5 Tips for Starting a Juice Business
Opening a juice business seems pretty straight forward.
You make juice, and you sell it. Easy money.
Well, there are some things you need to figure out before everything can be open and operating. After working with hundreds of new juice companies, I have compiled a short list of tips and resources that will keep you from running into many common issues.
This article has been updated (originally published January 26th, 2015).
How to Start a Juice Business: 5 Tips
1. Know your local health laws concerning raw juice.
The laws concerning raw juice vary greatly by region.
For example, in the US, the FDA states that raw juice can be sold directly to consumers via retail or delivery, but not wholesale to third parties that are going to resell it. If you want to sell wholesale, you need to process the juice by either heat pasteurization or HPP.
You can, however, make the juice in a central location and sell it through multiple store locations if your company owns both the production facility and the stores. This is still considered direct to consumer. (That is what the federal law says, but local / state laws may be different, and some are changing.)
Japan has the strictest laws I have seen. A business has to make raw juice at the same location it is sold. Compare this to countries like Australia and China where there is virtually no regulation on raw juice, and companies are free to wholesale as they wish. I expect some of the regions with the more relaxed laws will begin to shift towards stricter regulations in the near future as raw juice becomes more popular.
The easiest and best way to learn about health regulations is to contact your local health department.
2. Decide which business model you’re going to use.
There are 4 basic business models in a juice business:
- Delivery only
- Brick and mortar
- Wholesale
- Combination
Each business model has its pros and cons. Decide which type of business you want to run, and get together the funding you need. Regardless of which business model you choose, it’s important to choose so you know where to spend your energy.
Pro tip: Start with delivery or a brick and mortar retail store, but aim for eventually offering the consumer several options for buying your product, also known as an omni-channel business.
3. Get the right equipment
Set yourself up for success. Invest in the right juice bar equipment for your business.
It may be tempting to save money and buy cheap equipment, but you will lose out on labor costs and wasted produce, costing you more money in the end. Your juice equipment may be the most important investment you will make.
Not sure where to start? Download our kitchen layout infographic, which includes an equipment list.
4. Have an expert on your team
If you’re getting into the juice industry for the first time, make sure you have someone on your team that is an expert. An expert can be someone that has managed a similar business to yours. It’s okay if it’s not exactly juice. If you’re starting a juice bar, you can hire a good restaurant / food and beverage manager. If you’re starting wholesale juice business, find someone with experience in managing a juice or other wholesale beverage business.
The fastest and easiest way to tap into the knowledge of a juice expert is to hire a consultant that can help you make a plan, develop recipes, and train your staff on equipment. Check out our consulting packages for more info.
5. Know your numbers:
It may be tempting to throw every super-food known to man into every bottle, but unless you live in an area where people will pay $25 per bottle, a business isn’t sustainable that way.
The cost of the ingredients that you put into every bottle should be no more than 25%-30% of the final price of the product. For more information, read my article on calculating food costs for cold pressed juice.
In addition to food cost, you need to manage your labor costs, packaging costs, and overhead to be in line with your sales. Want to play around with some numbers and calculate your profit? Try our free Juicing Profit and ROI Calculator.
Resources to Help You Start Your Juice Bar or Business
Here are a handful of resources to help you on your juicing journey:
- Follow this blog. Add your email to our list using the box on the right.
- Attend JuiceCon, the only conference for juicing professionals.
- For up to date news in the beverage industry, check out BevNET.
- Read more about FDA laws concerning raw juice.
- For customized consulting services, contact Ari Sexner.
- For a quote on juice equipment and for a product demonstration, contact us.
And here are a few free articles that cover essential info for juice business operators:
212 Responses
by Margaret Guerra
Great!
Thank you for the information
by Lilly Gonzalez-Skinkle
Thanks for the information about doing raw juice business, great information, we already have the X-1, love it, but the labels were a nightmare…..keep sending tips so we can all make our juice creations more easy to do.
Reply by Charlie Wettlaufer
Thanks for the comment Lilly! What was the biggest challenge with the labels?
Reply by sweta
hi charlie,
id like to get into the juice business in belgium. would be amazing to get some pointers….
Reply by Charlie Wettlaufer
Sweta, I would be happy to help if you have some specific questions. Let me know!
Reply by Anthony L Weaver
Wanted to create a product that contains fruit in a bottle. My question is; how do you preserve it for a long shelf life? What exactly needs to be added to it in order for it to last long without having it to be refrigerated? Thank you in advance yall.
Reply by Charlie Wettlaufer
To make raw fruit last a long time it needs to be cooked with pasteurization or preserved some other way like pickles.
Reply by Zeca V
Hi, first of all congratulations for your work and thanks because I have found very useful information to work on my project. I am currently running a juice cleanse business in Mexico, I would like to open a juice bar so I can showcase the juice and the process to “educate” people about the cold pressed juice and the difference from traditional juice business. Could you give me some guidence? I am heasitating about wether is a convenient move or should I keep it as a juice cleanse business with a low cost production facility or should it be better to invest in a nice juice bar shop with good location persueing the idea of becoming a trendy business? Please I would love to know your opinion. On a different point can you tell me how smart/convenient would you consider choosing to go with glass bottle on a juice cleanse business that intents to recycle bottles. In my opinion at the beginning it would be more expensive but glass bottles you can wash and sanitize easier and for a longer time than plastic bottles that leave a terrible waste print. Thanks in advance. Zeca
Reply by Charlie Wettlaufer
Zeca, I think have a brick and mortar store is excellent marketing and branding if your business can support it. It gives the consumers a real “feel” of what the business is all about. I think you should also consider selling food and other items in order to set yourself up for success.
Glass bottles are great, but difficult to manage. Glass is a personal choice you have to make as a business order, as it’s about reducing waste, and not making profit. Hope that helps.
by oonagh
Many thanks for your insightful article – value your knowledge
by Khalidah
Hello, I am opening a juice bar and I bought your machine (x1-good nature), I was just wondering if it was possible to juice eveything together or if I have to juice the fruits/vegetables separately?
