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Business
David Crabill
Learn how to start a food business from your home kitchen by hearing stories from cottage food entrepreneurs about how they grew their businesses from the ground up. Does everyone ask for your recipes, or say "You should sell that"? Have you dreamed of starting a brick-and-mortar bakery, or simply want a fun hobby that brings in some extra dough? On this podcast, David interviews a wide range of entrepreneurs across America who legally sell their homemade food via their state's cottage food law. Each episode reveals strategies for marketing and selling your food products successfully from home, online, at farmers markets/events, and in stores. Learn what steps you should (or shouldn't) take, and get your cottage food business off to the right start!
Wynter Hosier with Etta’s Gooey Goodies
Wynter Hosier of Greentown, IN shares how she built her cottage food bakery into a successful storefront by persevering and giving back, despite facing many unexpected twists and turns along the wayGet full show notes and transcript here: https://forrager.com/podcast/128
59:5619/11/2024
Joan Eppehimer & Jason Madison with Aunt Joan’s Pearl City Popcorn
Joan Eppehimer of Jamestown, NY shares how she raised thousands of dollars for charity with a cottage food business, and (with the help of her nephew Jason) rebranded her business to boost salesGet full show notes and transcript here: https://forrager.com/podcast/127
59:2405/11/2024
Kristi Otto with One More Bite Organic Desserts
Kristi Otto of Fort Myers, FL shares how she leveraged her extensive food industry experience to succeed with her cottage food bakery, despite her community not resonating with her products initiallyGet full show notes and transcript here: https://forrager.com/podcast/126
59:1922/10/2024
Nicole DiMarco with All About The Freeze
Nicole DiMarco of West Deptford, NJ shares how she took the leap with a new product, and leveraged her sales, retail, and social media experience to quickly start a successful cottage food businessGet full show notes and transcript here: https://forrager.com/podcast/125
59:5708/10/2024
Steph Uittenbogaard with Fifi’s Patisseries
Steph Uittenbogaard of Loveland, CO never thought she'd run her own home bakery, and she shares her atypical business journey, including both the triumphs and challenges that she's faced along the wayGet full show notes and transcript here: https://forrager.com/podcast/124
54:3624/09/2024
Jenn Bowersock with Jenn’s Backstube
Jenn Bowersock of Sidney, OH runs an authentic German bakery from her home, and shares how she went from struggling as an entrepreneur to experiencing rapid success by finding product/market fitGet full show notes and transcript here: https://forrager.com/podcast/123
46:2510/09/2024
Alexis Kron with Bakednaz
Alexis Kron of Bullhead City, AZ shares how she built a successful cottage food bakery selling luxury custom cakes, despite overcoming personal challenges and facing resistance from her communityGet full show notes and transcript here: https://forrager.com/podcast/122
59:0327/08/2024
Tyler & Angie Worthey with Worthey Peppers
Tyler Worthey of Neoga, IL shares how he built a very successful cottage food business during high school, and how he and his mom Angie now work together as a mother/son team to take it to new heightsGet full show notes and transcript here: https://forrager.com/podcast/121
59:5813/08/2024
Ka’Terra Dettbarn with Sweet Addiction
Ka’Terra Dettbarn of Ocean City, MD endured lots of trial and error when starting a cottage bakery with her sister, but by persisting and listening for guidance, they transformed it into a successGet full show notes and transcript here: https://forrager.com/podcast/120
48:5030/07/2024
Valerie Allensworth with The Donut Lady
Valerie Allensworth of Sitka, AK shares how she built a very successful cottage food business by focusing on consistency, despite living on a remote island in Alaska and facing many unique challengesGet full show notes and transcript here: https://forrager.com/podcast/119
59:2416/07/2024
Marci Larson with Kahler’s Cakes
Marci Larson of Sioux Falls, SD shares how she turned her longtime dream of selling baked goods into a reality and built a successful cottage food business by selling wholesale and at many eventsGet full show notes and transcript here: https://forrager.com/podcast/118
