New to the biz... looking for input.

[DopeSoap]

Hi everyone,

I posted this thread in the Web Sites section but I think it would be helpful get input from this board as well since my business is not entirely web based.

My girlfriend and I are almost ready to launch our handmade hemp soap business and website within the next month.

I would like to know if anyone that has already passed this milestone has any good tips or information for us, maybe some pitfalls to avoid and things like that. I will give you a short list of what we have covered but please feel free to leave replies on these topics as well.

Thanks in advance and I can't wait to hear from all of you.

so far we have:

-Fairly deep product line of 6 natural organic hemp soap varieties, 4 hemp bath bomb varieties, 4 bath salt varieties, 4 natural organic beeswax lip balm varieties, and a few other interesting items.
-Filed LLC
-EIN number
-Tax ID Number
-Tackled packaging
-Appropriate business contact information (phones,voicemail,fax)
-Website (I am a web developer so I feel that this aspect is complete)
-Almost have the best shipping options figured out.

Items in limbo I could use help with:
-liability insurance
-cheap place to buy small-ish shipping boxes or envelopes (for single bars or single bath bomb orders... larger orders will use small flate rate USPS boxes)
-collecting Michigan sales tax (do we need to for sales to MI residents online?)

And any other pointers you may have.

Thanks,
Kevin
http://dopesoap.com :shock:

 

[dagmar88]

For insurance you could go to your insurance broker or http://www.soapguild.org/

Your website is so good!

 

[DopeSoap]

For insurance you could go to your insurance broker or http://www.soapguild.org/

Your website is so good!

Thanks! :wink:

 

[Hazel]

Items in limbo I could use help with:
-liability insurance
-cheap place to buy small-ish shipping boxes or envelopes (for single bars or single bath bomb orders... larger orders will use small flate rate USPS boxes)
-collecting Michigan sales tax (do we need to for sales to MI residents online?)

And any other pointers you may have.

Thanks,
Kevin
http://dopesoap.com :shock:

How are you going to be shipping? If you're mainly going to be using US mail, stop in at the post office and ask about boxes. I don't know if they still do but they used to give them out free. They had several different sizes.

Check at stores like Walmart, Target, etc in their office supplies. I know Walmart sells bundles of various sized boxes and I don't think they cost much.

I had this link saved in my favorites but I don't know if it has the best prices. Also, you need to remember on top of the price will be shipping charges so this would up the cost.

http://www.papermart.com/

I know in Ohio if you are selling online, you are required to collect sales tax if the customer is in Ohio. I would think Michigan would be the same but you might want to check at the MI state government web site.

HTH