Start with an Idea

Defining your business

• Whether it's a new food truck at the plaza or a private label brownie at the grocery store, food entrepreneurs are  bringing their cultural food traditions (or riffing on those traditions in a new way) and turning their culinary passion into a business. It’s important to define exactly what type of food business you are starting. Understanding what makes your business unique and where you need to make it happen is the foundation to creating a successful venture.
  
• Understanding your market: Next, you’ll want to know what, if any, businesses are pursuing or have launched similar ideas. This will help you find your competitive advantage and turn your idea into a profitable business.
• Demographics: Every business and service needs to understand the product preferences or buying behaviors of its customers. Most companies identify their key customers through the following traits: age, income, geographic region, and education. This information is invaluable in finding and targeting consumers who have characteristics that align with your product or service.

Research Market Opportunity

• Define Target Market: If you've developed your business plan you should have a good sense of who your target customers are, who is the most likely to purchase your products or services, and who you want to reach. Use this information to your advantage and consider how you can locate your business to most effectively serve your target customer base.
• Find gaps in the market: Consider factors such as age, spending habits, occupation, and household composition.. For example, if your product is a prep meal kit designed for busy families and there are no current products or services that match this need, you may want to think about using targeted keywords on social media, selling at grocery stores in neighborhoods that are family-friendly, and advertising in magazines for parents.

• Research Competition: Next, you’ll want to conduct market research to see if other businesses are pursuing a similar idea. This will help you find your competitive advantage and help you turn your idea into a profitable business.

Help

Here are some organizations that regularly host workshops and bootcamps to help new (or new-ish) business owners get started with the basics.

Temecula Valley Entrepreneur's Exchange (TVE2)

The Temecula Valley Entrepreneur's Exchange is a business incubator and regional resource center that fosters business growth and economic vitality for entrepreneurs and innovative early stage companies, by providing access to technology and high quality resources, and leveraging a strong network of community partners. 

Inland Empire Small Business Development Center 

The Inland Empire SBDC (IESBDC) seeks to provide assistance and connect small businesses to resources in order to succeed. The IESBDC offers a comprehensive array of services tailored to meet the diverse needs of small businesses, including business planning assistance, market research, financial analysis, access to capital, marketing strategies, and technology commercialization. Through one-on-one consulting, workshops, training programs, and networking opportunities, the center empowers entrepreneurs with the knowledge, skills, and resources needed to navigate challenges, capitalize on opportunities, and achieve sustainable growth. Whether it's a startup seeking guidance on launching a new venture or an established business looking to expand, the Inland Empire Small Business Development Center serves as a trusted partner and catalyst for success in the local business community.