Reply by Charlie Wettlaufer
You can do it both ways, here’s an article: Mixing Produce or Grinding Separately
by Danielle
We have the x1 and are going to start our juice buisness. We r religious juices but don’t have a lot of solid recipes especially for juice cleanses. We have ordered some to try and taste… Is there science behind these cleanses? Why is number 1 the first one u drink? Also a lot of them had a coconut or nutty juice for the end of the day cleanse. How do you juice coconut or nuts? Thank you
Reply by Charlie Wettlaufer
Danielle, there is a lot of different info out there about the proper way to do a juice cleanse, I do not know which is best. Some have several different juices, some are just a green and red juice, some include almond milk, etc. In regards to the coconut juice, you just open up the coconut and it is there 🙂 You can blend the coconut meat in with the coconut water using a blender, which it give a white slushy texture which tastes great. For nuts, you soak the nuts in water, then you grind in a blender, then press the milk out of the paste using the X1. Many of our customers make nut milks on the X1. Hope that helps!
Reply by Danielle
Super helpful thank you
by Alyson
Hi! GREAT article! What other label suppliers can you suggest? Just starting off!
Reply by Charlie Wettlaufer
Alyson, I would recommend contacting your local printing companies. Sometimes it is best to work with a company that you deal with face to face when needed.
by Malissa
I just requested information regarding pricing. Looking forward to learning more about your machines and what they can do! Great article, lots of helpful information.
Thank you!
by Gina
I am pretty new in the juice area, but I’ve learned a lot from your generous sharing, thank you so much!!! One question not sure you’ve already answered somewhere, how long can a bottled juice be preserved for? And under what kind of condition?
Btw. I’ve sent quote request, looking for your response 🙂
Reply by Charlie Wettlaufer
Gina, the shelf life question is a complicated one. It depends on a lot of processing conditions like quality of produce, temperature of the room, and the acidity of the juice. So, I can’t really give an answer. I will say that raw juice is usually less than 5 days, and HPP’d juice can be several weeks. We will have a quote to you shortly! Thanks
by Lara Bataineh
Hi,
Great article and insight. Thank you very much.
We are opening a juice business (cold pressed organic juice) in the Middle East. The volume will start very low and grow. However, it is a small market and investing in the X1 juicer at this point is too expensive since our production will be low. What other juicers do u recommend for a company that will produce up to 100 bottles, .33 ltr daily.
Thank you
Reply by Charlie Wettlaufer
Lara, unfortunately there is not currently a cold press juicer that I could recommend for that quantity. The Norwalk can make that quantity, but it will take you literally all day long. If you could find the investment, I would advise getting an X1 and using it for an hour in the morning, then you can focus the rest of the day on selling the juice instead of making it. Also, if you plan on growing, as the demand is currently growing in the Middle East, you will soon be scaling up your production and would quickly find the need for an X1.
by Aman Arora
Dear author,
I was looking for some guidance on opening a unit of cold pressed juices in India. I specifically have questions on production. Is it possible to get in touch with you regarding the same?
Thanks,
Aman
Reply by Charlie Wettlaufer
Aman, we can definitely help you with that. I will have someone reach out to you! Thanks
by Swati
I want to open an online raw juice business..great tips. Just started working on business plan. Will appreciate some guidance from you on the same 🙂
by akshay
Hi Charlie
Nice article
I am looking to setup a cold press business in India and think your guidance will be very valuable for my prospects.
Can we get in touch??
Thanks in advance.
Akshay
Reply by Charlie Wettlaufer
Thank you Akshay, someone will reach out to you shortly.
by Suresh
I have started cold pres juice business. Currently I produce about 65 bottles with 250ml capacity a day using 1 cold press machine made in Korea.
I am afraid this mass production will damage the machine.
Can you please help me to advise or propose better machine for commercial use ?
Thank you.
Reply by Charlie Wettlaufer
Hi Suresh, as your production grows, you will soon need to scale up to a real commercial juicer like the Goodnature X1. I have sent your contact info to our office based in Seoul, and you should hear from them shortly. They can schedule a demonstration for you at their office if you wish. Thank you!
by Sudhanshu Mittal
When you put produce in the hopper, doesn’t it generate heat because it is revolving and grinding too fast??????????
Waiting for your reply
Reply by Charlie Wettlaufer
The blade does not get hot. The produce passes through very quickly, it is not like a centrifugal juicer. If you put cold produce in, you will get cold juice out.
by Ivan Mini
Looking to start a Juice Bar business, any chance you could give some pointers, guidance?
Reply by Charlie Wettlaufer
Absolutely! Expect an email soon.
by Himanshu
Hi Charlie,
I am looking to setup a cold press business in India and I need your guidance.
Thanks,
Himanshu
Reply by Charlie Wettlaufer
Himanshu,
I will follow up via email. Thank you!
by Duarte Ramada
Hey! Love your tips on coldpress juices. I’m currently studying the serious possibility of opening a cold press juice company in Lisbon, Portugal. Actualy now I’m seeing the regulations and local health laws necessary for a juice company.
I’ve also the typical question: I will have a volume of 80-100 juices a day being sold hopefully. Should I adquire a X1 instead of a Norwalk? Do you have a X1 distributor here in Europe?
How much is to import such a big machine?
Thank you
Reply by Charlie Wettlaufer
Hi Duarte, thank you for the comment. I will contact you via email.
by Sag
Hello, I am planning to open my juice bar, can i consult you via email?
Reply by Charlie Wettlaufer
Hi Sag, I will contact you shortly!
by Dalton
Hi Charlie,
I am in the early stages of seting up my cold pressed juice company in the UK. Before making a decision where to invest I really would like to see one of the X1 machines working. Is there any companies here you know that uses Goodnature?
Thank you
Reply by Charlie Wettlaufer
Dalton, there are many customers in the UK with X1, especially in London. You can try contacting Ed Foy, the owner of Press London. You can see a testimonial from him on the homepage of the Goodnature website, http://www.goodnature.com.
by John
Appreciate your commitment and feed back on juicing,love it . I havé Bern following cold prèssjuice on personnal Life . Wé are thinking of investi y In good machine to huile juiceconfept. I am intéressée to use tour machine do Pleasanton share mire info and price. Wé are basée hère In Dubaï.
Reply by Charlie Wettlaufer
Thank John! Someone will reach out to you shortly.
by Benta
Hi. This article was super informative. I would like to start a juice business in Kenya is it possible to contact you for more information? Thanks
Reply by Charlie Wettlaufer
Absolutely! Just go to the contact page and we will be happy to reach out to you.
