I'm thinking about starting a small from home hobby business. It's something I enjoy doing, but I very highly doubt I will make much, if any money with it as a business. Don't laugh, but I am considering having a gourmet pat bakery/pet treat business making specialty treats for dogs. I currently make these treats for our pets because we have animals with certain allergies. When I needed treats again I realized that the local woman who used to set up a booth at our weekly flea market is no longer there, and the places online are expensive and don't offer everything I am looking for. I know I generally spend between 50 cents and $1.50 per treat when I order them. Im fairly sure I can make and sell them cheaper. My problem is that I dont know how to get set up and promote a business like this so I would sell enough to make any profit.
Im crazy right?
I admire anyone who has the guts to try and make a dream come true. I started my own business 16 years ago. It was on-line based. I sold hostas! My business grew every year, but I finally had to just quit because I couldn't keep up with the demand. Orders started coming in during January, and all through April, May, and June, all I did was dig, wrap, box, and ship hostas. The three best months of the year, and I was often up till two am every night getting orders boxed and labeled. I couldn't play with my horses. I missed all the trail rides in the nicest weather, and more importantly, I couldn't help my husband with his business. The last few years I did it I had to hire a part time person to help dig the orders. It just got to be too much for me, and I quit doing it after only seven years. My husband has his own business, doing soil (perc) tests and septic system designing, and he had to hire someone to help him out because I couldn't. It was stupid. When I finally quit I went to work for him and he paid me so well that I didn't regret it. (I have always needed to have my *own* income). My last two years I made over $18,000 profit, but my husband actually paid me more and it was MUCH less work!
So, having had a business here's my little pearl of wisdom: If you use the internet to sell, be prepared to sell a LOT. Make sure you will be able to keep up with the orders. If you can't, people won't give you good reviews. Maybe make up a ton of stuff beforehand. And, have some sort of "expansion" plan, in case your internet orders really take off. Will you really be able to keep up with this in your kitchen? Will you be able to do it alone? And remember, that once you hire someone, there is an endless amount of government involvement and paperwork. When I hired a helper, it was on a cash basis, as getting the government involved would have eaten up way too much of my time and profits.
Now... about the dog treats. I have three labs and a min pin, and I am forever trying to find treats made ONLY in the USA of ingredients ONLY from the USA, and it's not easy! I had found some treats sold in a store by a company in Kansas. Said "Made in the USA" on the box, but on a whim I called them and asked if that meant all the ingredients also came from the USA. The lady was honest with me and said "No.... we get some of our products from China, Mexico, or South America, depending on the current market prices." So, if I knew I were buying dog treats that were manufactured with ONLY USA products, I'd be a customer! There are a LOT of people out there with dogs who know that China-based products could be very harmful and don't want them! I think you might be surprised at how well you did at farmer's markets, or a booth at a craft fair, or a community celebration, etc.
On the other hand, you might find that buying only those quality ingredients costs so much that you won't be able to keep your prices low enough to attract buyers. And you might find, as I did, that your undertaking is just too labor intensive for one person.
Bottom line... Go For It! How will you ever know if you don't try? Start small and *expect* to get big!
