#businessoperationsplan

[nassalamri]

TUMBLR Post  - Business Operations Plan discussion

Selling Space and things I need to launch business

Once I start my business from home and it takes off, I am planning to rent a small shop in Downtown Oakville located around the residential neighborhood of Oakville with efficient transportation system and nearness to production resources. The place should meet my requirements: there is enough space for operations; no repairs needed; location is convenient – easily accessible by the locals; no issues with supply deliveries; available customer parking.

The biggest advantage is that there is no complicated machinery involved in the production and the space needed is minimal. The setting must include 3 main areas:

Selling Counter. There is no need for the large showcases to be installed. I will need just a corner with box sizes (0.250g, 0.500g, 0.750g, 1kg) and the space for the cash register

Dirty Kitchen and Pantry.There must be an average size kitchen with the stove – to melt ingredients, large stainless-steel counter with stainless steel bowls and pots. This area will be for preparing the product and storing the supplies.

Packaging Area. Here the chilled product will be cut and packaged according to the orders. The key equipment will be fridge to chill the product, stainless-steel counter for cutting the product and the display tall fridge for packaged products

Therefore, the selling space is very basic and easy to accommodate. The other issue is to negotiate the most suitable lease contract with the lessor, whether it is an owner or a real estate company.

Purchasing Products

All the products that are needed for the creation of my product are quite accessible and can be found in bulk supply shops or even local grocery shops. This is the beauty of having a business that does not require complicated and scarce ingredients.  Therefore, I am not expecting issues in this area.

The products needed are milk, cookies, butter, chocolate disks. These can be purchased at Walmart, Safeway, Costco, and Sprouts Farmer’s Market.

As for the chocolate disks, I am considering World Wide Chocolate (424 NH-125 Unit 7 | Brentwood NH 03833, United States) who is a distributor of premium chocolate, confectioneries and specialty foods from around the world Chocolate Makers like Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland and United States. However, at the moment there is no international shipping which means I would have to purchase the chocolate in person and ship it myself.

 As a more achievable alternative, I can consider Gourmet Belgian Chocolate Bars by Leonidas - the company of the most popular brand of chocolates in Belgium and worldwide. With more than 1300 sales outlets in 40 countries, Leonidas has earned a reputation of Belgians’ favorite brand of chocolate.  At Leonidas they are using certified cocoa to make the chocolate. They opting for sustainable cocoa that puts humanity and the environment at the centre of their decisions. This perfectly suits my vision of creating healthy confections marketplace that are handmade in safe environment, not a factory and does not hurt the environment. There are no Leonidas branches in Canada but their products can be easily ordered on AMAZON:

Generating Resources for Your Service

Nowadays, many services can be outsourced it eases the tasks of the startup. According to my research and previous experience, the following tools are rather helpful and can save money and time because who needs an accountant if you have Tally Software?!   

CloudApp. It allows you to take high-quality screenshots and screencasts to provide additional context to customers.Each image or video generates a link that can be shared to customer conversations.Also,they have an easy-to-use GIF maker to create short loop videos for instances when you need more than a picture.

Dropbox. It provides a centralized place to securely store documents, manage data access, and work together on projects.

SurveyMonkey. Manages multiple users and gain visibility into all survey data collected across your organization with admin controls and dashboards.

Tally Prime. Best licensed software for all business accounting and bookkeeping needs, like generating VAT-compliant  invoices, predesigned ledgers, access your business data anytime and from anywhere, business reports, books reconciliation,

Focusdeck. Business Process Outsourcing that have an experienced BPO team to handle routine activities in an organization in different technologies and Mobile Apps Development.

Motion Magic. Digital creator and Freelance illustrator and storyteller, Photography services, Social Media managers.

Sourcing Product in Time

Because the ingredients for my products are so common, the sourcing in time will not be an issue. There are websites and online supplier platforms available. Today’s grocery stores can carry upwards of 40,000 items in a single store which benefits and guarantees my pantry being stocked. An even if I ran out of 1 ingredient like milk or butter – I can easily have it delivered within 40 min in average by delivery service.

As for chocolate disks, I would need to contact potential suppliers, ask for samples, and evaluate suppliers. Moreover, having multiple sources for my products will give me:

Better prices

Insurance for supplies

Quality control

Who is Your Team?

I am planning to be a Sole Owner, as it is a small startup business. I am going to hire only 2 employees: chocolate chef and a salesperson.

For the delivery services I am planning to work with INSTACART that works with local grocery stores and pharmacies all over Canada:

(Fee: $3.99 to $5.99, or free for members (annual membership costs $99)

Availability: All provinces and territories except Nunavut and Quebec)

I would definitely need a cleaner for the shop, but I am planning to have a part-time employee that will only work 2-3 hours a day buy the end of the shift to prepare the shop for operations in the morning.

The accountant and Social Media Manager will be outsourced.

Do you need licenses permits?

I have to start by registering my business name with the Ontario Business Names Act. Business owners can also enlist the help of Ontario Business Central, an authorized agent of Industry Canada that works with the government directly to help businesses register, incorporate, change, or cancel their licenses.

Before launching my business, I would need to consult with a lawyer to ensure I have considered all the legal requirements. There will be an additional budget set for legal fees. However, to save budget, for some inquiries I could try contacting Pro Bono Ontario’s Free Legal Advice (Hotline 1-855-255-7256).