Reply by Jason
Hello, I’m also in Nairobi & interested in starting a juice business. Give me a call @ 0773243546, maybe we can collaborate on a project. Thanks
by Tanja Turk
Dear Charlie,
I’m researching all possible ways how to produce cold pressed juices with a target to sel it in retail. Due to short shelf life this is most probably not possible? The only way is under HPP technology which is not available in any of my neighbouring country. Could you advice, what would be the most cost efficient and optimal in order to be able to stock retail with such natural juices – no competition so far is present here. What is the approximate cost of X1 machine?
Thx for answering.
Tanja
Reply by Charlie Wettlaufer
Tanja, I wrote you privately about the pricing. In regards to HPP, are you sure nobody is using it for sauces, meats, fish, or something else in your area? Have you tried contacting Hiperbaric and Avure to ask about tolling centers?
by paul
Hi, I wanting any help you can get me- I wanting to make nut milks (mylks) the HPP them- I told you can HPP nut mils due to HACCP plans, do you have any understanding of why this? I’m sure I;ve seen companies in the USA offer HPP nut milks
Reply by Charlie Wettlaufer
Paul, I haven’t heard anything about non being allowed to HPP nut milks. HPP is used on many foods, not just juice. It is being used on meats, sauces, and other things, so it would really surprise me if it can’t be used on nut milks under US health code laws. There are several companies that I know of using HPP on nut milks, Suja and Blueprint come to mind.
by Nimoh
Hi.
Great ideas. thanks for the information.
I would like to set up a juice company. I have been having this dream all my life and now i am ready to start it. How much capital should I have and what machines should i start with.
Reply by Charlie Wettlaufer
Nimoh, amount of capital needed really depends on what business model you want to go with. I will have someone reach out to you about equipment list and more information. Thank you.
by michael
Dear AUTHOR
Thanks for the information about doing cold-press juice business, and i am going to run a cold press juice business in china, could i ask how much capital should I have and what machines should i start with
Michael
Reply by Charlie Wettlaufer
Michael, the Goodnature X1 is what most juice businesses start with. Beyond that, the startup costs depend on which business model you would be doing: retail / delivery / wholesale / etc.
Reply by michael
Greatï¼ thanks very much for your reply，and my business plan is focus on retail and delivery ,also could I get your email to make sure I can get your guidance about X1 juicer price and installation information just like will anyone come to help install the machines or u just send the machines?
Reply by Charlie Wettlaufer
Michael, you were contacted by my colleague Brandon on Aug 26. Please let me know if you didn’t receive the email.
by Steve
Do you have any information on profitability of juice bars and advice on opening a franchise or staying independent? Looking at opening one and looking for information. Thanks.
Reply by Charlie Wettlaufer
Steve,
There are so many factors involved in the answer to that question: Location, size, business model (made-to-order vs grab-and-go vs delivery etc.). Let’s just say that a healthy juice bar / cafe hopes to end up with 30% profit at the end of the year. In regards to franchising, this mainly depends on your desire and ability to create your own brand, or simply pay to use somebody else’s. Creating your own brand is higher risk and involves more creativity, but can lead to higher profitability since you don’t have to pay the licensing fees.
by juicebodysoul
Hi Charlie,
I appreciate the wealth of information on getting started. I’m looking to develop a line of HPP cold pressed juices for wholesale distribution. Right now I’m exploring opportunities to work with a co packager but am also interested in learning more regarding the cost of your X1 juicer as I plan my approach and financial analysis. I’m also hoping you may be able to direct me toward someone who can help me develop the recipes for my juice line as that is not my forte. Thank you in advance, Lisa
Reply by Charlie Wettlaufer
Hi Lisa, I will have someone reach out to you ASAP. Thanks
by Ashley
Hello,
I am looking to start a cold pressed juice business however, I am wanting to make it so the juices are fresh (made to order for each customer).
I have noticed that most cold press juice companies are selling bottled juices, do you think there is any reason for his? And also do you think there are any restrictions with using a cold pressed machine for fresh made to order juices.
Thanks,
Ashley.
Reply by Charlie Wettlaufer
Ashley,
The main reason for selling bottled juices is that it’s easier and more economical to make 20 bottles at once than make each glass of juice individually. There are plenty of juice bars that offer both made-to-order centrifugal juices and cold pressed bottled juices.
by ayodeji olaniyan
hello
have been in the business of smoothies and juice bar for over 7years now, now the business have grow and we thinking of starting a wholesale bottle juice and sell to supermarket, the problem we having is how to preserve the juice because after three days the juice in the freezer start losing taste . Any advice and recommendation of preservative method.
Thanks
Reply by Charlie Wettlaufer
Have you looked into HPP?
Reply by Claudia Viscarra Valverde
I have looked for the hpp machines but the prices are way down too expensive. Could you suggest some of this machines o manufacturers?
Reply by Charlie Wettlaufer
Claudia,
HPP equipment is very expensive. The best option for small businesses is to look for a company that currently offers “HPP tolling,” which means that they will process your product for you for a fee. Where are you located?
Reply by Lacey
Your information is incredibly helpful, thank you! Could you possibly give a price range for HPP equipment?
Thank you!
Reply by Charlie Wettlaufer
Lacey, HPP equipment is very expensive and last I checked it starts at around $750,000 USD. That’s why most companies send their juice to an HPP facility, instead of purchasing the equipment themselves.
Reply by Lacey
Wow! That is a lot! Do you know about how much an HPP facility would charge to have them pasteurize juice for a business, and how it is done? Do they come to you or vise versa? Also, do you know the requirements for transporting the juice in California? Is pasteurization only required if you are wholesaling?
Thank you!
Reply by Charlie Wettlaufer
Normally you ship or deliver the bottles of juice to the HPP tolling facility and they ship them back to you or you pick them up. The price depends on volume. Check out companies True Fresh HPP and Nutrifresh in California.
by Vanessa
Hi there great article. Do you have testimonials of small start ups of when they took the plunge to actually invest in the X1? I’m trying to decide what the tipping point is as it takes me all day to produce over 50 juices now and that’s time I could be spending selling more juices.
Thanks in advance
Reply by Charlie Wettlaufer
Hi Vanessa, have you taken a look at our testimonials page? Lot’s of examples of success stories on there! Testimonials
The X1 can make 100 bottles per hour in a normal setting, so it would free up a lot of your time.
by Piyush
Hi,
I would like to know whether the cold pressed juices out of X1 or the newly launched countertop machine are pulpy? Do these juices have pulp or fibers in them?
