Tips for Starting a Food Business From Home

Do you dream about owning your own food business? You don't need to set up an entire company or hire several team members. The best way to begin is from your kitchen. A home business has several advantages. For example, you can prepare, package, and sell food items from the comfort of your home. You also work for yourself and set your business hours.

However, there are some things to consider before you begin. First, you have to decide what food products you want to sell. You then have to focus on food packaging and food safety. And finally, you have to promote your brand to help run a successful business. Here’s more information on the best practices for starting a food business from home.

Consider all of your options.

Will you cook the food items from scratch, or source them? You don’t have to be a kitchen expert to start a food business from home. If you love food, have a knack for business, and don’t want to use your kitchen, consider food curation. You can partner with local chefs or home-cooks who can make artisanal food products.

If you do plan to cook your food items, source ingredients wisely. Instead of visiting local grocery stores, go to the source. Partnering with a supplier or a local farmer are some of the best ways to do this. If you don’t have the brand name for this yet, visit wholesale stores.

Make sure it’s legal.

Did you know that states have different laws when it comes to home or small-scale food businesses? In some parts of the United States, local artisan food laws help small businesses flourish. However, check that what you plan to sell is legally allowed in your location. There are different laws regarding home-based and commercial kitchens as well. You can get around some of these laws with a co-op commercial kitchen space.

Once you’ve made sure you can sell your food items, don’t forget to register your business. Check the FDA regulations around home-based businesses, food safety, and food packaging laws. Get all your licenses and permits before you begin, so there’s no legal trouble in your future.

Save on the little things.

Do you have a favorite store for your cupcake boxes? Do you want to put handmade, personalized labels on each container? Most of your ingredient and packaging decisions will depend on demand. 

However, saving on packaging and delivery will help you focus on quality ingredients. However, you will have to package food items in a material that is free of any adverse health effects. Remember that saving doesn’t mean buying poor packaging, as this can compromise the food safety of your products.

While cute packaging can help sell your food products, it can also bankrupt you. So, make wise food packaging decisions. Branding is also important — your food packaging should appeal to customers. 

After all, how you present your food matters almost as much as the food items. To buy in bulk, search for companies that supply food contact materials to fast food restaurants. If you’re starting small, search for independent companies. Buy everything from grease-resistant food packaging to food contact materials from one place.

Focus on your business plan.

So, you’re a good cook, and everyone loves your food. And, you enjoy cooking for a crowd. While that’s important, it’s not enough for a successful food business. Goal setting is the best way to ensure success. A solid business plan and ambitious goals will help keep your business afloat — even if it is out of your kitchen.

Also, you should conduct market research before you begin. Will the food products you like to cook sell well? How much can you price the food items? How long before you break even? Some food spaces are over-saturated and will be hard to break into as a newcomer. Unless you are rich or have proper funding, it’s best to tap into a specific niche. Think of how you will promote the business. Can you do all the cooking yourself? If you have a small kitchen, consider how much it will cost to rent out a commercial kitchen space.

Continue to focus on your company strategy even after you set up your business. Track your key results and have team members (if any) take part in future goal setting. If you need help, invest in OKRs. 

An OKR system will allow you to work with a sales team to set ambitious goals and focus on measurable results. You can track your progress, and find different ways to improve profit margins. Invest in business planning tools now so that you can plan for success rather than simply hoping for it.

Sell your brand.

You will sell more food products if more people know about and are inspired by your brand. Focus on everything from your logo to your name. And make sure you spread the word. Don’t just depend on referrals and word of mouth. 

The internet plays an important role in home-business marketing. List your food products online and offer giveaways and discounts. Set up a website, social media pages, and reach out to local publications.

You don’t need a PR team to promote your business. Local newspapers and magazines often profile home business owners. Contact them to help spread the word. Connect with customers online, post regularly, and comment on reviews. An excellent online presence will translate well into sales for your food products.

Top Benefits of Getting Last Year's Car Model

When many people think of their next vehicle, they think that the latest is the greatest. While this might be true in some cases, there is something to be said for getting a car model that's already spent some time sitting on the lot. 

If you're willing to buy last year's car model, you could realize multiple benefits that will make it more advantageous than buying a vehicle from the current model year. To see if this is the right choice for you, here are a few of the benefits you can expect to receive.

No Unexpected Issues

When a new vehicle is released on the market, it has already been thoroughly tested to try and work out any possible issues. However, once that vehicle is driven by thousands of people, unexpected issues inevitably make themselves known and can be corrected through recalls and updates to the model design. 

If you buy last year's car model, though, most of those issues will have already been corrected, ensuring that your ownership experience is relatively trouble-free.

Lower Price

The sticker shock that accompanies a new vehicle can be significant. This is especially true when you realize that many car models will lose a substantial portion of their value after the first year. 



However, pre-owned cars and year-old new car models will already be largely depreciated, meaning you can potentially save thousands of dollars. Plus, since the value of the vehicle is lower, the associated property taxes will be lower, as well.

