Southeast Entrepeneur~

Found your post interesting, as I recently started a beverage company in the southeast as well. Would love to hear more about a fellow Southerner who is in a similar situation as myself.

Jessewaugh/RSBell:

As an individual who has been in the food/beverage industry for over 5 years, I began my venture last summer with a fair yet still limited understanding of what I what I was entering into. I would definitely say that RESEARCH is key. I spent hours upon hours a week researching the entire industry for months, even though I was anxious to get everything off the ground.

Regarding the finance matters, it is very tough to say how much capital you will need, depending on your exact product/situation. Our company's line of products had to be developed by a manufacturer, yet I know of other entrepeneurs who were able to start a business with beverages they had produced themselves. Also, it is tough to get investors when you do not have a finished product, therefore the bank loan route would be ideal, of course family and friends often are very helpful in these situations. At the point that expansion is necessary, then is the time to go to investors.

Of course all this info is fairly condensed but hope it is helpful!

[ 02-16-2006, 02:14 PM: Message edited by: Atlantis5 ]