46:1002/07/2024
Jenifer & Tristan Hoke with The Drunken Chef
Jenifer & Tristan Hoke of Tecumseh, OK share how they used sheer persistence to overcome early sales struggles, and found a business model that works so well that they now can't keep up with demandGet full show notes and transcript here: https://forrager.com/podcast/117
52:2918/06/2024
Rob Sanz with Rise Artisan Sourdough
Rob Sanz of Rockville, MD shares how he's added a cottage food bakery to a busy family life and career, and why he has intentionally kept his microbakery small, even though he could easily grow itGet full show notes and transcript here: https://forrager.com/podcast/116
59:5804/06/2024
Elisa Marie Lords with Elisa Marie Baking
Elisa Marie Lords of Placentia, CA shares how she overcame early struggles with her sales and built a thriving cottage food bakery by focusing on community, consistency, and customer serviceGet full show notes and transcript here: https://forrager.com/podcast/115
01:00:0021/05/2024
Tiffany Hill with Think Pink Bakers
Tiffany Hill shares how she built on her success as a cottage food baker by creating a thriving online community/course and a packaging business, both of which have experienced unprecedented growthGet full show notes and transcript here: https://forrager.com/podcast/114
55:1807/05/2024
Tiffany Hill with The Pink Crumbb
Tiffany Hill of Apple Valley, CA shares how she switched careers and built a full-time income from her cottage food bakery, after initially struggling to make sales and nearly shutting it downGet full show notes and transcript here: https://forrager.com/podcast/113
53:4123/04/2024
Mark Elvidge with Vermont Nut Free Chocolates
Mark Elvidge shares how he and his wife started Vermont Nut Free Chocolates from home in 1998 and built it into an international brand with over 1,000 wholesale locations and constant growth each yearGet full show notes and transcript here: https://forrager.com/podcast/112
59:4909/04/2024
Monique Germaine with Kneading to Bake
Monique Germaine of Nashville, TN shares how she built and rebuilt her cottage food bakery in 3 different states, plus a crazy commercial food business journey that got her products into big retailersGet full show notes and transcript here: https://forrager.com/podcast/111
56:0726/03/2024
Michelle Dukes with The Cookie Cutters
Michelle Dukes of Penfield, NY shares why she shifted her business model after 10 years of running a cottage food bakery, while keeping focus on the most important aspect of her business: having funGet full show notes and transcript here: https://forrager.com/podcast/110
56:1412/03/2024
Shupan Abraham with Cakes By Shupan
Shupan Abraham of Lawrenceville, GA shares how her cottage food bakery transformed once she hired a coach, and what she's learned about putting herself out there and marketing her business effectivelyGet full show notes and transcript here: https://forrager.com/podcast/109
57:2827/02/2024
David Bock with Buzzed Honeys
David Bock of Altadena, CA runs a multifaceted honey business that specializes in rescuing honey bees, and he shares local marketing tips that helped him build an email list of 3,500+ subscribersGet full show notes and transcript here: https://forrager.com/podcast/108
58:1213/02/2024
Jessi Deily with Colby Jack Rabbit
Jessi Deily of Helena, MT sells macarons and custom-decorated meringue cookies with her cottage food business and shares her journey from struggling artist to successful baker and TikTok influencerGet full show notes and transcript here: https://forrager.com/podcast/107
58:4230/01/2024
Eric & Denise Steilberger with Fudge De Fûge
Eric & Denise Steilberger of Ocala, FL sell their homemade fudge all year long and share how the lessons they learned from running a cafe in Alaska helped them build a successful cottage food businessGet full show notes and transcript here: https://forrager.com/podcast/106
55:3816/01/2024
Kristyn Suemnick with Old Oak Sourdough
Kristyn Suemnick of Murrieta, CA shares how her discovery of sourdough bread led to building a thriving home bakery that allows her to stay at home with her kids and better connect with her communityGet full show notes and transcript here: https://forrager.com/podcast/105
