Applies To All Business Models

Since selling food or beverages like beer are about selling your brand, protecting that brand and its growth in value through the trademark process is very important. Trademarks should be distinct and evocative as opposed to generic and descriptive, mimizing the likelihood of confusion with other trademarked intellectual property.

From the entrepreneur's perspective, the most important thing when using an accounting package is to ensure accurate setup and data entry so that they are able to produce accurate financial statements. While entrepreneurs need to understand their financial statements and financial drivers, they can often outsource some accounting work.

What started as one person's idea or passion quickly turns into a complex branded relationship with a customer supported by complex manufacturing processes and multiple sales, marketing and other staff to support the business growth. While businesses go through "growth spurts", the life of a business that is built to last is a marathon, not a sprint.

Sometimes certain products or certain classes of products make more sense in certain markets than others. For example, heavy or perishable food items make less sense to sell online due to the shipping costs and logistics involved. But unconventional markets could make sense if location or customer data suggests it is a good idea.

Sometimes it can be difficult to figure out where multiple actors in the food system can best fit and work together. But, when the private and public sectors work together to speak the same language and align their goals, a lot of good can happen.

With the COVID-19 crisis assailing most food businesses, entrepreneurs must take a hard look at cashflow and decide: try to keep going or close up shop? Consultant Bartlett Durand talks with Tera about the realities of bankruptcy (it’s not a moral failing!), the leverage that small businesses have, how bankruptcy lawyers can help, and the measures that can best protect companies’ interests whether they opt to forge ahead or fold. This podcast is loaded with useful information and strategies to help food and farm entrepreneurs through the current economic downturn.

In Edible-Alpha® podcast #65, Tera interviews Heidi Huntington, vice president of finance at AVL Growth Partners in Boulder, Colorado, which lends finance and operations...

Food and farm entrepreneurs are taking action against food waste and its impact on climate change by championing upcycled food. Repurposing otherwise-discarded food into value-add ingredients and products is both sustainable and a smart business strategy. Learn about brands making real change and how you can join the upcycled food movement.

The huddle this month focused on current and potential future trends for food and farm businesses, including restaurants and food hubs, due to COVID-19 as well as climate change.

Can your food or farm business succeed? It sure can. But it could also be a total flop. And it’s not the products you’re...