Easier to Locate Parts

Some parts, such as brake pads, should never be purchased used. However, other parts are perfectly fine to buy used in order to perform your own repairs. By purchasing last year's car model, you give time for the used part market to develop as other vehicles from the same model year end up in junkyards after accidents. 

Plus, there will be more do-it-yourself guides for replacing the parts yourself if you wait a year before purchasing a new car.

Lower Insurance Rates

One cost that can be exceptionally high when you purchase a new car is the cost of insurance. Since new vehicles tend to be more expensive to repair than older cars, the cost of insuring them is higher, as well. Also, since the actuaries at the insurance companies have had a longer time to calculate the risk associated with a particular vehicle, your insurance rates are less likely to fluctuate in the years ahead.

Another great benefit of buying a year-old car model is that there are still plenty of options to choose from. Though the selection will be more limited than it would be for the current model year, there are still lots of different colors, accessories, and body styles to consider. This gives you a new-car shopping experience while providing the benefits listed above.

5 Things You Should Take Into Account Before Doing a Remodel

Remodeling your home is an exciting time, but not one that you should launch into without due consideration. At-home projects can quickly grow beyond budget and time constraints, so it's a good idea to lay a few things out for you to think about before you commit to a remodel. 

We've gathered the top five things to take into account here, as a bit of food for thought while you're planning your new designs.

Make sure your money is where your mouth is

If your plans for a remodel are ambitious and might require a bit more money than you have to spare every month, it might be worth considering a refinance home loan. Refinancing could mean that you lower your monthly payments by getting a lower interest rate through a new lender. 



Depending on the loan amount and your credit score as a homeowner, the terms of refinancing can vary, so always get advice before committing to a new deal as a borrower. There are dozens of loan options out there that could mean a lower monthly payment, freeing up room for you to fund your dream remodel

Think about your own skills — realistically

It's everybody's dream to put on a builder belt and set to work with your very own toolbox. The reality, however, is not always so simple. If you haven't done a project like this before, you can't expect yourself to perform quality work the first time around. 

Take the time before you get started to work out what your strengths truly are. Perhaps you are more of an interior designer than a plumber, or your skills would be best suited to managing the project than getting down and dirty. 

If that's the case, then hiring a contractor to do certain aspects of the job is probably the best way to avoid any mistakes and make sure you get quality work done.

If you are definitely keen to do the job yourself, then make sure you have all the right safety measures in place. You could even try and do a DIY course in advance to make sure you aren't your own worst enemy on a remodeling site!

Choose experts where you need them

There are some things that simply need an expert contractor, and roof replacement is one of them. If you're doing a remodeling and a new roof or roof repair is a part of it, then you should definitely think about hiring a roofing contractor. 

Roof maintenance is also important to do regularly, so even if you haven't been planning it yet, it could be a good idea.

Take the advice of the best roofer Pittsburgh has to offer: A strong, attractive roof truly makes a home. Roofing services can add value to your home, protect it from damage, and get you a better deal when it comes to selling it. What else could you be looking for when it comes to remodeling? 

To make sure your roof installation or roof repair is up to snuff, it's a good idea to find the best roofing contractor possible. Not only is it a tricky job requiring years of experience, but being so high up is dangerous if you're not a roofing expert.

Think about timing

Are you having a particularly busy time of year? Are you keeping up with the payments on your home mortgage? What are the current rates like for any loans you might need? All of these factors can play into whether now is the time to go for a remodel. 

Also, the time of year can affect when contractors can do the work you need of them. Winter weather is often not a good time for people to be working on a house. Consider the time of year you are asking for work to be completed in order to receive an accurate estimate from companies.

Keep To A Strict Schedule

Now you have all this information and preparation in mind, draw up a strict schedule. Of course, things often come up with any homeowner project, but you need to have a baseline in mind to begin with to be able to track progress. Stick to your plan as much as possible and make sure any other small businesses or contractors involved in the project are also clued in. It helps hugely if everyone is on the same page.

How to Safeguard Yourself Against Fraud and Identity Theft

Every year, millions of people are the victim of attempted and actual fraud or identity theft. Your personal information including your credit card account information is being transmitted over a variety of new channels, and your risk exposure for fraud is increasing dramatically. 

Many major companies with relatively secure infrastructures have experienced massive data breaches, leaving consumers’ information vulnerable to misuse. In addition, criminals have become more creative in how they target individuals for fraud. Now more than ever, it’s essential that you take steps to protect yourself. Here are a couple of the most important things that you can do to defend yourself against fraud.

Get Fraud Protection

When you’re evaluating how to fight fraud effectively, you should consider enlisting expert help with fraud and identity theft protection. A full-service fraud protection plan will monitor your credit and alert you of suspicious activity, so you don’t have to worry about checking it continuously. Should any type of fraud or identity theft occur, you can have immediate access to help in correcting it.

Beware of Phone Scams

Recently, robocalls have been an increasingly common vehicle for fraud schemes. Usually, it consists of a fraudulent message that’s sent out to thousands of people warning them that they better respond with their personal information or a payment or else they’ll be in trouble. 