Thanks,
Pk
Reply by Charlie Wettlaufer
Juice off of both the X1 and the CT contain very little pulp, since the juice is pressed through a filter bag. Although the bags are made of different material on both machines, the juice that comes out is basically the same. Real cold pressed juice is clean, filtered, and fresh.
by Liz Atenas
Buying your machine, how many people minimum and maximum I can give jobs to start a business of cold pressed juice?
Reply by Charlie Wettlaufer
2 would be the minimum, and I have seen many businesses start with only 2 people. Maximum depends on the size of the business.
by Mariana
Hi!
I am thinking of opening a juice bar, I have my recipes already…. But If I want to buy the X1 I will be making lots of juices at the same time and now I dont know how to modify my recipes! s there a way you can help me figure out how to do this?
Thank you
Reply by Charlie Wettlaufer
Mariana, we do offer consulting for recipes. Would you like to speak to a consultant?
by adebanjo.ogunse
I am intereted in starting cold press fruit juice here in lagos, What will b ur best advice, with low capital for retail model start up…
Reply by Charlie Wettlaufer
A retail store in the US could expect to spent about $200 – $300 per square foot to build a nice retail store. I’m not sure how that transfers to Lagos.
by Chetan
Hello Charlie,
Very informative article, and most importantly I liked the way you are responding to each and every message. I am looking to setup a cold press business in India and I need your guidance. As in regard to cold pressed machines, recipes etc.
Also let me know if you have already supplied machine to India to any other Cold Pressed company ?
Hope to get reply soon.
Thanks in Advance.
CP
Surat, Gujarat, India
Reply by Charlie Wettlaufer
CP, yes we have several customers in India and are gaining a lot of interest in your region. Please contact us for more information about the machines and recipes, etc.
by KENNETH OPONDO
Thanks a lot for the information. Are the stick blenders suitable for commercial juice business??
Reply by Charlie Wettlaufer
Do you mean instead of the grinder? I’ve never tried it myself, but it seems like a possibility. It would definitely take more time and labor though.
by Richi
Hi great article … Iam really keen to do start juice n health bar in india … Iam looking forward to buy X1 where can I source it from ? Can counter top cold press juicers be a viable option if we are selling it in cafe?
Reply by Charlie Wettlaufer
Richi, the goodnature countertop juicer is perfect for a cafe. Other countertop juicers are not really meant for continuous commercial use, even if they claim they are commercial machines.
The X1 can be imported directly from the US. Please contact us for more information.
by Cas
Hi, we need assitant with recipies please, we have a proyect for a juice bar (cold pressed) and distribution of this. Can you help us?
Reply by Charlie Wettlaufer
I will have our consultant, Ari, reach out to you. Thanks.
by Andrew
I live in U.S but I have a passion in food processing. I would like to start a small scale cashew apple juice processing company in West Africa. Could you give me advice on the commercial machines to buy? I am not going to run a cafe.
Reply by Charlie Wettlaufer
How much production do you need per day or per week, in terms of gallons or liters?
by Sonia
Hi!
Thanks for sharing this helpful information! I’m wondering, what is the typical agreement between cold-pressed juice companies and retailers/cafés who sell the juices? Juices have a shelf life of about 3-5 days, so what happens when juices are unsold within that time? Is the retailer assuming the costs for this? Or is it the juice company’s responsibility to replace the unsold juices by fresh ones and absorb these costs?
Thanks so much!
Reply by Charlie Wettlaufer
Since the product has such a short shelf life, you will have to make guarantees that they won’t get stuck with waste product. Usually you “buy back” the units they don’t sell. In the beginning, it is better to let them sell out then have a bunch of left over product. Over time you will learn their market and predict almost exactly how many units they will sell daily on average.
by Estelle Prada
Great information. Thank you.
I am wondering about the X!. Reading the comments, I believe this is the one with less capacity. Could you please tell me about the price and the quantities to be produced by day? I am just in a planning stage and documenting myself about the business. process etc. The machine is for B/manga/Colombia. Thank you
Reply by Charlie Wettlaufer
Estella, the machine with the smallest capacity for commercial use is the Goodnature Countertop CT7. Have you been in contact with our sales department yet?
by Tom Anderson
Hi,
Looking to start cold pressed juice in London, UK. Can you help with distributors or importers for equipment please?
Thanks.
Reply by Charlie Wettlaufer
Tom, we sell direct to the UK and have many customers in your region. Our shipping company can help you with any importing needs and make it quick and easy.
by Shetkari Abhishek Khanvilkar
Hello Charlie,
I want to start a business of cold pressed juices in India. Is their anyone to whom you have sold the machine in India. How and what will be the price of the X-1 presses machine.
What is the shelf life of the juices prepared from X-1 juices and is their any possibility that a cold pressed juices can last for 21 days, if yes then which machine do they use.
Kindly help me with this.
Regards,
Shetkari Abhishek Khanvilkar
Reply by Charlie Wettlaufer
Raw juice will not get 21 days, it will only get a week or less unless you use a secondary process after you make the juice. The 21-30 day shelf life is achieved by using the process of HPP. You can read about it in this article.
by Trang Nguyen
Hi Charlie,
I’m Trang in Vietnam and I also plan to start the cold press juice business in Vietnam. I find your insight is very helpful since I also have some issues with the production and not sure if you have representative office in Vietnam.
Would we discuss more via emails?
Thanks and Best regards,
Trang
Reply by Charlie Wettlaufer
I will email you shortly.
by Des
I am in the process of starting a juice delivery company, as it is the best option for me at the moment with a full-time day job and the benefit of low overhead cost during the start up phase.
My questions:
1. As far as insurance. I encountered a challenge in finding someone who would insure the business due to the raw food content. Do you have any suggestions?
2. Would I be able to juice at my home and deliver, or would I have to use a commercial kitchen?
I notice that your article refers more to restaurants as opposed to delivery service. Hopefully one day I will get to that level of demand. Any other info or insight you may have regarding juice delivery service would be appreciated.
Im in a town that has not one juice bar. Right now Im ahead of the curve so Id like to at least get started within my means and resources. I believe it will be of huge benefit to the local community, and even surrounding areas.
Reply by Charlie Wettlaufer
1) I’m sorry I don’t have any information on insurance companies.
2) Usually you need to be in a commercial kitchen to comply with health code, however this depends on your local health department. Just give them a call and they are usually helpful.
