And I'm back folks....sorry about the short hiatus. I had to step back and rethink this whole thing. We want to run this as a business and I needed to figure out what our angle was. After a long talk with my mom, we made some decisions:
1) We need to run something that involves a low risk investment because I'm going back to school and my mom is still working. If we need to take a break in between we don't want the loan for a food truck hanging over our heads.
2) We don't want to do what the other aunties in the community are doing - full catering for south indian weddings. We want to be more specific and target the Indian community as well as non Indians.
3) We need to have flexibility in choosing our timings. IF we ran a restaurant/food truck/push cart we would have to be outside all day long. It's cool work and maybe in my future someday but now is not the time.
What next? If you are ever looking at starting a small business, the Small Business Association is a great place to begin. They offer business counseling for free! I found them online and scheduled an appointment with them. This morning I walked into the office and met with Jim&Jim, my pair of business gurus. I explained our pitch and at first they were asking all these questions that made me think, "man they don't get it!" But then, one of the Jims suggested an idea that was golden. Beautiful just beautiful. He simplified us to just one specialty. We work with this one specialty and build our business around it. I would elaborate but seeing as we haven't started yet, I don't want to plaster the idea on the internet. So with this specialty, we offer subcontracting to other restaurants. It's a great way to get in the business and to make a name for ourselves with clients. Genius!!!!
To do list:
1) business plan elaborating on what we know about:
-our specialty food and accoutrements
-target clientele
-sell price
-labor/materials costs
-licensing
-necessary equipment and costs
2) Put together a pitch to present to restaurants including marketing literature
3) Connect with local business associations
4) Get a customer
Expected start date: I'm pushing for sometime in Feb. The Jim's say that might be pushing it, but all I got to say to that is, Watch me!
Lots of love folks! And remember, Amma Veedu Namma Veedu!
1) We need to run something that involves a low risk investment because I'm going back to school and my mom is still working. If we need to take a break in between we don't want the loan for a food truck hanging over our heads.
2) We don't want to do what the other aunties in the community are doing - full catering for south indian weddings. We want to be more specific and target the Indian community as well as non Indians.
3) We need to have flexibility in choosing our timings. IF we ran a restaurant/food truck/push cart we would have to be outside all day long. It's cool work and maybe in my future someday but now is not the time.
What next? If you are ever looking at starting a small business, the Small Business Association is a great place to begin. They offer business counseling for free! I found them online and scheduled an appointment with them. This morning I walked into the office and met with Jim&Jim, my pair of business gurus. I explained our pitch and at first they were asking all these questions that made me think, "man they don't get it!" But then, one of the Jims suggested an idea that was golden. Beautiful just beautiful. He simplified us to just one specialty. We work with this one specialty and build our business around it. I would elaborate but seeing as we haven't started yet, I don't want to plaster the idea on the internet. So with this specialty, we offer subcontracting to other restaurants. It's a great way to get in the business and to make a name for ourselves with clients. Genius!!!!
To do list:
1) business plan elaborating on what we know about:
-our specialty food and accoutrements
-target clientele
-sell price
-labor/materials costs
-licensing
-necessary equipment and costs
2) Put together a pitch to present to restaurants including marketing literature
3) Connect with local business associations
4) Get a customer
Expected start date: I'm pushing for sometime in Feb. The Jim's say that might be pushing it, but all I got to say to that is, Watch me!
Lots of love folks! And remember, Amma Veedu Namma Veedu!
