Student wanting to start a campus based business

[Shane19]

I am currently a college student (2nd year) and I was thinking about starting a campus based business in the spring?

-Sell Shakes/Smoothies (made by Ben & Jerry)
-Selling 16oz (one size) for $3.50
- The cost to make 1 smoothie or shake is $1.80 (profit 1.7)
- To break even we must sell 440 smoothie/shakes
- We have estimated it would take us about 2 weeks to break even (average of about 30 smoothie/shakes per day)

Hours would be 12pm-4pm & 9pm-1am
- If that goes well we will the implement frozen coffee drinks


**Below are some other idea we are thinking about doing if this first one goes well**
-Start selling things like subs/fresh baked cookies/pizza etc...(mainly late night snacks besides what the vending machine offers)

-Offer a beer delivery service (of course ID is check). Have already talked to a lawyer about this and in order to relive use (the company) of any responsibility we are going to have a release form drawn up. The person must be 21 or older to place an order and that person must sign the release form once the alcohol is delivered. The release form will basically state once you sign this you are taking full responsibility over the use and consumption of the drink and so on....(also we were advised to maybe take a photo of the license as an added insurance).

-Offer students a way to order their groceries online and have them delivered within 1-48 hours (a time will be confirmed once order is made)

I know that's a lot of stuff but we will be taking it slow and will not get into anything we can not handle and will keep everything legal (even if we have to get advice from an attorney)

If we were to start selling the smoothies/shakes in the spring semester we would start beginning February (should we start then or wait until beginning fall)

***I hope all that made sense***

[DrMoney]

Are going to do all the proper fillings and become a legal entity?

[Shane19]

Are going to do all the proper fillings and become a legal entity?

Yes, I actually already have that done.

[DrMoney]

Well looking again at profit, you might want to consider increasing margins and going for 4.00. You have to think of your competitors and what they charge for an 16 oz. I think you could increase a little bit.

[Shane19]

Well looking again at profit, you might want to consider increasing margins and going for 4.00. You have to think of your competitors and what they charge for an 16 oz. I think you could increase a little bit.

Currently there is one place on campus that sell smoothies. I think they are located in the gym or maybe the cafeteria (not sure have never been able too find them) but anyway I have heard they are not that good

But your right I could charge more to match my competition. But I am so different from my competition in which I will be using all natural ingredients and no artificial flavors (real fruit)....

I could probably raise prices but I was thinking something along the lines of having a top quality product at a low cost.

Also, I could take up my price and matched the competition but why not offer a better product a a lower cost?

[ChattelKeys]

Excellent Idea...but as said, compare your selling price with any of your neighboring competitors . Do you do not have to take a long time breaking even plus you might to consider a perfect storage technique if you havent one already. All in all , do what others arent doing.

GoodLuck.

[Shane19]

Excellent Idea...but as said, compare your selling price with any of your neighboring competitors . Do you do not have to take a long time breaking even plus you might to consider a perfect storage technique if you havent one already. All in all , do what others arent doing.

GoodLuck.

I have compared and currently if I were to start I would be the lowest priced around (and all the others the flavors are artifical)

Do you do not have to take a long time breaking even

Are you saying I do not have a long time to break even?

might to consider a perfect storage technique

Can you explain that. I probably have not considered it.

THanks

[chrispalko]

Have you considered the legal requirements in order to sell food/beverages? I'm not entirely sure, but I think there are guidelines and such for selling those items.

Seems like a good idea though. How about hot beverages in the winter?

[Shane19]

Have you considered the legal requirements in order to sell food/beverages? I'm not entirely sure, but I think there are guidelines and such for selling those items.

Seems like a good idea though. How about hot beverages in the winter?

I did consider that with the approach I am taking in the beginning it is considered a lemonade stand type of set-up. I would only need to register the business and that's all (no health inspection or anything).

The only guidelines I would have to follow is making sure the fruits are stored in a safe environment (not exposed) they will be inside the freezer where the yogurts will be stored.

I was considering that but just sorta set it off to the side but I think now since it was mentioned I am going to look more into it

[chrispalko]

Yes, hot chocolate is extremely quick and easy to make if you have cups, hot chocolate packets, and hot water available lol

Well, if health regulations aren't a hassle for you, then I would say go for it. Breaking even should be simple especially if you can get word-of-mouth going.

Considering it's a campus based biz, social networks could get you some really good, targeted exposure.

[peteyflow]

Is it a cart or actually a property based shop?

[Shane19]

Is it a cart or actually a property based shop?

This will be completely "cart" based.

[Chasedigby]

sounds good to me... prolly have to jump through a ton of hhoops to get on campus