I've been in the process of starting up a ejuice company for a while now and I'm curious to know how you guys started:
•How did you keep start up costs as low as possible? •How did you protect your brand name? What's the process like for getting trademarks? Costs? •How do you go about selling your juice? Do you have your own website or online store? How do you utilize the Internet to sell your product? •What regulations and safety rules do you have to abide by? How do you legally protect yourself? •Do you wholesale your juice to vape shops? What's that process involve?
Let's discuss!
I hope you get a few PM responses- I doubt you will see many publicly with first hand knowledge. Some second hand Knowledge, I only mix special edition runs for a local distributor.
Most use friends/family for labor at first, and sell under existing labels or run without insurance selling to small stores.
Unsure on this- but I would expect they incorporate a brand publicly and then apply for a trademark. Cost to incorporate is usually ~700 to ~1000.
Not many people sell online at first, mostly cash at first, checks for larger orders, sometimes in bulk without bottles.
Personally I try to only mix in a designated clean area or lab space. Insurance is highly suggested. Read up on your state regulations, California looks like it now requires prop 56 warnings.
Most small businesses right now are run like its the Wild West- No serious interest yet in safety, insurance, or anything that hurts fast sales and quick cash. There are a growing number of people who are taking proper precautions and doing the right thing. I highly recommend that you do the same- don't play the short game for fast sales. If your business survives, you will have already created a good business model with the "extra" expenses paid.
/u/Botboy141 made a nice writeup over on VU. Worth a read.