59:5602/01/2024
Megan Shonka with Happy Mango Bakery
Megan Shonka of Papillion, NE shares the highs and lows of her home-based bakery journey, the importance of being involved in her community, and her plans to expand into a brick-and-mortar storefrontGet full show notes and transcript here: https://forrager.com/podcast/104
59:2119/12/2023
Angela Awunor with Angyono Cakes
Angela Awunor of Glenn Dale, MD shares how she moved her thriving custom cake business from a commercial kitchen into her home, and how she maintains work-life balance with two full-time careersGet full show notes and transcript here: https://forrager.com/podcast/103
59:5805/12/2023
Denae Spiering with The Sugar Shack
Denae Spiering of Bridgeville, DE shares how she realized her long-time dream of building a brick-and-mortar bakery despite life getting in the way and pausing her cottage food business for many yearsGet full show notes and transcript here: https://forrager.com/podcast/102
59:1721/11/2023
Deanna Martinez-Bey with The Fiery Whisk Bakery
Deanna Martinez-Bey of Wake Forest, NC is a multi-faceted food entrepreneur and shares her experience in building a cottage food bakery, writing books, managing social media, and running pop-up eventsGet full show notes and transcript here: https://forrager.com/podcast/101
57:5007/11/2023
Episode 100: Where Are They Now?
In this very special 100th episode, previous guests come back on to share an update of what's changed since they were last on the show, what's surprised them, and what they've learned along the wayGet full show notes and transcript here: https://forrager.com/podcast/100
02:06:5824/10/2023
Starting A Mission-Driven Business with Nancy Chang
Nancy Chang of Oakland, CA sells healthy soups with her home-based micro-restaurant and shares how her mother's battle with cancer inspired her to provide nourishing food to those facing health issuesGet full show notes and transcript here: https://forrager.com/podcast/99
59:3310/10/2023
Invest In Yourself with Stephanie Wiley
Stephanie Wiley of Whitefish, MT shares how the tragic loss of her son inspired her to start a cookie business, which she has quickly grown by seeking help from others and investing in the businessGet full show notes and transcript here: https://forrager.com/podcast/98
59:1326/09/2023
Healthy Grains, Wealthy Gains with Tamara Ketchian
Tamara Ketchian of Orange, CT sells gluten-free vegan granola and shares how she's gone from stay-at-home mom to starting a cottage food bakery to now scaling her business with a commercial kitchenGet full show notes and transcript here: https://forrager.com/podcast/97
59:5812/09/2023
Don’t Be Afraid Of Failure with Jana LaViolette
Jana LaViolette of Clovis, NM shares her incredible journey from cottage food to food truck to storefront, and how she overcame many obstacles by constantly trying new things and never giving upGet full show notes and transcript here: https://forrager.com/podcast/96
59:5629/08/2023
It’s A Marathon, Not A Sprint with Robert & Paula Grosz
Robert & Paula Grosz of Murray, KY share how they built a thriving jam & jelly business that allowed them to quit their jobs by focusing on quality, listening to customers, and scaling their businessGet full show notes and transcript here: https://forrager.com/podcast/95
59:5815/08/2023
From Corporate Burnout to Cottage Food with Susan Ting
Susan Ting of Needham, MA shares how quitting her corporate job and facing burnout led her to start a cottage food bakery where she sells very unique and high-end gluten-free mochi dessertsGet full show notes and transcript here: https://forrager.com/podcast/94
57:0501/08/2023
The Freeze Dried Trend with Janna Newcomb Walworth
Janna Newcomb Walworth of Choctaw, OK has rapidly grown her cottage food business selling freeze dried candy, fruits, veggies, etc, and shares why she doesn't think this trend will end anytime soonGet full show notes and transcript here: https://forrager.com/podcast/93
59:5518/07/2023
Live In The Moment with Alisa Woods
Alisa Woods of Des Moines, IA shares how she promotes her home bakery by networking with others, getting TV spots, building Instagram followers, competing in state fairs, and living in the momentGet full show notes and transcript here: https://forrager.com/podcast/92
