Many people in New York City and other areas in the U.S. are drinking bottled water. Bottled water is often consumed because people think it’s healthier than tap water, or they want to avoid germs in public fountains. The trend of drinking bottled water is increasing rapidly, so if you’re interested in starting a business with low startup costs, then this article may be just what you need!
01.
Draw up a Business Plan
Doing a competitive analysis of the current bottled water industry, you will realize that there are some gaps in the market for opportunities to provide quality products at fair prices.
By taking this data and creating an informative business plan for how to start a bottled water company, you can be confident it will become successful in time.
A business plan is a written document for starting a new business, describing the nature of the business, what products they will sell and their prices, how they will make money from those sales and where they will market them.
It also includes steps to be taken to launch the project as well as an anticipated completion date.
A typical business plan contains a mission statement, executive summary, company description, industry analysis, marketing strategies and action plan.
Numerous reasons may lead you to make a business plan.
You could be planning to apply for funding from venture capitalists or other investors or looking for a loan from financial institutions.
It is also the best way to test your idea, what you have done so far and how well prepared are you for launching a new business.
Even if you don’t need any external funding but still want to start a company, it’s still good to make a business plan because it will help you think through all aspects of your business model before launch.
Your business plan will definitely help you think through the key components of your startup company to ensure that you are totally prepared for when you get started.
02.
How do you get funding support for your bottled water business in Newyork?
How much startup capital do you need to launch a successful bottled water business in Newyork?
Bottled water companies with water bottling machinery are now raising funds for their projects. What is the best way to raise money for your new venture, small business or startup company?
You might consider applying for grants or getting loans from friends or family members.
You can also use crowdfunding platforms like Kickstarter & Indiegogo, GoFundMe etc., to raise funds fast. But you need to know the process of creating marketing campaigns for each to be successful.
You may apply for Kickstarter’s funding aid by visiting the following link
Kickstarter runs on an all-or-nothing funding model. If the goal of your project is not met, no money changes hands and no money is collected.
You can also look into buying an existing bottled water business. This way, you have the benefit of learning from the mistakes or successes of another owner.
Bottled water business owners with good financials like strong revenue and cash flow can also consider getting loans from banks.
You can also explore angel investors, venture capitalists or funding grants for assistance.
All of the above come with the risk that if your bottled water business is not successful, the bank or investor may take over your company’s assets.
There are some famous brands that started off very small with just an idea and little to no funding. Smart entrepreneurs know how to leverage their financial resources even when they do not have enough capital to fully finance their ideas. They also look for funding partners and creative marketing opportunities to promote their business.
03.
Get Licenses and Permits for bottled water business in New York.
Would you like to start your own bottled water business? The first thing you’ll need is a license.
Bottled water falls under the purview of New York’s Department of State, which has strict guidelines about who can sell it and how it must be labelled. You should also contact your local health department for any other permits or licenses that may apply to your business. The following tips will help you as you go about getting set up:
You will need a certificate from the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), which regulates all bottled water sold within the state’s borders; as well as the state’s farm winery and farm brewery programs (for spring and/or artesian water); the Department of Agriculture and Markets (DAM), which is responsible for regulating dairy products; and its licensing division if you wish to sell your bottled water at farmers’ markets.
If you plan on selling more than 500 gallons per day, then you’ll have to register with DEC by filing Form DR-1; for between 100 and 500 gallons, Form DR-5; and for less than 100 gallons, Form DR-6. You’ll also have to notify your local police or sheriff’s department so they can be on the lookout for potential thieves. You might also be required to file a bond with the Department of Environmental Conservation, but it depends on how much water you intend to sell.
If you plan on selling spring water, it must come from an approved spring source in New York State, listed in the Environmental Conservation Law. The Department of Health regulates spring water, requiring that it meet certain bacteriological standards to be sold in New York State.
If you plan on selling artesian water, it must come from an approved source in New York State and has fewer requirements than spring water. The Department of Health regulates artesian water, requiring that it meet certain bacteriological standards to be sold in New York State.
If you plan on selling well water, there are no special requirements, but the Clean Water Act requires that wells up to a depth of 500 feet have a state-certified or licensed well driller install the casing and cementing around the borehole.