In regards to being the first in your area, that’s a great way to start! I’m sure you will see a high demand for your product. I have seen delivery companies start with no more than a facebook page.
by Don Mcgowan
great info….i am starting a juice business myself but my juice will include the fiber
by Cedric
Hi,
Although I picked up quite a bit of knowledge and am still doing research on all the requirements to start a small juice production business, I hope you can also contact me as I need help setting up one. Currently I am trying to persue a juice delivery service, by buying the juice from a omeone who makes and sells it, where I am forced to add a mark up.
I would like to know how i can reach a bigger clientèle base and at the same time work and save towards setting up my own small factory.
regards
Reply by Charlie Wettlaufer
Sounds like an interesting business model. Are you getting whole sale pricing on the juice that you’re delivering?
by Charlie Wettlaufer
Yes, we have several customers in India. The X1 is $25,500, and the countertop is $13,600. Has you spoken to anyone in our sales department yet?
by Afa Jam
Great article!!
I have a factory in Azerbaijan. We are producing raw pomegrante juice ( fresh squized) actually i was looking for interested part here. What you coudl advise? It will be great if you could advise me something. We are importing it in containers
Thanksss
Reply by Charlie Wettlaufer
The Goodnature equipment can be used on pomegranates. What are you using now?
by Qendrim Mustafa
Hi Charlie,
Great article, has helped me think of some issues i am currently facing. I am from the UK and look to open a store selling fruit juice. However i am finding it difficult to find produce suppliers and the right equipment for the final product.
I am new at this however i life a healthy lifestyle hence reason i want to open something down this line. If you could email me with some advise and we can discuss this further would be great.
Kind regards
Reply by Rohit
Hi Guys,
I am based in London and very much interested to start a Raw juice business around the London area. I am looking for any consultant or any website which can help me to find out what all permits and licenses do i need to have. Also, what are the suggestions to buy the raw materials.
Thank you!
Reply by Ari Sexner
Hello Rohit, I would be glad to help, If possible can you email me at [email protected] and I will set up a time and we can discuss some options and go over some questions you might have about getting you up and running. Thanks
by Pushpa
Can you pls get in touch with me. I am exploring option of setting up cold press juicing unit. I am looking at HPP preferably. Based out of India.
by saksham sharma
How can i speak to u directly on phone
Reply by Charlie Wettlaufer
Sharma, our office phone number is +1 702-359-9090. We are available monday-friday 8am-5pm PST
by Shazana
Hello Charlie,
Thank you for sharing great tips to us. Could you please advise what is the best volume (in ml) of cold pressed juice per bottle? From my findings, most of the cold pressed juice in the market have range of 250ml to 350ml per bottle.
Thank you
Reply by Charlie Wettlaufer
I think you’re right that the standard size now seems to be around 350 ml, but it still is mostly the 500 ml size in the US. Personally I feel that 500 ml of juice is too much, unless I’m doing a cleanse and using the juice as a meal replacement.
by Carolyn
Great info! I have a question regarding the exact material used in the disposable bags. I have several family members that have chemical sensitivities- that’s why we love organic cold-pressed juicing! Do the disposable bags fit in with NOP organic standards? Or Canadian organic standards? Thanks for any info to confirm!
Carolyn
Reply by Charlie Wettlaufer
Carolyn, the bags are made of a paper-like material from corn starch. I’m not sure how that fits into organic standards, but I can’t see it being an issue. They are not made of any plastics or unnatural chemicals.
by Whitney Young
Hello! I am unsure about the pricing of HPP processing. Does anyone have an estimate of how much that is going to run me? I was looking at Universal cold storage. They have a processing place here in GA, I’ve reached out to them with no response as of yet. I also don’t know if there are companies that would be willing to help pay for processing either. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Reply by Charlie Wettlaufer
The HPP tolling fees I’ve heard of were a range between $0.15 – $0.40 per bottle, depending on volume. This could vary a lot depending on the company, though. I found this link for a company in GA: http://universalpasteurization.com/
by Eliana
I really like the amount of info in this article. I’m looking to start a juice business and am wondering about the startup costs for something small. I was wanting to do delivery to keep cost down. Can you email me any advice?
Reply by Ari Sexner
Definitely, There are quite a bit of factors and options you could consider. Depending on where you are located there could be a commissary kitchen to keep costs down in the beginning. Can you email me at [email protected], If you can provide me with a good contact number so we can discuss some logistics and I can give you some tips and provide a basic equipment list for you so you could get a better feel of how much of an investment would be needed. Thanks
by [email protected]
I read this article and found it very interesting, and i strongly believe you have some help for i am From Ghana in West Africa and a young graduate trying to get things work, currently i am into processing of a fruit drink but i am facing preservation problems i the drink must be constantly kept in the fridge to prevent it from spoilage due to this i can not produce it on a large scale i want you to help me with the best preservation method i can employ and also is it possible to preserve drinks by carbonating them
Reply by Charlie Wettlaufer
The only generally accepted methods of preserving juice are heat pasteurization or HPP.
by Santosh
Hi Charlie,
Hope you’re doing good!
I need start juice company in India
Please guide!
Planning of production of 10000 bottles per day
Thanks
by lucia
hi! do you know if its possible to do vegetable milks with a cold press juicer??? im pretty sure it works for almond milk, but does it work for oat milk coconut milk or birdseed? thanks 🙂
Reply by Charlie Wettlaufer
Yes, I believe that a cold-press can be used to milk both of the mentioned plant based milks, although I haven’t worked with those products specifically. I imagine you would soak the oats or seeds in water, than press out the “milk” using the cold-press.
by Ravi Kant
How do we get the problem/after sales service in machines addressed in India. That’s a big concern by many people who intend to order your equipment.
Reply by Charlie Wettlaufer
Ravi, we work with international customers over the phone, video conferencing, or email to resolve technical issues when they arise, which is usually sufficient. Also, if you have a technician that needs training, we can do that over video conferencing as well. As our market grows in India, we will set up a network of service technicians. India is a new market for us, so this will take some time. Thanks!
by Kapil pawaria
I am interested
Reply by Chirag
Hi there, did you manage to start your juice business? I am a student and would like to start similar kind of business once i graduate.
by Justyna
Hi Charlie
I know the issue about shelf life come back over and over but I need to ask again.
