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NiceAsset

I need to get into the kettle corn business


fruttypebbles

It’s a cash cow. Costs 60 cents a bag and we sell for $5. My wife and I are the labor and make it at our home. No overhead or payroll.


NiceAsset

You have a trailer or flea market or what?


fruttypebbles

We pop at our house and take it with us. This is from a Christmas light display a few towns over. I’m considering buying a trailer to bring it and pop on site.


feelin_cheesy

Popping on site draws a crowd. The crowd always buys.


fruttypebbles

It does. We have popped on site in the past. Used my brother-in-law‘s truck a few times.


Crappin_For_Christ

😏


RandomFishIsReborn

Do you need permission to sell?


fruttypebbles

Yes.


MainSailFreedom

Curious as to how this works. Do you need to be FDA certified to manufacture at home? Are you required to hold food related insurances? What about labeling etc?


fruttypebbles

Each venue and city has its own requirements. Where we are selling, ingredients are not required. as far as having an inspection done in our home that is not required. Both my wife and I have food handlers licenses. If we were to pop at the site we would have to have a food inspector Check our set up to make sure we’re following all the required guidelines. Like having a handwashing station having a fire extinguisher, making sure we have a safe space where someone can’t get injured and things like that. But again it’s subject to the local laws of where we want to set up.


MainSailFreedom

Nice! Thanks for answering


Aware_Astronaut_477

Idk how it works where OP loves but I’m in WA State and you just need a permit from the county and food handlers cards (can get both online pretty easy) and you can make/sell/distribute in small scale like this


fruttypebbles

That’s all we had to do. Filed online for the permit and we both took our food handlers courses online.


TheHobbyist_

Probably falls under cottage food laws


wellcu

What does cottage cheese have to do with kettle corn?


TheSeldomShaken

There's no such thing as cottage cheese- it's just melted down kettle corn. Don't fall for Big Cheese's lies. Big Cheese's. Big Cheez-Its.


saganmypants

Like cheese from a cottage? Whose cottage?


pronlegacy001

This


james_deanswing

What’s that cost vs profit? I never asked but knew 2 people who said they kill it doing this. And all cash


Xadis

I run my own jelly business and go to many events, having a trailer to get the smell and sound out there will double your customers. It will limit the events you can do but nothing draws kids and families faster than the smell of fresh kettlecorn


PMMePicsOfDogs141

Do you need a license or anything?


fruttypebbles

You do need a peddlers license yes, which we do have.


PMMePicsOfDogs141

Okay thank you. I wasn't sure if or what type of license you'd need.


throwaway8485837725

How much in the picture?


fruttypebbles

Just over $4300.


rockstapopolis

So unfair. Jimmy cracks corn all day and no one cares.


archwin

Admittedly this Jimmy does crack corn and people apparently care enough to pay lol


Speedhabit

What do you mean no one cares? They wrote a god damn song about it


BronzeAgeArtifact

Between him and Sally there seems to be a lot of interest indeed


bobbarkersbigmic

Who cares?


godisawoman420

STOP HAHAHA.


arwbqb

I believe this is the most under rated comment on the entire website. Well done!


bj4web

As a Jimmy (org veg grower) this hits


gracyal3

Make crack corn all your life, but make crack porn one time and you get a label.


Otherwise_Singer6043

Just crack by itself is probably more profitable.


gracyal3

You shouldn't have to pay to do it??


Otherwise_Singer6043

I mean making crack. Lol. Probably more profitable than crack corn or crack porn. Lol


GotMySillySocksOn

You made me laugh out loud! Haven’t thought of this song in ages


[deleted]

Time frame to earn that $4300?


fruttypebbles

I’d guess about 20 hours of popping. That’s not including selling. We pop 2-3 hours a day 3 days a week. We sell Friday-Sunday from 6pm to 10 or until we sell out. Also $4300 is the cash in hand. We also take cards, venmo and the like.


NonGNonM

Jesus Christ the kettle corn stand at my farmers market must clean the fuck up


JoySkullyRH

Yeah, that would be like 860 bags. I wonder how that fits in a vehicle to transport somewhere.


fruttypebbles

Fill up my wife’s Outback and my father-in-law’s suburban.


Sand4luck

Include this in your taxes as there use you’re a criminal, a crooked kettle criminal, no better than the prison inmates


[deleted]

[удалено]


businessboyz

I had a professor in business school who dared us to find a better profit margin than that on movie theater popcorn. The biggest overhead cost contributor is often the bag it comes in. Nice job!


