Website design By BotEap.comStarting a jerky business can be as easy as preparing jerky in your kitchen and selling it at a local farmer’s market. But it can also be difficult to find success and make a living from it.

Website design By BotEap.comHere are some tips to help you see more clearly what to expect…

Website design By BotEap.com1. Government Inspection – By law, if you make jerky for the purpose of sale, your production facility must be inspected by the state or federal government. If you plan to sell your jerky in the same state it was produced, you only need a state inspection. If you plan to sell to consumers in other states, you need a federal inspection.

Website design By BotEap.comBeing inspected is not so much the biggest challenge, but maintaining the inspection. A state or federal inspector will visit your facility every day.

Website design By BotEap.comHowever, many small “mom and pop” run beef jerky businesses don’t bother to get an inspection and never seem to have a problem. They make all their jerky at home, in their kitchen, and sell it wherever they can. State and federal government inspectors don’t bother looking for violators, the problem only seems to arise when consumers get sick and file complaints.

Website design By BotEap.com2. Private Labeling – To circumvent state and federal inspection requirements, most small businesses contract with an approved and inspected meat processing facility to make jerky for them. The facility can make jerky according to your recipe or use your own homemade recipe. They can even source beef specifically for your requirements, or use their own. The facility will then package the jerky with its label.

Website design By BotEap.comThe problem that most entrepreneurs find when they hire a local is that the jerky never comes out with the same flavor and consistency as when they made it themselves in their own kitchen. The answer is to try several installations and find one that produces something closest to what you are looking for.

Website design By BotEap.comDo a Google search on the words “USDA Establishment Number” to find a list of federally inspected meat processing facilities.

Website design By BotEap.com3. Condoms or not? – Most consumers tend to stay away from foods that contain preservatives, artificial flavors, and fillers. Sodium nitrite is a common preservative in beef jerky, and studies have suggested that it causes cancer, although other studies dispute this.

Website design By BotEap.comThe problem for manufacturers and retailers is that jerky must be able to sit on store shelves for several months to retain its freshness. For this, it has to contain condoms. Most distributors and retailers won’t even consider stocking a jerky that can’t guarantee freshness for more than a few weeks.

Website design By BotEap.comSo the trick for a small, new beef jerky company, if it wants to avoid condoms, is to find markets where long shelf life isn’t an issue. It is common to sell jerky at farmer’s markets, street fairs, and trade shows. Selling jerky online from a website is very popular. Some manufacturers have agreements with smaller stores to come in once a week to buy old stock and replace it with new.

Website design By BotEap.com4. Distributors: The jerky brands you see in convenience stores and grocery stores were placed there by distributor companies. Names like Core Mark, Sysco and US Foods represent the largest distributors in the United States and are responsible for filling the store shelves of all national retail outlets. You can’t just talk to a national retail chain and have them stock your jerky, you have to go to a distributor. And the way things are in the 21st century, distributors aren’t willing to talk to small, emerging brands.

Website design By BotEap.comInstead, you can talk to smaller niche distributors and/or small, non-chain supermarkets. Look for those that focus on natural foods. Small independent health food stores in your area are willing to buy jerky from local growers because of their desire to stock “locally grown and sourced” foods, as long as they don’t contain preservatives.

Website design By BotEap.comTo get larger dealers to take notice of your brand, you need to build recognition of that brand across the country. That means a lot of social media, a lot of sponsorships, being mentioned on TV and radio, etc.

Website design By BotEap.com5. Don’t Partner: Starting a beef jerky business from scratch is a lot of work. It takes years of dedication just to build a loyal customer base, and even then you’ll find that your life pretty much revolves around your business. Your business is going to become your life.

Website design By BotEap.comIf you have a partner, in addition to a spouse, many times you will find that your partner becomes your enemy. Even if it is your brother, your best friend or your mother. You will always find that your partner is not doing your job or telling you how to do your job. It will look like your partner isn’t working hard enough, but you still get half the profit. You may find that your partner is working harder than you are and feel guilty for not doing your part.

Website design By BotEap.comIf you need a business partner, talk to your spouse and ask them to be involved in starting a jerky business. If you can’t find a partner and you think you need one, it may not be the right time to start. Otherwise, take a deep breath, clear your mind, and get ready to do it all yourself.

Website design By BotEap.comThe rewards are greater that way.