Many juices businesses (most of them) placing info about shelf life – 3 days. I think,many time company after company copy this info because there is no any proof or research confirming cold pressed juice can be consume only with 3 day. I’ve noticed few juice companies saying they juices have 5 days shelf life. I’m staring like a new in the market and this is very important for my because in our business every day count.
selling juice to my customers I want to be far with them. What is your opinion and advise. Also want to ask about prices for selling my juices to shops,gym,yoga studios etc. how much discount i should make selling to another businesses?
thank you
Reply by Charlie Wettlaufer
Justyna, thank you for the questions.
1) Shelf life is a touchy subject because it depends on so many things: Acidity of the juice, how fresh the fruit and vegetables were, the temperature of the operating environment, etc. If cold-pressed juice is made in good, safe conditions with fresh produce, it can have a shelf life of up to 7 days. That being said, if you look at a juice with high PH like straight kale juice, after 2 days it will visibly start to change in color, texture, and taste and would not be acceptable to the average consumer. However if you mix apple and lemon juice in with the kale juice you can extend the shelf life by several days. Many cold-pressed juice companies will put a 3 day shelf life on the juice to be safe, when in reality each recipe will have a different shelf life. No matter what, always check with your local health department and follow their guidelines as it is the juice company’s legal responsibility to provide a safe product to its consumers.
2) You need to allow resellers to have at least a 40% margin on selling your product, or they probably will choose another product to sell.
by Ardy Afshar
Hi so I am in the process of opening my first juice bar and I will be opening it in the California area. I wanted to see what is the best company I can reach out to for making my juice bottles? I saw that you said Captiva is a great place but they are in Miami. Should I go with them or do you know any local places in California?
Thank You
Ardy Afshar
Reply by Charlie Wettlaufer
Ardy,
I would definitely recommend Captiva, however you could also take a look at Bomatic, which is based in Ontario, California.
by Kylie Blacksher
I am looking to open up a fresh juice business in the Midwest area but have some questions. Can you email me? Thank you!
Reply by francisg
Hi Kylie! One of our account executives will email you shortly.
by Sarah Rotholz
Two of us are starting up a raw, cold-pressed company in Houston. We’re beginning with delivery until we develop a base, and are finding all of these basic growing pains a bit exhausting! I’m grateful for your informative article! We’ll definitely look into your consulting when we are prepared for a storefront. 🙂
Reply by francisg
Thanks Sarah! It’s our pleasure to provide valuable articles and information on all things cold-pressed juicing!
by Nicole
Hello,
I wanted to get some start up information on beginning a juice company in my area.
Could someone contact me.
Reply by francisg
Hi Nicole, please visit our contact page at https://www.goodnature.com/contact and fill out the form so one of our account executives can contact and send you the information you’re requesting.
by Zabani
Hi
Kindly assist me i need to start a organic juice company,may you please email some advise.its can be also an established company that need frenchisers
Warm regards
by Sara
I’m interested in starting a juicing business in our community. Can your guidance assist me on everything I need to know..? Please email info.. Thank you!
by Kira Tran
Hi Charlie,
I am planning on opening a home deliver cold pressed juice and your blog is super useful. However I still have some questions in dealing with the production and startup process. Can we discuss further?
Reply by Charlie Wettlaufer
Hi Kira, I will reach out to you. Thanks
by Ahed McDaniel
I am exploring the idea of starting cold juice home bottling business and read some of your articles and responses. I wanted to start with small scale business and was wondering if you have any advises for me.
Reply by Charlie Wettlaufer
My main advice is to learn as much as you can, and make sure you understand the economics of the business! Teach yourself about cost-of-goods and profit margin. Make sure you are putting yourself in a place to make money. There is lots of good information on this blog, it is a great place to start.
by Anik
Hi Charlie,
Nice article
I am looking forward to setup a fruit juice business in Bangladesh and think your guidance will be very valuable for my prospects.
Can we get in touch?
Thanks in advance.
by Miatta Weisel
I am in the beginning stages of creating an online natural juice company. I have researched and spoken to some distribution/manufacturing companies that can do the leg work for me since their are so many food regulations. However most of these manufactures output 1000 skews in one flavor of juice so if I had 5 flavors, that would be 5000 bottles. I am not looking for that much product, at least not until I build up my market base. Do you have any information I could use regarding, starting this process on my own?
Reply by Charlie Wettlaufer
Yes we have a lot of good information on this blog. Check out some of the other articles, and let me know if you have any questions along the way. Thanks
by Michaela
Hi there! I am a recent college grad, and I am looking to start selling juice to locals. I was going to start selling on my university campus, but came across all of the health regulations. Do I need my juice to be pasteurize in order to sell it in public, or am I able to bottle it and just write the shelf life on the bottle. I find my passion for this increasing daily so I would love any feedback. Thank you!
Reply by Charlie Wettlaufer
Under FDA law, you do not need to pasteurize juice when selling it direct to consumers. However your local health department may require you to create an approved HACCP plan if selling bottled juice. You should contact the health department in your area and ask them what would be required. The health department is usually fairly helpful. Once you get connected with an inspector, then you have a direct line of contact and he or she can help you go through the process. I don’t know where you live but just google “[name of city] health department”
by Hasnaa
Hi, for a 100 bottle production, what is the best juicer to buy that provides also pasteurization? Thank you
Reply by Charlie Wettlaufer
For 100 bottles per day you could get it done on a CT7 in a few hours. There aren’t any juicers that provide pasteurization, as that is a secondary processing step done by different equipment.
by Chris
Hey there,
I’m very much appreciative of your articles.
I’ve recently been exploring the idea of selling juice on a small scale to my co-workers. I’m a ballet dancer and work for a professional company, therefore there is a lot of emphasis on health throughout the daily lives of my co-workers. I plan on getting a rough estimate of people who would be interested, making the juice that morning (or night before) and bringing it to work to sell for a small profit. I was wondering if there are any health concerns i should consider if i’m making the juice at home with a personal juicer and no pasteurization or HPP processing? (I don’t want anyone getting sick at my fault)
This is very much still in the “idea” phase I but would love any tips or advice you have on getting started. Your posts have already provided a great amount of insight.
Thank you so very much,
Chris
Reply by Charlie Wettlaufer
Chris,
Thank you for the positive feedback. Always nice to hear that people are reading the blog!
