Selling Vanilla Extract! Hobbyist to small home business. Tips and tricks to start selling products.
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- Опубліковано 7 лют 2025
- Base on many questions I have gotten over the years. Thought I would share some of the information I have learned trying to legally sell vanilla extract to the public.
My supplies and equipment.
Vanilla Bean Kings www.vanillabea...
10% off regular price items with my coupon code type in CLEMENTFARMS.
Labels and printing at Poor Richards Press PRP. prpco.com/inde...
Sanitizer amzn.to/3t32QXm
12oz bottles with screw cap amzn.to/3dJnGok
12oz bottles with cork caps amzn.to/2RhrrK3
6 Qt round container w/lid amzn.to/3dIQRaR
Bottle rinser amzn.to/3dFQAFK
Bottle rack amzn.to/39OjNx4
Out of the dozens of homemade extract videos I’ve watched this week, you are the ONLY one to discuss licensing and laws. I wasn’t even considering it could be illegal in my county at a farmers market. Thanks for being so helpful!
When I started I never marketed my vanilla to anyone. I was just making vanilla for my self and to share with my family and friends during the holidays lets call them FF. I did this for a couple of years until a few FF members wanted more then I was giving out. They offered to pay for it so I started in making more of it in bigger batches. I started posting my activities on Facebook so I didn't have to update my FF on what I was doing in my life. This ranged from work around my ranch, art projects, making dinners and of coarse making vanilla. I was just showing my process and what I was doing never trying to selling anything. I have learned stories sell products, people are buying a story behind the product and there is something about being able to buy something that is not available to the public makes them feel unique or special. I have never had enough left over inventory on hand to sell at a local farmers market or to the public. I sell out every time I make vanilla just from F&F. I even have orders from them for 10-20 12oz bottles at a time as now they are using it for gifting to others. It is unique hand made and better than anything they can find on the shelf. Oh yeah labeling is 50% of the sales also it goes along with your story. You have to make your story and labels different from all the other bottles you see on the shelf's and all the other people making extracts. Make your bottles stand out from all the others. Mine is called Dragon Venom Vanilla with a dragon on the front. I dont follow the rule books and like being different and creative I had no idea this would be what people wanted. I have applied this to my other products and I sell out every time. I really never put for sale on my post just what I am making this week and then people start messaging me. I say all this because you can build up a clientele of FF with out having to ever go public if you know what I mean. I got my licenses because I was asked by several local business to sell my stuff in their shops. This also helps now that we thinking about the farmers market selling a little bit of everything. I am having to make more inventory just because of this. These are all good things it is just have far do you want to take it. Friends and family is great way to get started with having to go public and with out some of the polices. I hope this helps.
You are the best! Binge watching all your videos.
Glad you like them!
I have a bit of vanilla bean envy going on watching this & eyeing that pile of beans! Beautiful portrait of your daughter. Thanks for sharing your experience in making extracts.
Thank you so much!
Thank you for this video! I'm new to the extracting process & just tried your method 2/11/23....wow! The color is gorgeous just a few days into the extracting. I'm looking forward to the final product May/June timeframe. Thanks for all your help and guidance!!!!
Thanks for the information. I’ll be watching and rewatching as needed as well as watching your other content. I have the lease of land in the Philippines. I wanted to grow an intercrop that would be of higher value than market vegetables for the local market. Vanilla is number one on the list of high value crops to grow along with my coconuts and bananas. Making a local extract or liquor as well as selling the beans is the plan. In the Philippines, brewing a local booze and selling it is an acceptable business. so there is that. I’m looking for a multiple channels for cash flow. Market value fluctuates, as it dose world wide and I’m sure there are local wholesale houses that want some control over quality and quantity of the product.
You are so genuine and caring and honest. I am really glad you create all these videos. I never even dreamed of making vanilla. I stumbled across your videos and I am glad I did. Thanks for being so candid.
Thank you so much!
I plan to listen in the full length. Thank you. I’m in Malaysia but plan to setup clearing hub in Dubai by next year. Like to Quantum Leap in the economic
With your videos, I can feel your sincerity and oh all those information that you are giving out they are truly useful and priceless. Totally glad I chance upon your videos and about marketing, you give practical actionable tips that comes from your own track record. Looking forward to more of your Vanilla and other videos! Thank you so much 😊
I appreciate the information, thanks for doing it. Keep in mind that everyone check with your state and municipality, they are all different. I live in Texas and the cottage food laws are quite a bit different from those in California.
Yeah I think I say that a few times. Really it varies from the counties you live in most of all. I got lucky with mine because the county next to us has a whole set of different rules and its impossible to make or sale anything over there.