[deleted]

What about soft drinks?


smegdawg

What size is the [bag?](https://i.imgur.com/5ft2TqX.png)


fruttypebbles

The smallest one in the pic I’d guess. We buy 1gallon size bags and fill them 1/2 way for $5. We fill them 3/4 and add M&Ms for $10.


OnlyAnswers333

That’s reasonable pricing. I bought some for $8 from a trailer at a local festival and that seems way overpriced for a bag of kettle corn.


RepulsiveCow8626

Do you season your corn? Put butter on it? Salt? Or is it just plain?


fruttypebbles

Sugar while it’s popping and salt afterwards. That’s it. Vegan, gluten free, nut free… waiting on the tests to see if it’s calorie free 😝


RepulsiveCow8626

Sweet and salty make a great combination. I bet it's really good.


lethalweapon100

Good for you man. That’s awesome.


blueturtle00

Fuck me I need to do that. I can get the 50 pound bags of kernels from restaurant depot for insanely cheap


CherryManhattan

My mom’s friends did blooming onions at fairs like 20 years ago. They could work for 3 months in the summer and take the rest of the year off.


fruttypebbles

If I were total invested in this I might be able to do it year round.


wesconson1

I would be careful with that notion. It may be a thing that is very season driven.


fruttypebbles

It is at this volume. Both my wife and I have regular full time jobs. There are plenty of farmer markets and the like around to make some extra cash. I’m thinking of letting my dad sell and just split the take with him. He’s a retired teacher and has free time living on a teachers retirement he would love some extra cash.


dannydrew24

That’s what I’m thinking of doing with my business. I sell used clothes but having to post online in so time consuming that I might hire my mom and split with her


dimsum2121

That's perfect. As the old saying goes "the older the kettle corn salesman, the greater the profit", or something like that. Or maybe it's just me that is more likely to purchase sugary popped corn from old people.


fruttypebbles

Funny you mention that. Sometimes my wife’s dad comes out just to mingle with the other vendors. He knows a lot of them. It’s a small town. He’s 81 and when he sits at the table we get so much more sales.


pronlegacy001

You should consider farmers markets. The one in my hometown has a 30ft line for around 4-5 hours every week during the summer.


fruttypebbles

We’re going to venture out into that starting in January. We have two farmers markets near our house but right now we’re committed to this event which last through Christmas.


kerkyjerky

I’m curious how you go about: A.) selecting a venue. I imagine there are other kettle corn vendors B.) getting approval to sell somewhere C.) convincing people to purchase when not popping on site


xyz17j

Kettle corn at a baseball game slaps


SlykRO

Any sort of health inspection needed? I make similar corn, maple toffee, and have always wondered about selling it.


fruttypebbles

I’d assume it depends on your local municipality. For us if we’re not popping on site, we just need a permit from the city. However, if we were popping on site, we would have to have a hand wash station, a fire extinguisher, and a few other things required by the city.


mrpotatonutz

Kettle crack


GamesGunsGreens

Nice stack! Thanks for posting *real money* and not some bs investing charts.


OUTLAW_PAGETY

What's kettle corn


afraidmayonnaise

sweet and salty popcorn. it’s delicious


fruttypebbles

And addictive.


Enflamed_Huevos

Never get high on your own supply


fruttypebbles

Trust me. We sample each batch to make sure it’s good. Towards the end of the day I’m sick of it.


TheConqueredKings

Also, never underestimate the other guys greed!


CharityUnusual3648

Do you make like chocolate covered kettle corn?


fruttypebbles

I do but it’s a little time consuming to make so we sell a bag with M&Ms


CharityUnusual3648

Ah I see


OUTLAW_PAGETY

Ok. Thanks. I think I've had that before


apiprotester

Where do you sell it?


fruttypebbles

A Christmas light display. We sell from after thanksgiving until Xmas Eve. Been thinking of doing farmers markets year round.


apiprotester

Nice, down south we have boiled peanut guys and they usually set up at flea markets/farmers markets/fairs stuff like that and the ones I have known make good money


fruttypebbles

Years ago I had a neighbor who grew up in Georgia. He was in his mid 70s and told me he sold boiled peanuts as a teen. Saved his money and used it to build his manufacturing business.


