Start An Edibles Business - Business Ideas

Updated: September 15th, 2022
Start An Edibles Business

Please note that the data provided in this article are estimates and may vary depending on various factors, and should not be considered as perfect or definitive.

The edibles business is a unique and growing industry that involves creating and selling food products infused with cannabis. These products range from baked goods like brownies and cookies to savory dishes like mac and cheese or pizza.

To start an edible business, you must obtain the licenses and permits to sell your products in your state legally. You will also need a commercial kitchen to prepare the food and adhere to food safety regulations.

One of the main benefits of running an edibles business is the increasing demand for these products as more states legalize marijuana use. Additionally, edibles offer a safer and more discreet option for cannabis consumption, making them appealing to a broader audience.

While the edibles business has its challenges, such as strict regulations and the need for precise dosage, it can be a rewarding and lucrative venture for those passionate about cannabis and food. As the cannabis industry continues to grow and evolve, the edibles business offers a unique opportunity for entrepreneurs to enter a thriving market.

Starting an edibles business requires a great deal of effort, dedication, and most importantly passion.

If you're interested in how to sell edibles, or selling edibles online, you can use this page as a guide for everything you'll need to know.

Key Stats

market size
$863M
starting costs
$30.1K
gross margin
30%
time to build
720 days

Startup Costs

Min Startup Costs Max Startup Costs

Office Space Expenses

$0

$6,900

Employee & Freelancer Expenses

$151

$352

Business Formation Fees

$5,600

$20,400

Equipment & Supply Expenses

$63

$700

Inventory Expenses

$350

$14,750

Vehicle Expenses

$2

$10,004

Training & Education Expenses

$0

$2,000

Website Costs

$13

$215

Food Business Expenses

$25

$500

Retail Business Expenses

$0

$950

Advertising & Marketing Costs

$75

$2,486

Successful Businesses

Business URL Rank

UENI

ueniweb.com

36,812

Marijuana Packaging

marijuanapackaging.com

87,252

Kiva Confections

kivaconfections.com

259,125

Balance CBD

balancecbd.com

379,744

Ganjarunner

ganjarunner.com

481,506

unknown

ediblesandiego.com

658,958

Azuca

azuca.co

703,793

SA Botanicals CBD

sabotanicals.com

938,120

Edible Manhattan

ediblemanhattan.com

1,054,541

Incredibles

iloveincredibles.com

1,209,189

KOROVA

korovaedibles.com

1,321,748

Pros & Cons

Pros Description

Rewarding work

Starting a edibles business can be really rewarding work. After all, you are solving an immediate issue for your customer and you're working on something you truly care about.

Scalable

With businesses and processes changing daily, there will always be demand for new features, products and services for your business. Additionally, there are several different business models and pricing tiers you can implement that will allow you to reach all types of customers.

Meaningful business connections

You never know who you will meet as a edibles business. This could be the start of an incredible business opportunity!

High customer retention rates

Once a customer invests in your product, they've invested their time and energy to utilize your product/service which is highly valuable to them. Typically, your product or service becomes indispensable to your customer.

Pick & choose the clients you work with

Edibles Businesses have the ability to choose the clients they work with. You have the freedom to work with only a few loyal clients or with hundreds of clients!

Unlimited income potential

With starting an edibles business there is no cap as to how much income you can make. The stronger your business skills and the more energy/time you put into your career, the more you'll make.

Cons Description

Crowded Space

Competition is high when it comes to your edibles business, so it's important that you spend a good amount of time analyzing the market and understanding where the demand lies.

Motivation of employees

If you plan to have a sales/content team on board, finding creative ways to motivate them can be a challenge. It's important that you're able to offer great incentives and a good work environment for your employees.

Longer Sales Process

A edibles business can be a big time and money investment for your customer, so it's important you plan and predict a longer conversion funnel and stay in communication with potential customers.

Low margins

The gross margins for your edibles business are typically around 30%, which can make it more challenging to incur new expenses and maintain profitability.

High employee turnover

In the edibles business, employee turnover is often high, which can be quite costly and time consuming for your business. It's important to try and avoid this as much as possible by offering competitive pay, benefits, and a positive work environment.

Work can be inconsistent

As a edibles business, the amount of work assigned to you and schedule tends to be more inconsistent, which may make your income less stable. It's important to set boundaries and budget accordingly based on the amount of work you plan to have.

Marketing Ideas

  • 1

    Affiliate Program

    Affiliate marketing is a great way to bring in a new revenue stream, especially when you don't sell products or services.

    Simply put, an affiliate program is an agreement where a business pays another business or influencer ("the affiliate") a commission for sending traffic and/or sales their way.

    The affiliate typically gets a unique link where clicks and conversions can be tracked.

    Learn more about affiliate program ➜

  • 2

    Direct Sales

    Direct sales strategy implies a direct contact between a seller and a consumer without the involvement of any third party. Direct selling is popular in sectors where sellers communicate with their clientele personally. The sales technique occurs at non-store locations which include at home, work, or online.

    For direct selling to succeed, hire a few (or many) salespeople to support the sales conversion process. It's critical that you assign them specific roles and responsibilities to nurture the client and provide excellent support.

    Learn more about direct sales ➜

  • 3

    Word of mouth

    Word of mouth is when a consumers reflects their interest in a company’s product or service in their daily dialogues.

    Therefore, word of mouth advertising is essentially a free advertising triggered by the customers experience.

    According to Nielsen, 92% of people trust recommendations from friends and family.

    Therefore, in today’s hyper-connected world, a single recommendation through a word of mouth can have a huge impact to your business.

    Learn more about word of mouth ➜