Opening a juice bar seems pretty straightforward. You make juice, and then you sell it. A Juice Shop Business Plan, in short. There are some things you need to understand before you can fully open and function. After working alongside hundreds of new juice companies, I’ve put together a list of tips to help you avoid several common problems.

Some tips for getting started in the cold-pressed juice business

1. Find out about local health regulations for raw juices.

The laws regarding raw juices differ considerably by region. For example, in the United States, the FDA specifies that raw juices can be sold directly to consumers by retail or delivery, but not wholesale to third-party vendors for resale. If you want to wholesale, you have to process the juice by pasteurization or by HPP. However, you can manufacture your juice at a central site and sell it in several shops if your company has both the production unit and the points of sale. It is still direct sales to the consumer. (Under federal law, but local / state regulations may vary, and some are changing.)

Many countries have the strictest laws I have come across. A company must manufacture its raw juices at the very place where it sells them. By comparison, countries like Australia or China have virtually no regulations on raw juices, and their companies are free to wholesale as they see fit. Given the growing popularity of fresh juices, I wouldn’t be surprised if some regions with more lax laws toughen their regulations shortly.

The easiest way to find out about health regulations is to contact your local health department.

2. Decide on the business model to use.

There are four main business models in the juice industry: distribution only, physical point of sale, wholesale, and a combination of all of these. Each business model has its advantages and disadvantages. Choose the type of business you want to start and raise the necessary funding. Whatever economic model you choose, it is important to choose to know where to focus your energy.

Expert tip: Start with delivery or a physical point of sale, but ultimately look to combine these models to provide consumers with multiple purchasing options for your product.

3. Gear up the right way.

Prepare for your success. Make the requisite investments in your company’s equipment. Sometimes it is tempting to save money and buy cheap equipment, but you will lose out on labor costs and waste, which will end up costing you more. Your juice extraction equipment will undoubtedly be your major investment.

4. Determine the type of bottles you want to use.

Choose between glass or plastic, then find a supplier. You can easily buy Bisphenol-A free plastic bottles from our Bottle Up! “.

Most professional printing companies such as Tapecon can print bottle labels. The type of bottles you’ll be using must be specified to the supplier: PET plastic, glass, and other materials; also, whether they are round or square and the size of labels needed. Be sure to get all labeling requirements from your local health department. You can order nutrition labeling services here.

Expert tip: Glass bottles are ideal for giving your product a high-end feel and avoiding putting your product in contact with plastic. However, the glass comes at a cost. Only go for glass if you are selling an expensive, high-end product.

5. Master the numbers:

There is a great temptation to concentrate all the known superfoods in each Bottle. However, unless you live in an area where people are willing to pay $ 25 per Bottle, a business cannot survive that way. The cost of the ingredients you put in each Bottle should not exceed 25-30% of the final product price.

In addition to the cost of food, you need to manage your labor, packaging, and overhead costs to align with your sales.