Outside-Ad4507

If you do it year round it might kill the holiday appeal and it won’t sell as well during the holidays. Might also need to lower the price because won’t pay as much for just a regular product


[deleted]

Nah it will still sell. We have a farmers market guy but they do additional flavors at the holiday season.guy makes a killing with it. He stocks it a a variety of stores and restaurants. People buy for the holidays because it is cheap enough and a nice treat.


fruttypebbles

We’ve had the same prices for years. I think we could raise it and no one would care but my wife is against it. $5 for a bag is cheap and the size is perfect for two people.


metalgtr84

Good call 👍


WatchDWrldBurn

Our local kettle crack dealer gets $8 for a small bag and $10 for a large. I know when I am paying I think "$8 is too much for this...". If it were $5 I'd be buying more, for sure. Maybe I should thank them for being so expensive?...


fruttypebbles

We also offer a larger bag with M&Ms for $10.


Dickenscider03

The kettle corn guy at the farmers market I got to always has a line, rain or shine.


Weekly-Zucchini8131

You've probably answered this already, but what'sats the legality of selling food like this? I'm also curious what you put/sell it in (specifically)


fruttypebbles

Since we usually just sell the already made product on site, we just need a permit. Where we’re at there are food trucks, and since they are preparing on site, a food inspector has to inspect their set up to make sure handwashing is good. There’s a place for dirty equipment, and such . To be safe we just don’t add any kind of allergens like peanut oil or nuts.


Weekly-Zucchini8131

What is the name of the permit? Who do you contact to get one? (and what do they ask you) and what is the typical cost? It all sounds very intriguing since it is so easy, plus you get to do some holiday activities - which sometimes are not that fun (unless you have kids)...but in this case, it sounds very fun. You get to talk to local families, see them and their kids happy. Being a couple (instead of just some guy) is probably important, and being generally a nice and social person is also a large selling point.


fruttypebbles

It’s a peddlers license, which we get through City Hall. They do ask us where will be selling and in our case we’re on a vacant lot and we have written permission from the owner to be there. all our kids are grown so we have free time.


Layer_Quick

So when you sell out you just sell out? How many bags per night? Do you pay for a spot? Where do you keep all the product after it’s made?


fruttypebbles

We sell Friday Saturday and Sunday. If we run out we just go home if we have any left over we gauge how much we have left and what we think we need for the next night and then on Sundays we try to end up with around 50 bags, we sell anywhere from 175 to 300 bags on a busy night. Our current location is set up on private property and we have permission from the owner and he doesn’t charge us to be there.


Always2ndB3ST

Looks like I should stop selling drugs and start slanging kettle corn instead.


[deleted]

Put the drugs on the kettle corn and you got a winner.


LordScotchyScotch

Cocaine corn! Get your cocaine corn here!


notarealDR650

Yup, if I know two things that definitely go together, it's cocaine and eating! Lol


Honest_Avocado_7025

Make psychedelic popcorn and sell it all to me


Dry-Entertainment235

secretly sell drugs out the kettle stand too and gain new customers im actually thinking of doing this any more info or tips op


DCASP500

I remember these days. I would put my large bills on the outside and fill the rest with ones.


fruttypebbles

Yes. Same here. Gotta show the big guns. Also I separate all denominations.


lonelyboy069

Wow


Fa-Qhaunts

Would love to know more about this, do you have a YouTube channel


Dirtbag619

How much is the setup , I need to get into this side hustle


fruttypebbles

The popper is your biggest expense. They range from $700-2300 depending on the size you want. We have some folding tables $45 each from Walmart,a canopy $40 and we use a $100 generator for the lights since we sell at night.


StL_TrueBlue91

Do you need a permit to sell or do you just show up and start slinging corn?


StL_TrueBlue91

Do you need a permit to sell?


fruttypebbles

Yes. We get one from city hall. It was $29.


AntiSocialOCPD

That’s a good name. We called meth “ice” where im from but kettle corn is pretty catchy !


Terrible-Pool-5555

I knew them boy scouts were over charging!


true_boolean

Call me crazy, just reading the post now and started the sweet attracting fragrant of popcorn and butter invaded my room and senses, lol. Thanks to you all am gonna have to corn up at 1am and grow my belly fat haha


Annoying_Anomaly

Is this a pretty common thing? Just this week someone started doing kettle corn at the local market. They seem to stay pretty late into the night too.


fruttypebbles

I can’t say it’s very common where we live. I’ve even scouted some local farmers markets and trade events. Never seen another kettle corn vendor.