Technically once you start selling juice, it becomes a business and you will most likely have to get approval from the health department (but it depends on where you’re located). They will want to look at your kitchen, process, and cleaning methods. The best thing to do is to contact your local health department and just ask them some questions. Normally they are fairly responsive. Let me know if you want to discuss things more.
Charlie
by soumika
Hi
I am starting a cold press juice company in India. Intend to use your X1 equipment. Can you please provide the contacts?
Thanks
Reply by Charlie Wettlaufer
Soumika, please go to our contact page we will get in touch. Thanks!
by Michelle Lartey
hello , i am currently in Accra Ghana and Looking to start a Cold Pressed Juice business, any chance you could give some pointers, guidance?
Reply by Charlie Wettlaufer
I recommend reading through this blog! If you hae any specific questions, feel free to ask 🙂
by Lisa Fiorilli
Your blog is a wealth of information. I am working on a line of cold pressed juices to sell wholesale. Currently I am using a copackager and am struggling with how to calculate the price I will need to purchase juices from my copackager, and how to price them for wholesale distribution. Any guidance you can provide is greatly appreciated. Thank you.
Reply by Charlie Wettlaufer
Lisa – here’s a formula for you. You start with the end price to customer and work backwards. let’s assume end price is $10, and the retailer needs 40% profit margin, and you want to make 50% profit margin when selling to the retailer:
Price to sell to retailer:
$10 * (1 – 0.4) = $6
Price to pay copacker:
$6 * (1 – 0.5) = $3
So when the end price is $10, you will make $3 profit with this model.
Hope that helps.
Reply by Lisa Fiorilli
Charlie- Thank you for getting back to me. This calculation is so very helpful as I was truly struggling here. As I build my business, I look forward to migrating from a co-pack solution to one where I make the juice myself and will definitely be in touch. Best Regards, Lisa
by Snehal Patil
Hi, I want to setup a Cold Pressed Juice business in India. Have zero knowledge about this industry but passionately want to start a juicing brand. Could you help and guide me with detailed plan?
Reply by Charlie Wettlaufer
Senehal, if you would like help coming up with a detailed plan reach contact us and request consulting info, as we would be happy to provide that for you: contact us.
by Snehal Patil
Hi Charlie,
I want to setup the cold pressed juicing business in India and I have no idea from where to start. Can you please give me your guidance to start this business with minimum risk and investment? I have no prior experince in business but passionate about having my own brand. Please guide me.
Reply by Charlie Wettlaufer
Snehal,
I recommend reading through this blog and then if you have any specific questions please don’t hesitate to ask!
by Charles uchenna
my name is Charles Uchenna, am currently living in the UAE and working as a Sales Exescutive.
i really want to appreciate your effort for sharring this wonderful tips, i have been planning this business for a long time now thank God that i finally found what i have been looking for. so am going back to Africa to start up my business plan. i need more assistance and a good business patner, you can email me on [email protected] or contact me on +971565564893,+971525942054
by Snehal Patil
Hi Charlie
I had left you a message on this portal but it seems to be invisible or unseen. Can you please help me out with Cold Pressed Juice Business?
Please contact me.
Thank you.
by vivek
Hi Charlie
I am interested in juice producing business with. I want to know the minimum requirement of equipment for making different flavours of products. Minimum investment like 500 bottles each 200ml per day.
Is your team available in Tanzania.
Reply by Charlie Wettlaufer
Yes absolutely! go to the contact us page
by Raj M
Hi
I would like to understand how to setup a cold press juicing unit in Dubai. I am particularly interested to have a longer shelf life and understand the process of HPP. As an HPP unit is very expensive, would you know of any HPP tolling options in Dubai.
Regards
Raj
Reply by Charlie Wettlaufer
Raj, unfortunately I don’t believe there are any tolling centers in UAE yet.
by Jean
Hi Charlie
I’m just starting up a home juicing business. I live in the UK and need to add nutritional info on my labelling. I am finding it really difficult to find an online free calculator to calculate from the raw produce which is in UK grams with a yield in UK ml. Do you know of any free online calculator that can do this? I’ve found a food calculator where i can enter the ingredients in grams but it gives me grams as the output so the readings can’t be true. The only online calculators I’ve found that will do a proper calculation are £200 per recipe which is way out of my budget. Can you help and point me in the right direction?
Reply by Ari Sexner
Hello Jean, We were kind of running into the same issue initially, The free online nutrition calculators are not very accurate, especially with calculating the fiber content. Typically the free online programs might help get you some general info on the vitamins and minerals in the product, but not an official approved format, Since you are juicing from the home initially, it might but be a requirement to have the nutritional facts labeled on the bottle. I would double check first if it is even needed. Hope that helps. Thanks
by Nisar Ahmed
Hi , thank you for great information on cold pressed Juice and the process involved.
Reply by Charlie Wettlaufer
You’re welcome!
by Afaque
Hi, I am planning to set up a juice bar in Pakistan and your article has been very helpful. Can you please let me know the price of the Goodnature X1 machine so that I am able to adjust my numbers. Secondly do you provide consultancy for setting up a cold press juice business or help comes free with purchase of X1?
Cheers
Afaque
by Kamlesh
Hi Charlie,
Your blog is very helpful to get proper knowledge about this business. Can you suggest some HPP tolling companies in India specially in or near by Mumbai? Is there different types(in terms of pressure) in HPP to maintain different no.of shelf life ? please explain.
Regards
Reply by Charlie Wettlaufer
Unfortunately I’m not aware of any tolling centers in India. I checked the websites of both Avure and Hiperberic and don’t see any listed in your area. In regards to the pressure, the settings can be changed but depending on the acdity (PH level) of the juice, the tolling center or a consultant can recommend the proper pressure and length of time to process. you can read more on my HPP article here: The Truth About HPP
by Goodluck
hello I find your blog very educating, am into starting a commercial wholesale juice production, but I need a guideline on how to go about it including the suitable equipments needed for the factory setup, bottles and label design and also how to extend the shelf life of the juice. thanks mind if u can be of help
Reply by Charlie Wettlaufer
For factory set up, you can check out the kitchen layout here: Cold-Pressed Kitchen Layout
For label design, you should find a freelance designer that can help you out. You could also try a site like 99designs.com if you’re on a budget.
For shelf life of juice, check out this article: Understanding shelf life of cold-pressed juice.
Hope that helps!
by Rachit Saboo
Hi!
