7 Common Mistakes to Avoid When Starting a Juice Business: Expert Tips for Success

Venturing into a juice business is an exciting journey. The thought of juggling between serving your community healthy fresh juices and starting something from the scratch is inspiring.

However, it comes with its challenges, just like every new venture. Several beginners in the juice business have avoided missteps over the years and you could do so, too.

So, let’s dive into these common mistakes and how you can avoid them to ensure your brand thrives.

1. Starting Too Big, Very Soon

This is a common mistake in this venture like settling for a large space or buying expensive equipment before understanding your market and sales potential to a reasonable extent.

Diving into the deep end could be tempting, but your slow and strategic growth will definitely save you from any headaches along the way.

For instance, Rent should ideally be about 6-10% of your gross sales.

You may find yourself in a tight financial spot if your sales aren’t enough to comfortably cover this.

If you’ve not had at least a year of solid sales data to evaluate your business’s potential, then you must avoid signing a lease.

As a low-risk alternative, you could consider renting a space in a shared kitchen or church kitchen. This way, you could easily test your entrepreneurial concept without facing the stress of high overhead costs.

This same principle applies to equipment. Many a times, a lot of beginners go for high-end juicers which costs $30,000 or more, in oblivion of whether or not they’ll need that capacity. Your best bet is to start with smaller, less expensive juicers and only upgrade when demand requires it.

2. A Lack of Clarity

All businesses evolve and probably a year or two down the line, yours may not look the same. Many juice businesses begin with a focus on juicing but they later expand into gourmet foods, coffee, or other niches. It’s necessary for you to stay flexible and open to where your business takes you.

For instance, a couple of business owners realize their preference is operating a coffee bar or café not running a juice operation.

When you start small and debt-free, you will have the freedom to pivot perhaps your goals or interests change along the line.

This adaptability is a surefire way to prevent you from being stuck with leases or gadgets that no longer align with your business.

3. Drowning in Debt

Many times than never, debt is marketed as a necessary ingredient for growing a business, but staying debt-free must be prioritized as much as possible.

Debt gives room for an immense pressure that weighs on your mental health thereby limiting your ability to innovate and dream.

Several banks and lenders will always encourage you to take on loans, but the risk is entirely yours.

Perhaps your business fails to succeed as planned, you’ll be left to bear the burden of repayment on your shoulders.

However, when you grow slowly and reinvest your profits, you will be able to build a stable foundation without a need to take on unnecessary financial stress.

For instance, you can start with a juice production in a small kitchen and put them up for sales at local markets.

Then as your business evolves, you could invest your earnings in a juice truck and open a storefront with the profits from the truck.

This step-by-step procedure will allow you to expand at a sustainable pace without having a need to rely on investors or loans.

4. The Emotional Rollercoaster

The first year or two of business could be an emotional time. Fear, excitement, and doubt can be pivotal in decision-making. It’s super easy to allow fear guide you into making choices that may not be in your best interest.

A common scenario is opening a storefront hastily, without a quality market research.

Perhaps the location seemed perfect at the first glance, but as time goes by, you realize it does not attract your target audience.

However, you could reduce these risks and build a business that aligns with your vision when you take your time to make calculated decisions.

5. Renting vs. Buying

Renting a commercial space offers peace of mind, though it may seem like “throwing money away.”

Unlike property ownership, renting is not saddled with burden of maintaining the property financially.

If an HVAC system breaks or plumbing issues come up, it is the landlord’s responsibility, not yours.

Before you consider buying, ensure to first weigh the risks carefully. Owning your space could provide long-term financial benefits, however it also comes with its liabilities.

So, before you make a decision, endeavor to evaluate your market, budget, and long-term plans.

6. Settling For Comparison: The Thief of Joy

With the advent of technology, social media precisely, measuring your business against others, may seem right with you. 

Perhaps you see another juice business that looks wildly successful, then you wonder why you’re not at the same level. But don’t forget that appearances could be deceiving and misleading.

Businesses that seem successful might be struggling behind the scenes, either dealing with debt or drowning in internal challenges.

Ensure to focus on your own journey and growth instead of comparing yourself against others, especially because comparison is a threat to your motivation and creativity.

7. Failure To Protect Your Future

A blog once shared that one of the most rewarding pieces of feedback they’ve received was from a business owner who decided to heed their advice to grow debt-free.

After a few months into her startup, she realized that the juice business wasn’t the perfect fit for her family.

Quiting was so easy and without financial devastation, because she hadn’t taken on debts.

It is a “debt free” story that is one of a kind.

Likewise, you should ensure that your business is not a burden but always a blessing. You will be able to protect yourself from unnecessary risk when you grow at a sustainable pace.

If you ever feel the need to quit, then do so and move on with the confidence that your business has served its purpose without jeopardizing your future.

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Final Thoughts

The journey of managing a juice operation is filled with learning and growth. When you avoid debt, start small, and stay flexible, you can set yourself up for long-term success. You should enjoy the process, learn from each phase, and always remember that the most rewarding results stems from slow growth.

Keep dreaming big and working hard, regardless of where you are in your journey.

The lessons you will learn along the line, will definitely shape you, not only as a business owner, but also as a person. Keep going, you’ve got this!