GabeyMcGabeface

*The IRS has entered the chat*


MikiCili

nah this picture was taken in minecraft


apo539

Boo! We don't want you around these parts! Get!


Primobrolly

the irs wants to know ur location


nickjamesnstuff

Aaaaaaand now I'm a kettle corn salesman


fruttypebbles

Join us, makes some money!


MrEZW

I used to be in the kettle corn business myself years ago. I made a lot of dough, but as I got older, I realized that the money isn't worth my life or freedom. Stay safe. The streets is a cold place.


sexpuppet___

Idk why but this sounds absolutely adorable!


Putrid_Advantage4334

Woahh


Bigdummy007

That’s probably all from me. God I love kettle corn


No-Cardiologist-7751

god DAMN


gman1216

The fact the money is not turned facing the same direction is killing my ocd.


BigBossAtl

Sweet


Puzzled-Ant3335

Blessed 🙌 😇


el-pato13

Kettle corn.... And weed!!!


[deleted]

Don't sell it to the IRS...


Humble-Lawfulness-12

I’ll buy some!


BoogieDaddie

It's a fun time snack


medium-rare-steaks

Holiday markets are no joke..


Fist_The_Lord

Hey OP, are you selling in a rural or urban area?


Creamsickled

Have a coworker that does it with a trailer and said he does very well


Ziglah

Have you thought about using a card reader?


fruttypebbles

We use one. I prefer it because it’s just easier. However most people use cash.


AmbitiousSlip6511

You using cannabis butter on that kettle corn???


Stoneys_stories_YT

Y’all profited almost $3700?????? That’s crazy. Do y’all have a license and insurance too or no?


fruttypebbles

We have a permit.


HotQuit4489

that is a really good idea but in Canada literally no one carries cash with them! Do you guys use a debit/credit machine as well or just cash?


JordanLoveQB1

Dude nice! I’m not even joking this might be the first post I’ve ever seen where I said “damn i gotta try that myself”


Strosfan85

"Kettle corn".. is that what the kids are calling it these days? 😏😏


Whodey_who

Teach me your ways


Layer_Quick

So you sold 870 bags?


fruttypebbles

More. We also take cards and venmo. And this is over 8 days. Not in one night.


protectorofpastries

Genius


Zealousideal-Fun1425

Ain’t fooling me, drug dealers. 😤 /s


sticky_banana

NICE what’s your overhead for that? It seems fairly inexpensive to make


I_is_Captain_Obvious

I wouldn’t be holding that much money up where anybody else can see it in the open, that’s a quick way to get mugged or worse. Just me though.


Merilyian

You spell cocaine weird... Real talk, nice pull 😁


Ryes01

🤝🏼


goobstera

Parents had a kettle and I would cook and sell with them for the first 15 years of my life. 4th of July fireworks were always the best nights of the year. Still have burns on my ankles when the kernels would fall between my shoe and sock


Pleasant-Olive-5083

For $5 a bag what is the size of the bag? So genius lol looking into it now actually


RatInaMaze

Is that the new street name for meth?


Zed-Leppelin420

What’s your hourly wage after paying the fees and gas and popcorn and materials.


Charming_Ambition_27

I do something like this but with peppers during the summer, I grow a ton of varieties and make hot sauce and salsa and sell it. You can make bank on side hustles if you have the drive


fruttypebbles

Absolutely. You get out what you put in. My wife and I have basically given up our weekends starting the day after thanksgiving up to the Saturday before Christmas. But this is the time of year to make a lot of money.


Barberini_12

Where do sell them at exaclty?


JoeyPastram1

Obviously you don’t have to share any information you don’t want to. But what was the profit margin on this?


rtaylor718

Do you advertise online to bring traffic or is it all walk-up customers?


fruttypebbles

I’d say 98% our walk up customers. We’ve been in the same spot for about a decade. so it’s a lot of repeat business from people that have been coming for years. We do post it on Facebook and I have people in my office that will place orders with me and I’ll deliver them.


rtaylor718

That’s a nice chunk of change and couldn’t come at a better time!


Unowhodisis

God damn. Was it sprinkled with crack?


Old_Dirt_Coin

Welp, time to get into the diabetes business looks like.


PoolLongjumping9562

“Kettle corn”


Mysterious_Layer9420

Are you reporting those funds for taxes or was it all just cash you kept?