Moreover, I would need to contact the Accessibility Directorate of Ontario: (Hotline 1-866-515-2025), to make sure that my business is accessible to people with disabilities. 

Because my business is connected to food, I needed to find out if I need to obtain certificate from Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). After completing Licensing interactive tool - Safe Food for Canadians Regulations, I received a conclusion that I do not need license according to Food listed in Schedule 1 of the SFCR (Cocoa Beans):

“You do not need a license to send or convey food from one province to another.

However, if the food you send or convey from one province to another has been manufactured, processed, treated, preserved, graded, packaged or labelled in Canada, it is your responsibility to ensure those activities were conducted by a licence holder. [SFCR: 7(2); 15(1)(a)]”

Another big part would be to study the Food safety standards and guidelines, Proper Labeling and Storage.

If I will decide to conduct business from home, as per Ontario Ministry of Health, Home-based food businesses are allowed to sell low-risk, home-prepared foods and are exempt from certain regulatory requirements, such as specified handwashing stations in food premises, compliance with commercial dishwashing requirements and food handling training certification.

For Municipal Regulations, I would have to contact the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) (Hotline 1-877-426-6527) for information on what municipal regulations, licenses or permits will be needed to operate your business.

I need to visit government services or the Small Business Administration website to check whether I qualify for any tax deductions and credits because many local governments design special credits to help small businesses grow faster.

I am not planning to register my name or logo as a trademark or patent as name Choco Cookies is very common and the recipe is old, and it is no secret.

I am not planning initially to register my name or logo as a trademark as name Choco Cookies is very common.

I need to open Small Business Bank Account. I can arrange a meeting with a business banking specialist to determine which type of account is right for my business.

[emily-simmons-101]

Business Operations Plan

RESOURCES

For my first product release, I intend to source 100% of my bikini fabric resources from thrift, and second-hand stores. Upon conducting the necessary research and calculations, I have determined that this will allow me to procure the largest quantity of material for the lowest cost. Additionally, it is important to note I have already acquired enough fabric for approximately 10 bikinis, sourced from donations of second-hand swim or athletic apparel from friends and family.

My first product release will consist of one bikini style, a standard string bikini, in various sizes, colours, and patterns. My reasoning behind this is that the standard string bikini style requires the lowest quantity of fabric, and therefore will expand my ability to produce more while staying under my $50.00 budget. Consequentially, it is my plan to spend $20.00 on purchases of bikini fabric resources. Fortunately, I am able to source these resources locally, which will allow me to negate potential gas costs associated with product sourcing.

My desired inventory for my first release is 20 bikinis, with 4 in each size (small, medium, large, and extra large). Due to already possessing an inventory of assets in relation to my business prior to receiving this assignment, I am confident I will be able to achieve my desired production for my first product release with the thread and elastic I already have.

SELLING SPACE:

Instagram:

I currently have created a professional Instagram account for my business, which is free of cost. I also possess a Canva membership – paid for by a previous employer – that I will use to create promotional materials.

Picton Farmer’s Market:

Date and Time: Every Sunday through until September 30th

Cost: $10.00 (tax included)

Licenses/Permits: Covered by Picton Town Hall

Included:

Table

Chair x1

Tent

Additional Notes:

Sign up is done on a weekly basis through the Picton Town Hall Event Planner, Judith, whom I have been in contact with.

Vendors are not required to return weekly

Market location is >0.5km from my residence, and will not cause additional gas costs

One promotional sign is required and will cost $3.50 at Printcraft, the local printing service.

MANUFACTURING SOURCE

Sourcing 100% second-hand fabric for my bikinis allows me to negate the cost of purchasing and shipping fabric through a second-party manufacturer. Furthermore, once I have acquired the necessary resources, the physical manufacturing of the finished product will be done by myself, in my home.

Thread: Michaels

Michaels has the required variety of thread and elastic I need to manufacture my bikinis, and is additionally located in Belleville, where I often already have to take trips for various recurring appointments. Keeping an accurate inventory should permit me to avoid making an additional trip, or the subsequent gas costs.

Labels: PEC Embroidery & Printing

After researching various alternatives, such as Vista Print, I have determined it is most efficient for me to have my labels manufactured locally at PEC Embroidery & Printing. Sourcing locally will also allow me to pick up my finish labels while running my weekly errands in town. Additionally, I am fortunate to have a personal rapport with the owners, so I have been able to acquire my labels at a discounted rate. We have already discussed the details of my first order, and I have received a quote for $6.75 for 20 printed labels. These labels will include my business name, size, and all other requirements outlined in:

Textile Labelling and Advertising Regulations

Textile Labelling Act

LICENCES and PERMITS:

Currently, there are no existing licenses or permits I am required to obtain prior to beginning to conduct my business.

TIME SENSITIVITY:

Ensuring all my resources are sourced in time has been a topic of concern for me. Physically shopping for resources has not been an option, and it is no secret that shipping times have been less predictable than usual. However, with the confirmation of the changing provincial restrictions as of June 11th, I am now 100% certain I will have no issue sourcing my resources in a timely manner that allows me to meet my desired production. My current plan is to purchase my required materials over the coming weekend of June 11th – 13th, and begin the manufacturing process immediately.

BUDGET SUMMARY:

Initial Investment: $50.00

Fabric Expense: - $20.00

Labelling Expense: - $6.75

Ad Expense (sign): - $3.50

PFM Vendor Fee: - $10.00

Total Expenses: $40.25

Remaining Cash: $ 9.75