Some people just weren't made to grind out the normal 9-to-5 workday that the vast majority of the world's workforce adheres to. Instead, these unique individuals were made for something a bit more proprietary: entrepreneurship.
They can't abide being told what to do and what to be responsible for an entire organization rather than simply working in an individual contributor role. If this resonates, you're in the right place.
One of the ways that you might be thinking of branching out on your own is starting a marijuana business, which raises the question of how to start a marijuana business. Also, be sure to offer related products like magic mushroom kits to have a great selection for customers. In this article, we'll provide you with a complete guide on how to do exactly that.
Do Your Research on the Industry
The first step to starting a successful marijuana business and earning high profits is to do your research on the industry. Remember that only a few short years ago, cannabis was not legal for recreational consumption anywhere in the United States.
Thus, the waters of legal cannabis business operations are still fairly fresh. Thus, no no one really knows a whole lot about what the industry will look like in the long-term. For you to know whether or not it's worth it to invest in the marijuana industry, you need to have an excellent understanding of everything that's going on.
First, analyze the local industry. What does marijuana consumption look like in your state? Then, size the market. How many people could you sell to? What is the value of your total addressable market?
Next, take some time to figure out what your toughest competition is going to look like. In an industry like cannabis, there are a hundred operates on the market already, so you need to ensure that you can figure out some way to hold a unique competitive advantage over your competition or no one will buy from you and your startup will flop.
Understand Marijuana Business Types
There are several different types of marijuana businesses that you can start. You can supply various different points in the supply chain. For instance, you could start at the very beginning of the supply chain: actually growing the stuff.
If you don't want to deal with the aspects of cannabis farming (which are no simple matter), then it's time to move up the supply chain. Become a wholesale distributor of the plant. You can buy direct from the farmers in large quantities, and then distribute them to the retail markets.
You're going to be dealing in very high volumes, so slight fluctuations in the price of the product in the market can have massive repercussions on your business. Again, this is where researching the local industry comes in handy.
Last, but not least, you can always become a marijuana dispensary. You can supply cannabis to the end consumer right at the end of the supply chain.
This is what most people think of when they decide to start a marijuana business. However, you should be cognizant of the fact that this section of the industry is the most competitive because of the relatively low barrier to entry.
Register Your Business
Once you have your business type figured out, it's time to move on to the legal matters. Any business that you start will have to be registered with the government.
The most popular business legal structures are sole proprietorship, partnerships, and corporations (particularly limited liability corporations if you're planning on being a smaller outfit). Figure out which one is ideal for your operations. Each has different advantages and disadvantages, especially when it comes to tax and personal asset liability.
You'll also need to get a license to deal in the cannabis industry from your state.
Figure Out Your Suppliers
Once you have your business type and registration figured out, the next step to get sorted is to figure out what your suppliers and supply chain process will look like.
If you do decide to go the farming route, then this is irrelevant because you are the supplier (you'll still need to purchase other supplies, however, like the seeds to grow the plant as well as all of the necessary farming equipment).
But whether you buy in bulk from farmers or wholesale from a distributor, you will still need to have ample suppliers lined up.
Remember that figuring out suppliers is all about building a relationship. The longer and more favorable your relationship is, the more likely that you're going to be able to negotiate a good deal that increases your profit margin.
Market Your Product
The last step in starting a marijuana business is to market your product. Obviously, no business is going to last without customers and the story is no different in the cannabis industry.
Marketing your product is no easy task in a crowded market. You'll need to lean on the competitive advantage over your peers that you figured out when you were doing your research.
Then, the next step is to figure out where your consumers are most likely to be and then advertise there. For instance, if you are a wholesale distributor selling to retail locations, then figure out if there are any conventions that those location owners go to. If so, advertise there.
If you're a retail location that sells the product directly to the consumer, then you should consider leveraging social media and search advertising to reach out to your consumers, as they're likely to be looking this stuff up on the Internet to buy cannabis. It's all about tailoring your marketing strategy to the customer that you want to attract. A one-size-fits-all approach simply won't cut it here.
How to Start a Marijuana Business, Made Simple
There you have it — how to start a marijuana business, made simple. Now that you know this info, you're armed and ready to go out and start crushing it in the cannabis industry with your own company. For more business advice, be sure to take some time to check out the rest of the articles on the website. Keep your pot business profits high!