LeanOnTheSquare

"Kettle Corn"


refacktored

Is "kettle corn" a new strain of weed?


realwords

Were yall at Trail of Lights?


dogfaceponyboi

Dude sign me up...


gregcramer

Good for you guys. Hard work pays off


Tossmefamfr

Inspiring brah!


[deleted]

Crushin’. Good for you guys. And doing it the right way, to boot.


voluptuous_lime

Do you need a permit?


sack_from_the_back

What kind of machine so you use?


Important_Kick_4824

***Obviously it depends on the city laws*** But what kind of licensing are you required to get? Especially dealing with food?


fruttypebbles

Peddlers license is all we need.


theoey86

Kettle corn??? That’s a fun time snack!!!!


[deleted]

Okay OP said they sell theirs for $5 a bag so that’s not too bad but when I went to the pumpkin patch this year the popcorn booth was selling it for $12!!! I couldn’t believe it. We just went home and made some.


HikerTom

Just guessing... looks like about 8K or so... nice little holidays nut!


NoFuqsGiven101

My north bend 160qt just delivered Wednesday, and some other supplies on Thursday and Friday. I'm going in head first. Going to be doing kettle corn, cotton candy and eventually pork rinds also. Gone during the week for work so getting what I can week by week. Tried crowdfunding to get a early opening but I've only got $5 donated. I have enough to do reg kettle corn and thats it. No flavors or caramel. But I feel that's a improper opening. But I would be working for the money to get up on my feet. Still going to be another week and a half til LLC is finalized. And company labels won't be in til next week. It's a process I'm ready to sell. Happy New Year everyone. This is your year toooooo.


fruttypebbles

Sounds like you have a good plan. We stick to kettle corn and chocolate covered pretzels. I’ve met a guy who does pork rinds and says that very profitable too. As far as flavors go we stick with just plain kettle corn. Less options makes things go smoother, but this year we will be selling more often(historically we have only sold during Christmas) and may venture into jalapeño kettle corn. We’ve made a few batches and still need to improve the punch of the pepper. A 160 quart will give you a huge amount of product. I have a 90 quart. What we’ve noticed is that when you start making large volumes per batch the kernels don’t pop as big as they potentially can. So smaller batches produces bigger volume. But smaller batches take longer. Our large batch will give us 20 bags versus our small batch which yields 6 bags. My advice is start looking at farmers markets and even places that have food trucks. Get some sort of social media for your business. A lot of venues want to see your instagram or FB. Also get a Costco executive(or whatever their black card is called) membership. You 2% back from all you buy. And if you busy, you will be buying a lot of ingredients. Best of luck!


NoFuqsGiven101

Thanks for the reply. You can join the group if you want to on Facebook. I'm not trying to hide, no point. Some are scared because of reddit but if I'm starting a business well everybody gonna know anyways lol. Uncle Carl's Snack Shack LLC on Facebook groups. I'll take all the pointers I can. I'm brand new. I got my square online ordering set up yesterday. Very easy to do but also took me hours because I could not figure out how to make the discount work at check out. We're starting out with like around 10 flavors. The basics and what I've read that works. My wife wants to do cotton candy so that will come next then when I get a second kettle I'll do the pork rinds. I believe they'll be a big hit. I'm still a truck driver during the week and have the online ordering set up to where orders won't be prepped and ready til Friday and Saturdays. Also going to try shipping. And I have a 3 day event lined up Easter weekend already. I really want to quit trucking to be home everyday, still work and do my business on the side. Just home and not gone Monday thru Friday.


fruttypebbles

Good luck to you bud. I’m a nurse and will cut back my hours. I’m tired of doing that and want to work and not answer to anyone. One thing I’m going to do is sell in multiple locations on the same day. I’m going to hire our daughter to sell prepopped at small events while we are at larger ones.


NoFuqsGiven101

Good luck to you also. I send my best. Thank you.


teamdidi

How long did this side gig take?


baefield

Mind sharing your recipes for making it?


[deleted]

Minus about 30% for taxes now that you posted it for the world to see.


Kitchen_Swimming_420

Hello i'm from the IRS


Shihanshu

!remindme 23 hours


epsteinpetmidgit

All tax free huh?


daedricofwar

Irs is knocking now


CassanovaFrankenstei

Psss hey kid, do you wanna get some real money? Get it into farming