If you plan on selling river water, it must come from facilities that are issued permits by the Department of Environmental Conservation. The facility’s discharge has to be in compliance with whatever laws and regulations apply. You can’t take water directly out of a river or stream.
If you want to sell distilled or deionized water, it must be produced by a facility that has an operating permit or registration issued by the Department of Environmental Conservation. The facility’s discharge into source waters has to be in compliance with whatever laws and regulations apply.
If you want to sell nonpotable water for use in irrigation, firefighting, industrial uses or any other nonpotable use, you’ll need a permit from the Department of Environmental Conservation.
If you plan on selling water at farmers’ markets and/or through the home and farm delivery (bottled in 5-, 10- or 15-gallon containers), then your product must comply with the requirements for selling bottled water. It must bear an identifying mark or code on each container that provides information about where it was produced and the name and address of the person who bottled it.
If you plan on using a trading name in connection with your business, such as “Spring Valley,” you’ll need to register it with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). If you would like more information on how to register a trading name, contact the USPTO by phone (1-800-786-9199), through its website (www.uspto.gov) or at its Washington, D.C., headquarters (400 Dulany Street; Alexandria, VA 22314).
If you want to start a delivery service, you must first register your trade name with the Secretary of State. Then you’ll have to file an application for approval with New York’s Department of Agriculture and Markets, which may require that you complete certain training courses or buy liability insurance before it grants approval. Your local fire department may impose additional requirements…
If you plan on operating a production facility and/or retail store, your new business will be subject to local zoning laws. You’ll also have to check with the fire department and any other local regulatory agencies that may apply.
If you plan on selling water at fairs or festivals, you’re required by law to obtain a Temporary Foods Permit from the Department of Agriculture and Markets. You’ll also have to contact your county or regional fair association about necessary insurance coverage.
If you plan on selling water at a roadside stand, you’re required by law to obtain a Farmers’ Market Vendor Permit from the Department of Agriculture and Markets. You must also comply with any farmer-producer requirements of the Department.
If you plan on bottling water for home or office delivery, your new business will be subject to local zoning laws. You’ll also have to check with the fire department and any other local regulatory agencies that may apply.
If you want to sell water at a golf course, campground, marina or other recreational facilities, you’ll need to obtain a Temporary Food Service Permit from the Department of Agriculture and Markets. You’ll also have to comply with any relevant requirements of the Department.
If you plan on selling water at an agricultural fair, festival or event (water for human consumption must be dispensed through an approved device), you’ll be required to obtain a Temporary Foods Permit from the Department of Agriculture and Markets.
If you plan on selling water at an event under temporary, short-term (one day or less) conditions (such as outdoor concerts, marathon races or other one-time events), your new business will be subject to New York’s temporary food service laws. You’ll also have to comply with any relevant requirements of the Department of Health.
If you plan on selling water in New York City, you’ll need to get approval from the city’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) before you can begin operations. You’ll also have to comply with all applicable requirements regarding signage, maintenance, hand washing and water testing.
If you plan on distributing water in New York City through a home or office delivery service, you must first obtain an annual food vending permit from the DEP.
If you plan on distributing water in New York City through a mobile food dispensing vehicle, you must first obtain a mobile food dispenser license from the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (M.H.). You’ll also have to comply with any relevant requirements that may apply at your location.
If you plan on selling water at a farmers’ market in New York City, you’ll need to get a Farmers’ Market Vendor Permit from the Department of Agriculture and Markets. You may also have to comply with any farmer-producer requirements of the Department.
If you’re planning on transporting bottled water across state lines, your new business will be subject to federal law. Since water for human consumption is considered an “adulterated food per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), you’ll be required to register your new product prior to interstate distribution with the FDA.
If you are planning on distributing bottled water within New York but outside of NYC, your new business will be subject to federal law. You’ll need to register your product with the FDA before interstate distribution begins.
If you are planning on distributing water out of state, your new business will also be subject to federal laws. Like New York State, all bottled water for human consumption must be registered through the FDA prior to wholesale distribution.
04.
Find the right location for your artificial well for the bottled water business.