We are planning to start the Cold Pressed Juicing business in our city. I want to know if any kind of preservative is added to the Juice at all? Also if using glass bottle, does the juice need to be treated with HPP as glass can’t go through HPP. What is the shelf life of glass bottles & how to increase it?
Reply by Charlie Wettlaufer
Cold-pressed juice is 100% juice and doesn’t contain any preservatives. Natural acidic juice like lemon juice can help extend shelf life, but don’t expect to get more than 5 days without extra processing.
HPP can be done in plastic containers only.
If you want to read more about shelf life, check out this article on our blog: Understanding shelf life of cold-pressed juice
by marjorie blackwood
hi Charlie I am planning on opening a home deliver cold pressed juice and your blog is super useful.my questions is what production and startup process I need ? please email info . thank you.
Reply by Charlie Wettlaufer
I would recommend using the new X-1 Mini, it would be perfect for a start-up juice business.
by Zae
Hi Charlie
Thank you so much for the article very informative and helpful. There is no juice bar in my city and am sooo interested in starting one though would want to start small mainly because of limited resources.
I would also want to do smoothies along with juices targeting the health conscious .
May you please contact me on my email .
Thank you
by zae
Hi Charlie
Thank you for the post very informative and helpful. I have been thinking of a juice and smoothie bar for a very long time because there isn’t one in my city.
I want to start small because of limited resources.
May you please contact me via email
Thank you
by Vynne
Hello, your guide has been quite informative. I am setting up a smoothies/juice bar, however my big challenge is how to effectively deliver to customers in cold cups. Can you please give pointers on crates / racks/cooler bags that can handle the transportation of these -in cups. Thanks
Reply by Charlie Wettlaufer
Vynne, I’m not able to give any specific recommendations on shipping materials, but there are a ton available online if you do a quick search. Sorry I’m not able to help more.
by EKA HART
hi Charlie,
I have nursed a dream to set up a juice manufacturing business but still on a paid employment… thought to do some research today and found your website on first search…
please could you offer guidance on how best to start? I am based in Nigeria, in Africa. please could you contact me via email?
thanks so much
Reply by Charlie Wettlaufer
Eka, thanks for the comment, I will have some reach out ASAP!
by Brittany
Hi Charlie,
I have been making homemade smoothies and juices for 3 years now and I finally have mastered my recipes. I would like to start a juice company selling cold press organic juices. I’ve been doing some research on how to get started, how to invest in the right equipment, obtaining my food manager license, and how to become USDA organic certified. My problem is marketing and actually starting my business. Any help you have to offer would be terrific! This is a vision I believe will come to pass with the right guidance! Thank you so much!!!
Reply by Charlie Wettlaufer
Sounds exciting! Once you decide what type of business you want it to be, put together a plan, find a business partner (I recommend not doing it alone), and do it! Advertising on facebook is extremely cost effective. I recommend starting there once your businesses is up and running.
by Bam
Waoooh. Thanks so much. Your website seems to be an answer to most of my questions. I have always had a dream to open a fresh pressed juice bar. Still working on the plan. Please how can I really go about it. Please can you contact me via email? Really needs your help. From Cameroon in Africa
by Puneet Grover
Hey, It really seems like a good business until you take the first step. I have come up with the idea of making Pre-workout and Post-workout juices and place them in gyms for a starter. For which I need to put a cold refrigerator in every gym which is again an extra cost for me. But I do see a space for business here as people do need drinks post workout and not everyone is a fan of protein shake.
I don’t have any recipes as such, just took few from the internet. Guide me the proper way to go ahead with it. Thanks
by Edward Chapa
Thank you for the valuable knowledge. This gives definitely gave me much more insight on my future business. I really appreciate the blog post and hope to work with your family company soon. Best of luck to the future success of the company.
by Cold Pressed Green Juice
Thank you for taking the time of sharing this. Your 5 tips surely will help to those who want to start a juice business. Keep blogging!
by silvia vazquez paramio
Hello,
Thank you for writing and sharing this resourceful article. I have a question regarding providers. Is there any company or lab you will recommend that will produce juice recipes for starters. I am thinking on starting a juicing business but scared of starting with crazy expenses so I am thinking on subcontract the production and if things take off then investing on my own production. Any thoughts on this?
Thanks in advance.
Silvia
Reply by Charlie Wettlaufer
Check out our consulting packages here
by Maka
Hello! I am looking to start fresh juice business in Europe. I am thinking about wholesale model, so can you inform me, when the juice is made and put in bottle, how long can it last until it goes bad? Also, I saw that your machine X1 is great, do you have sale department in Europe?
Thanks in advance!
Reply by Charlie Wettlaufer
Hi Maka, raw juice can last about 3-5 days if kept cold. check out this article: Understanding shelf life of juice.
We do have a showroom in Valencia spain, please contact us for more info, thanks!
by JOSHUA
Hi Charlie..
Thanks for the info. i think i just walked into the right room where lot of my questions will be answered.
i am presently thinking of starting a juice production business, but really have no clue about the process and equipment used.
Please feed me in…… Thanks…
Reply by Charlie Wettlaufer
Hi Joshua, I recommend reading through the educational articles on this blog, that will answer a lot of your questions!
by Mark James
What about cold pressed juice delivery organic juice is it better.
Reply by Charlie Wettlaufer
This depends on your customers and what they prefer.
by Chris Ridel
Hey Charlie, I am young and I dont have alot of financial backing right now. It is a dream that been working towards is starting a juicing business. Since I do not have alot of money I was planning on building my own juice truck. I understand that I will have to figure out the laws with having a mobile juice service but any ideas or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!!
by Karan Gupta
Thanks for the information you provided for starting a cold-pressed juice business. According to me, your first point knows your local health laws regarding raw juice is really helpful which really matters.
by sserubira elizmas
am so greatful about the tips ur sharing with us.planning also to open up a one stop shop for juice.an advise plz.elizmas Africa-uganda (kampala)
by Emily-Kate Wilkinson
Hello,
I am planning on starting a juice delivery service in the UK and was just wondering of any tips for a juice business.
Thanks
Emily
Reply by Robin Frey
Hi Emily!
Congrats on your juice delivery startup planning!
Our blog is a great resource (as you have found) and we are happy to answer any questions you have about starting your business, just drop us a line or give us a call!
Best wishes on your juice journey!
by Hamad ali
I’m very impressed I like it