In some instances, the calls actually tell people that they have been the victim of fraud and they need to take action to prevent a freeze on their social security account. In actuality, it’s an attempt to gain access to your personal social security information. A similar scheme tells people that they owe money to the IRS and must act right away to avoid criminal prosecution. 

If you get a phone call with a pre-recorded message telling you that you owe the IRS money and you better call and pay it or someone will come to arrest you, be aware that it’s definitely a fraud attempt. The IRS will never phone you to demand money or threaten you with incarceration.

Don’t Open Attachments in Suspicious Emails

If you receive an email from an unfamiliar sender, don’t open the attachment. It may contain a virus, malware, or ransomware that could be used to appropriate your financial data.

Take a proactive approach to safeguard yourself from fraud identity theft by getting expert-level protection and being conscientious about phone and email scams. You can have peace of mind knowing that you're ready to fight back against fraud.

4 Factors in Deciding to Refinance Your Home Before Retirement

As retirement is looming, an idea to refinance your home might be lingering on your mind. You can make the right move using some strategies that will ensure that you remain financially stable. 

Please have a look at the factors that will help you decide whether the idea is viable or not.

Current Interest Rate

If you can lower the current interest rate by 1% or more, mortgage refinancing will be successful. It will make sense since you can pay the loan within a short time. In addition to that, you can build your home’s equity seamlessly with the payment rates. 

If the remaining balance is quite high and you can get a 2-3% reduction on interest, you can go ahead and refinance your home.

Total Refinancing Costs

The cost of refinancing will also play a pivotal role as you make a life-changing decision. Usually, you will cater for closing costs just like you did when you took the initial mortgage. On that account, you have to calculate the expenses to see whether they will favor you or not. 



For example, if you save about $100 per month and the closing costs are $5,000, it will take you roughly 50 months to break even. The need to refinance the loan doesn’t make sense at this point if you intend to move out of your house.

Eligibility

To qualify for the loan, you need to have a stable income and a positive credit score. Therefore, you should look at your financial status to ascertain whether you will get the loan or not. The new underwriting process will dig deep into our cash flow and credit status. It will also look at your home equity concerning the amount that you have.

How Long you will Stay in your home

If you don’t intend to sell the house or move out, there is no need to refinance. It will take many years to clear the debt so that you can start saving again. On that account, you should only take action if you will continue living in your current home. With low-interest rates, you can repay the debt faster and start enjoying the golden years.

Subsequently, refinancing your home is an excellent idea if you can get a lower rate to pay off the loan. Your income, credit score, and home equity play a crucial role as well. Plus, you can benefit from the strategy if you don’t have intentions to sell it.

How Much to Save for Various Roofing Services

Getting hit with an unexpected bill is not something that anyone wants to deal with. However, if you plan ahead and save in advance when emergencies do crop up, you will have the money saved to pay for them. Roofing services and repairs can cost a lot, so it is important to know in advance how much you should have set aside for them. 

Here are some of the most common services that a roofer can provide you with and what the average cost will be per service.

Minor Roof Repairs

From time to time your roof may undergo some minor damage. An asphalt shingle or two may fly off in the wind. Your gutter may have undergone some damage due to a branch and need to be repaired. Your soffit may even need a vent. These are all considered minor roof repairs and run a couple of hundred dollars.

Moderate Roof Repairs

If you’ve noticed that there are water spots on your ceiling, then it’s likely you have a roof leak. This is what is considered a moderate roof repair. A couple of other examples of moderate roof repairs include fixing large patches of shingles on the roof and replacing flashing around vent pipes and chimneys. Moderate roof repairs will run you anywhere between $500 to $1,000.

Major Roof Repairs

Many companies, like Handyman Roofing, focus primarily on major roof repairs. These tend to be the most unexpected expenses and can cost a good bit of money to have fixed. Problems that fall into this category are roof damage from fallen trees, valleys in your roof, and algae damage. 



These require a lot more materials than minor and moderate roof repairs. You can expect to pay anywhere from $1,000 to $3,000 for major roof repairs to be performed on your home.

Roof Replacement

Roofs don’t last forever and financially planning ahead of time can go a long way in preventing financial stress when it comes time to have your roof replaced. The life expectancy of your roofing materials is going to depend on the materials used. 

Asphalt shingles typically last 20 to 30 years. You can upgrade to 50-year asphalt shingles for more money. On the other hand, you can utilize tin as your roofing material. With annual upkeep, these metal roofs will last you up to 70 years. 

The price for roof replacement will obviously vary depending on the materials you buy, the size of your roof, and its layout. The average price for a full roof replacement runs from a low of $5,000 to a high of $15,000.

As a homeowner, you’re going to need a good roofer from time to time to keep your roof in good condition. Understanding the various services that they can provide you with and their costs can help you to prepare for instances in the future. Remember that by preparing, you can ease financial stress when repairs need to be completed.

Brooke Chaplan is a freelance writer and blogger. She lives and works out of her home in Los Lunas, New Mexico. She loves the outdoors and spends most of her time hiking, biking, and gardening. For more information, contact Brooke via Facebook at facebook.com/brooke.chaplan or Twitter @BrookeChaplan