59:5404/07/2023
Back To Basics with Lora Friemel
Lora Friemel of Scranton, AR shares how she sells homemade jams, jellies, and other canned goods as a way to support her lifelong dream of running a sustainable homestead for her familyGet full show notes and transcript here: https://forrager.com/podcast/91
56:0020/06/2023
Priorities, Passion, & Profits with Leah Livingston
Leah Livingston of Kenosha, WI shares how two personal tragedies led her to build a successful custom decorated cookie business that allowed her to quit her job and eventually expand into a storefrontGet full show notes and transcript here: https://forrager.com/podcast/90
59:4806/06/2023
Bless Yourself By Blessing Others with Barbara Williford
Barbara Williford of DeBerry, TX shares how she built a cottage food bakery with her daughter and grew it into a full-time business by networking with others and giving back to her communityGet full show notes and transcript here: https://forrager.com/podcast/89
56:2823/05/2023
Beautiful Chaos with Chelsa Smith
Chelsa Smith of Des Moines, IA sells sourdough bread from her wildly successful home microbakery and shares many of the ups and downs of building her business while finding work-life balanceGet full show notes and transcript here: https://forrager.com/podcast/88
59:5209/05/2023
Men Bake Cookies with Mike Skyring
Mike Skyring of South Lyon, MI shares how he started a gourmet cookie bakery totally by accident, and how he quickly grew it into a very successful business by leveraging many marketing techniquesGet full show notes and transcript here: https://forrager.com/podcast/87
58:3525/04/2023
Anything Is Possible with Emily Vanlandingham
Emily Vanlandingham of New Orleans, LA runs a home bakery that focuses on school celebrations, and shares the triumphs, lessons, and challenges that have come from creating her very unique businessGet full show notes and transcript here: https://forrager.com/podcast/86
57:0411/04/2023
Think Like A CEO with Jen Morris
Jen Morris shares so many lessons from her crazy journey building a popular cupcake business in Collingdale, PA, including promoting yourself, scaling up, getting published, and validating productsGet full show notes and transcript here: https://forrager.com/podcast/85
59:5428/03/2023
Baking Saved My Life with Christina Marquez
Christina Marquez of Antioch, IL shares how she built a cottage food bakery amidst many life challenges by following her passion, caring deeply about her customers, and focusing on serving othersGet full show notes and transcript here: https://forrager.com/podcast/84
48:4014/03/2023
Stop Letting Fear Run Your Business with Brette Hawks
Brette Hawks is one of Utah's top wedding cake artists and shares how she grew two successful businesses as a stay-at-home mom by niching down, pricing correctly, and working smarter, not harderGet full show notes and transcript here: https://forrager.com/podcast/83
59:5428/02/2023
Serve The People with Lee Thomas
Lee Thomas runs a legal home BBQ business in San Leandro, CA and shares how he leveraged his political connections to help legalize MEHKOs (micro-enterprise home kitchen operations) in his countyGet full show notes and transcript here: https://forrager.com/podcast/82
58:3814/02/2023
Growing A Movement with Lisa Kivirist
Lisa Kivirist of Browntown, WI shares an update on the past, present, and future of the cottage food and food freedom movements, and how she's helping support them with many different resourcesGet full show notes and transcript here: https://forrager.com/podcast/81
58:5831/01/2023
Get Passionate About Sales with Amanda Schonberg
Amanda Schonberg of Baton Rouge, LA shares tons of business tips for generating more sales, building a following, managing mindset, improving time, growing an email list, and scaling up a bakeryGet full show notes and transcript here: https://forrager.com/podcast/80
59:5517/01/2023
Two Cultures In One with Fawzeya Owda
Fawzeya Owda of Norwood, OH shares her unique journey from home bakery to commercial kitchen when her Palestinian-inspired cheesecake allowed her to build her own American Dream to support her familyGet full show notes and transcript here: https://forrager.com/podcast/79
44:5603/01/2023