worse. Making an attempt and failing, or not doing it at all and never knowing just how successful you might have been ... if only you'd taken the chance, taken action, made an attempt, and thought "Screw it! This is my dream and I'm going to pursue it!"

I hope this helps.

Gary Bloomer
Wilmington, DE, USA