To find a location for your bottled water, it should be secluded and near a source of running freshwater, which you can tap into. You need to make sure that it does not have any other buildings around because certain industrial chemicals can pollute the area’s natural resources, making them unfit for human consumption.
A good location is one that has a constant flow rate and with correct chemical balance,
pH level and the TDS (Total Dissolved Solids)
You can either choose an already existing natural or artificial well or drill your own.
You can drill your own if you have the permission of the landowner and proper equipment.
If you drill your own well, make sure to check the pH level and chemical balance of the water.
Check if it has a low TDS (Total Dissolved Solids).
It is important not to get too much from the ground because you need to leave some for nature.
Always consider how many people will use them well and how much water is needed.
It’s never a good idea to contaminate the groundwater you use for your bottled water business, be environmentally friendly.
05.
hire staff for your bottled water business
One option is to hire people who are looking for job experience. They’re cheap, and you can train them to do exactly what you need to be done. Before hiring employees full-time, try hiring temps just to see how it goes. If you find the right person, consider making it permanent.
One piece of advice: Be very selective about who you hire. Don’t just take the first person that comes along. You want to make sure they are trustworthy and will do good work for you. Check references! It’s always better to take your time finding the right people than to rush and hire the first person who applies.
This will be your company! You may have some initial difficulty letting go of all those details, but as soon as you do, things will proceed more smoothly. Make plans, then stand back and watch them happen.
The process of hiring people can be discouraging – especially if you make the mistake of hiring the wrong person. But, like everything else in business, it gets easier with practice.
It really depends on what kind of operation you want to run. If you are looking for a very low-key, part-time business where you can handle everything yourself, then your hiring needs will be minimal. On the other hand, if you want to grow the company into something big and hire employees to run all aspects of it, you’re going to need a lot more training than what’s in this article.
06.
Order or rent a water bottling machine for your bottled water business.
Search in the Newyork yellow pages for water bottling machine companies or distributors.
Call the firm and tell them how many bottles per hour you can make. Inquire about their most effective solution.
You should also do the same search online.
This way, you can find more companies and compare prices and delivery dates of different water bottling machines from iBottling.com.
We are a long-established expert in providing high-quality, dependable, and cost-effective solutions for customized non-carbonated liquid filling machine for any particular requirement from your side.
We can assist with bottled water factory layout, water treatment, bottle blowing, bottle filling, bottle labelling, and till-bottle wrap packaging.
It is also possible to purchase a pre-owned machine that is ready for you to use but be careful of the wear and tear of that product, or it may end up costing you more money than expected.
Either way, once you have your water bottling machine, you’re ready to begin the process of bottled water.
07.
Order other necessary items for bottled water production, like bottles, labels, caps etc.
When you order the bottles, be sure to have them made from HDPE#2 or FDA approved virgin polyethylene material because other types of plastics can change the taste and colour of your water. This is not good for business.
If you want the water labels to match your bottle’s design, they must be made from paper, vinyl or PVC. High-quality materials have a longer shelf life and will not fade up against the sun, which is good for outdoors vending machines. Also, ink should last a minimum of 10 years in most cases with proper application. With these factors in mind, you are ready to choose the type of materials for your labels.
If you opt to work with iBottling, we can also provide a turnkey solution for the whole production line, including all raw materials or items necessary for bottled water manufacturing.
08.
Manage and Control the Bottled Water Production Line
The production line is very important as your company’s success depends on how well your bottled waters are created. You need to be efficient to keep up with the increasing demand of the market and maintain quality standards.
This means that you’ll have to watch what’s going on in the factory and make sure that the workers are performing their jobs correctly. You might want to hire a manager, or you can do it yourself, but you’ll definitely need an effective and efficient way of tracking the different aspects of production.
09.
Bottled water production cost breakdown
Bottled water comes in many different sizes and shapes. The prices can range from $1 to more than $5, depending upon the size of bottle you are selling. You have to set your price point depending on how much it costs you to buy bottles, caps and labels.
For example,: you can buy 20 oz., 500 ml, 16.9 oz bottles from a supplier for $0.20 to $0.50 each, depending upon the supplier and quantity purchased. The minor difference in price is due to the difference in minimum order quantities that suppliers ask for — sometimes it’s as low as 25 boxes while at other times it’s 100 boxes.
