One of the situations I have noticed over the past nearly two decades working with specialty (aka craft/artisan) chocolate makers is that many – if not most – are chronically undercapitalized.
While I acknowledge the work John Nanci (Chocolate Alchemy) has done in identifying and pioneering low-cost production pathways that significantly lowered the financial investment required to start up a “craft chocolate” business, that work has, at the same time, helped buttress the impression that it’s possible to create a sustainable specialty/craft/artisan chocolate business with for little to no money.
You could, I suppose. By why would you want to? This post explores some of the myths and realities of that impression.
So, how much money is needed to set up a sustainable business making – and selling – chocolate from beans?
Step 1 – Define What Success Means for You
One of the most important lessons I learned working for over two decades in the high-tech industry is that business plans are self-fulfilling prophecies.