Richard Ashe ⋅ Houston, TX Veteran Franchise Advisers ⋅ 30 years experience

There are a few really cool gourmet popcorn franchises. If you'd like help to explore some options please reach out.

Rich
http://www.veteranfranchiseadvisers.com/

June R Massoud ⋅ Burlington, VT School Boards/Teaching, Tutoring Business and Technical Business ⋅ 25 years experience

Up in Canada there's a gourmet popcorn store chain called: Kernels. Google them and find out what they're about. They have delicious popcorn of all flavours. Also, you might want to try making your own popcorn and marketing it to movie theaters. Best Wishes, June R Massoud

Ashutosh Mehta ⋅ Edison, NJ ⋅ 16 years experience

Thank you for your service Ronald!

There was a family on Shark Tank with same concept. Please try finding episode in some repository of channel or Youtube for advice sharks shared there.

Jeremiah McKenna ⋅ Metairie, LA U.S. Marine Corps, Sergeant ⋅ 5 years served

I would look into a franchise. There are several out there. This will give you a lot of insight into how the business works, and you don't have to do a lot of the intricate ins and outs of the struggling phase. I found a lot on google, but one that stood out was 'popcornexperts.com' as quite informative.

When I EAS'd, I looked into franchises. You can look on line and find out when/where there will be a franchise convention. This will give you face time with a lot of the various franchise companies that are out there.

You can also go at it by yourself if you have the time and equipment. But another thing you can do is find a co-packer. A co-packer will have the equipment needed to perform the work, but you simply bring your recipe and raw materials. This is one of the lowest cost ways to go to market and be able to scale a lot easier and for a heck of a lot less money.

Jeffrey Jones ⋅ Saint Simons Island, GA www.FreedomEffect.com ⋅ 7 years experience

The first thing you do, Ronald, is put me on your email list so I can order some popcorn! Go for it! Jeffrey@FreedomEffect.com

Karen Shockley ⋅ Smyrna, GA Whey To Go LLC ⋅ 20 years experience

Hi Ronald... We have one of the best popcorn vendors right here in Atlanta, GA! There is a market, but you will have to develop a strong mail order marketing campaign. I encourage you to research Miss D's Prelines at the Sweet Auburn Curb Market. Here is the link: https://thecurbmarket.com/merchants/miss-ds-pralines/. You should consider asking her if she franchises. She truly is a master at her craft... right down to using the sense of smell to draw you in. You could learn a lot from someone like her. Good luck and Happy New Year!!

Landon Carl ⋅ Lewisville, TX Goldman Sachs ⋅ 8 years experience

Ronald,

Please reach out to me and I can work to connect you with someone who is in the food and beverage industry, specifically nuts and popcorn.

Hope you crush it!

David Akre ⋅ New York, NY A NYSE listed financial company ⋅ 25 years experience

First off make sure you're going to get the best pension you can before you do anything else. If you need 20 years for that, stay no matter what. Don't mess that up.
If that's OK then start off small, out of your house, and build the business up as far as possible before you lease any space or equipment. Don't spend a dime more than you need to for the first two years. If the business is doing well then and only then lease a small space and find some used equipment you can buy on the cheap. This is going to be much harder than you think so stay grounded. Now go kick some butt.