The price of a cap can be around $0.10, while the label cost is usually between $0.15 to $0.25. The label and cap supplier would also ask for a minimum order quantity (MOQ), which could be anything from 50 to 200 sheets depending on the size of label and supplier you’re dealing with.
Let’s assume you buy three sizes of bottles — 20 oz, 500 ml and 16.9 oz — in a total of 200 boxes (50 boxes * 3 different sizes). A box contains 24 bottles and two caps, and the supplier is asking for a MOQ of 100 boxes. You’ll be paying $8 ($0.40/box * 100 boxes) to the supplier for the 1,000 pieces (200 boxes * 3 different sizes) you’ve purchased.
Look at your city’s Yellow Pages under “Bottle Suppliers” and give them a call. Ask them if they allow drop shipments and find out their MOQ. If you can’t get an MOQ of 50 boxes, then order a 100-box MOQ to be safe.
The price for the labels will depend upon the quantity you buy. There are many suppliers online who would offer competitive prices on labels, and shipping is free as well.
10.
Market Your Business of bottled water
Bottled water is a growing industry, and if you want to head of the market, then you should start making your business visible. If no one knows your business exists, then they can’t buy from it.
First thing first: You need to build a website that describes everything about your product, like what makes your bottle better than the competitors.
You can use a website to make your product visible and make people aware of your business. You can also post videos of your production line, delivery trucks and other reasons why people should choose you over other companies in Newyork.
After building a website, start advertising on radio, newspaper and billboards. With this step, you’ll be able to get in touch with customers and let them know what you have.
Another way of advertising is by email marketing, where you send promotional offers to people’s inboxes which they can’t resist. You can also use social media websites like Facebook and Twitter for marketing your business.
The success of your business depends on how many and how well you promote it. You can’t sell your company if people don’t know of its existence. However, once people do become aware of your company, you’ll be able to increase the number of orders and make more bottled water profits.
Be Unique or Different from Competition
A great way to sell bottled water is by making it unique, as different types of water have different benefits. Some waters can heal a person, while some others can purify their skin or provide them with minerals.
One of the most successful brands in Newyork is Ice mountain; it sells its product at a premium price (not expensive), but people are still willing to buy because they’re different from the competition.
The bottled water industry is quite big, and there is money to be made if you target the right audience. Find out what kind of water your potential customers like and choose your product line accordingly.
Never forget that your business is about satisfying your customers. If you sell them water that makes them sick or they don’t like it, then there is no point in running a bottled water business.
If your product is different and unique from others, then people will naturally gravitate towards buying it. Competition exists everywhere so you should also learn how to compete with others.
Present your product in a professional manner
No matter how unique or original your bottled water is, you need to sell it professionally. For example, if people are buying bottled water for their kids, they don’t show them pictures of dirty rivers when advertising your product.
People don’t buy bottled water to protect the environment; they buy it because they want to quench their thirst or because it tastes great. So keep your promotional material clean and professional.
Whatever you do, don’t lie about what your product can do. If there is nothing extraordinary about your water, they don’t claim that it will cure cancer or something like that.
People will quickly realize that you’re lying, and then your company will be hated by everyone.
Bottled water is a big industry, so there’s a lot of money to be made if you don’t exaggerate on your promotional material.
Don’t price yourself out of the market.
If you want to sell more bottles, then you should set competitive prices.
You can’t sell your bottled water for $20 if it costs less than a dollar to manufacture and bottle it.
Bottled water is a commodity, so don’t make your product exclusive or expensive. You’ll either lose customers or will be forced to change the price with every increase in production cost.
Remember, it is crucial to keep your costs under control because you want to make the maximum profit possible.
People who are running businesses like yours should always be aware of how much their products cost them. The price of raw materials, labour and water change every day, so you need to adjust accordingly.
Keep yourself updated about new developments.
Bottled water is a big industry, and it is constantly evolving.
You need to keep yourself informed about the changes that are taking place in this industry (especially in Newyork). So stay abreast of new regulations imposed on your company; don’t let them catch you off guard.
Being safe is better than being sorry, so always be at the top of your game.
