Growing Business

SMALL BUSINESS ASSISTANCE

Contact your local economic development office for information on starting and growing your business. In the meantime, the Resource tab on this KIRAG website provides additional information on several different topics.

The following list of websites will help you get started on writing a business plan, forming your business, and understanding the basic permits required for Home-Based Vendors and food and beverage processing.

CHECKLIST FOR STARTING A FOOD BUSINESS

Tax Increment Financing (TIF) is a tool used to facilitate economic development in a community, so that, during and especially after the TIF Area is ended, the overall tax base grows. TIF is a mechanism for capturing future tax benefits of real estate improvements to pay for present costs related to those improvements. TIF uses the increased property taxes generated from new development to finance costs related to development, such infrastructure and public services.

The geographic boundaries of a TIF Area are first established and the base value of the TIF Area is determined before any new development occurs. The future increase in value above the base is captured and may be used on a pay-as-you-go basis to fund improvements in the TIF Area or to repay bonds issued to fund the improvements or provide incentives to the project.

Contact the County Economic Development office for assistance and local guidance.

Prepare a business plan that includes a marketing plan. Contact the Indiana Small Business Development Center for assistance.

Seek advice from an attorney and accountant on the filing of a business entity, identification number, and accounting practices.

Contact the County’s Area Plan department to verify that the property where the processing is to be located is properly zoned according to the county’s regulations.

Contact the County’s Health Department for guidance on the facility layout, water, and wastewater requirements for food processing.

If building a new structure – contact the County Building Department for a building permit. Depending on size, a state building permit may be required.

Wholesale – if your final product is to be sold as a wholesale item, contact the Indiana State Department of Health for permitting.

Retail – if your final product is to be sold as a retail item, contact the County’s Health Department for permitting.

Purchasing and storing grain for your processing – contact the Indiana Grain Buyers for a permit to purchase and store grain.

Complete the Safe Food Handlers Certification. Check with County Health Department for local training.

Obtain the proper liability insurance to protect your personal assets.

Start your business.

*Note these general steps may not include all that will be required.