Don’t sell low quality water.
Bottled water is a big industry in Newyork and the whole world, for that matter.
If you want to succeed in this business, then you need to keep an eye out for the competition. Do not let them gain a foothold in your market share by selling low-quality water. You might think it makes sense to offer a ‘discount’, but it is actually a terrible idea if you want long term customers.
You need to be the best of the best and not give people any reason to look elsewhere for bottled water. Once they find out that there are better alternatives, they’ll immediately jump ship to another brand.
Keep the quality of your water up by constantly studying new methods that can improve your product’s purity. You don’t need the best equipment in the world to sell clean water at a good price, so do some research and find out if there are ways to cut costs without compromising on quality.
11.
Distribution
After the hard work is done, now it’s time for the fun stuff: Delivery.
You’ll need to supply bottles of water to retailers, so they can sell them to their customers. However, this may not be easy. There are different types of retailers, including convenience stores, supermarkets and gas stations.
So you need to figure out which one of these retailers is the best fit for your company; because every store has different requirements.
Some of them will require refrigeration after-sale, while others will only want the bottles unopened. So you’ll have to get to know your retailers well if you want to succeed in this business.
Newyork has many types of stores that are willing to sell bottled water, so you don’t have to go door-to-door with the bottles.
You can just distribute them through different channels and then wait for the money to come rolling in.
To find out about your target audience, you should research the market and talk to people (friends, family and strangers) in Newyork. The best thing you could do is gather data about their demographics like age range, average income, purchasing behaviour etc.
You’ll need this information when researching your audience; because it helps you create a product that they want.
12.
Go with Franchise Model
The franchise model of the bottled water business is skyrocketing because it allows people to buy their own distributorship without any initial investment. By joining a franchise, you’ll get trained by professionals who have built successful businesses in New York.
The main idea of the franchise model is that you become your own boss (by working on commission) and keep most of the profits to yourself.
There are many benefits of buying a wholesale bottled water franchise; because you’ll get support from your franchiser. They will train you about how to start a business in Newyork, what equipment you need and even give advice for marketing your brand.
So if you’re looking for a business that allows you to work independently without any guidance, then a bottled water franchise is the best choice for you.
The bottled water business can be really profitable if you do all of the hard work correctly. You’ll need to market your product very aggressively; because people are not aware of your brand yet (only established brands will be known to the public).
Newyork has many types of people, so you’ll need to sell your product to all demographics. If you do not take care of them, then your competitors will gain ground and leave you in the dust.
13.
Keep Track of Sales of the bottled water business.
It’s important to track sales or how much money is being made each month. If the business isn’t profitable, it will be difficult to continue making investments in your business. If you are able to keep track of sales, then you can adjust your product inventory accordingly.
The best way to monitor sales is by using an excel sheet to track each month’s sales and compare them with prior months’. This will give you a trendline so you can see if sales are increasing or decreasing. This information will determine if you need to make adjustments to the prices of your products.
14.
Make Wise Choices
Make wise choices as you go along, as this will help ensure the success of your bottled water business. Don’t stretch yourself thin by taking on more than you can handle.
15.
Conclusion
If you’re looking to start a bottled water business in New York, then it’s important that you do your research. You’ll need to know which retailers are the best fit for your company and what types of demographics they target before making any decisions about how to distribute your product. It will also help if you keep track of sales so you can adjust prices accordingly or invest more heavily into marketing efforts. Make wise choices as part of running this type of business because not every decision is easy – but each one has an effect on profitability down the line!
So this was a complete guide to start your own bottled water business in Newyork. Hope you have enjoyed reading the article.
Don’t forget to leave a comment about your thoughts or ideas that you may want us to cover in upcoming articles! We would also love it if you shared this article with others because we all need help to become successful entrepreneurs.
The content of this article was written by John Lau. Visit our website at ibottling.com for more information about bottled water businesses and how we can help you get started today.
16.
Where I can Find More information about bottled water business
At iBottling, we provide more information on bottled water filling machines through our website. If you have any other questions or comments, please do not hesitate to contact us via email at 1@ibottling.com! We are always looking for better ways to improve the customer experience, so please just let us know if there’s anything else!
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