@@ClementFamilyFarms that's why I posted what I did. Just for your information here in Texas the cottage food laws are administered by the state not the individual counties.
Thanks for all you do. In all the videos I watch, I think you are the only one that encourages folks to check the laws and regulations.
Thanks again!
Oh that is good to know. I was thinking about moving to Tx and starting a B&B for traveling rodeo families. I have a lot of friends there.
So much of what you said in this video resonates with me. The hobby started during Covid to make Christmas gifts for friends and family... before ever touching a bean I had done a ton of reading and research to really understand what I was getting into and it made me even more interested. I remember watching one of your previous videos of your process with vacuum sealing the jars to help along the extraction and I thought it was genius! Personally I haven't bought one to do that but it has been on my mind for over a year as I have gotten deeper into making vanilla extract and other items.
Making all the gifts for this past Christmas (2022) I knew I had to make a label and also love the antique elixir type labels so I created one myself and love them! Then of course the next step was thinking of selling and I did all the research on the Cottage Food Law for CA (I'm in Alameda County) to help decide if selling was something I wanted to do. Haven't made the leap YET but have been thinking about it constantly and here I am watching your videos again. I feel for me this is uplifting and a confirmation that I'm on the right track naturally so thank you! I love that you have your homestead and aspire to have one myself one day.
If your bottles are unique and you have a story behind it you can demand a higher price. I dont know if you have any social media platforms like FB instagram tik tok if you just share your process that is your story. Look at my bottles who else is selling vanilla with a dragon on it. Lol It was just kinda who I am I dont want to be like anyone else and I had done that with all my other products also. That is why i went back kinda to the old labeling. This was just me and what I liked I had no idea what I was doing. I had a friend come to me and say those are million dollar labels. I was like what? I had no idea the were marketing designers. Anyways they loved everything about it. I just say be creative and different. What make your bottle of extract different then the other 10 on the shelf. Good luck
You did not talk too much. You gave a lot of important information in this video and directed me properly on methods and strategy to begin legitimately, as well as ethically in several ways. Moreover, important hints to keep them coming back for more. Thank you. Peace ... Giselle
Thank you I do appreciate your comments.
Great information. Unfortunately, the state of Arizona will not allow home made vanilla extract to be sold. Maybe the law will change some day because I have made a lot of vanilla extract using your recipe. I was hoping to sell some but now I will just give it away as gifts.
I started off just giving it away to just friends and family but when they ran out they were more than willing to compensate for the supplies and then maybe a tip at the end to get more.
You always have such good advice, thank you 💜 I love your videos 😁
You are so welcome!
That is a great idea. Thank you!
I like your honesty. Thank you for your information.
Thank you
Excellent video. Thank you for all the useful information.
Excellent video!!! Thank you for sharing all of your knowledge and experiences with us.
My pleasure!
Thank you for this video. I think your videos are the best and I appreciate all your research and information.
1 hour and 3 minutes went fast .. very interesting and informative as always .. wishing all the best for you and yours
Thank you! You too!
Excellent video - incredibly valuable! Thank you!
Thank you for all the useful information 👍
My pleasure!
You put a lot of thought into your videos. Very informative. Good job 👍
I appreciate that Thank you! There is a lot of work that that goes into making these videos. So I really do appreciate the kind words.
You Are one unique and gifted person. Thank you for all your info. Wanted to give some out for Mothers Day and needed info on the label. If anyone wants to give out any unique ideas💡 . I'd love it 😊
I try to make everything unique and make it my own. Labeling is no different and I try not to make my stuff look like anyone's else's. Just look at all the labeling out there between personal ones and commercial ones. Then think about what kinda of things you like even if it is odd, whimsical, funny, and strange. Use whats not on the market and create something unique to you. I really like the looks of the medicine bottles for the 1800's. That is were I kinda started and went from there.
Thank you so much for this information! I found it super helpful!
You're so welcome!
Thank you so much. I was just looking into getting a business name and cottage license in Indiana.
I use to sell my art work which is so different then food.
You are so welcome! I love all my crafty friends. What type of art work were you doing? Yes the food industry is very much different and opens you up for more audits and inspections. But i totally get it and I don't want to get anyone sick from my products.
Each state has different requirements for Cottage Food Laws. Some require licenses/registration. Not all states require inspections.
I think I mention that in the video everyone needs to check 3 things
1. State law
2. County law
3. Township or city law if you live in one of those.
In California they allow cottage laws but the state doesn't handle it. They allow each county to set their own regulations and requirements. Then each town may or may not allow it either.
There are 2 types of cottage laws licensing here.
1. Direct sales. - This is someone selling directly to the customers in person or website. All sales are from the person making the products to the customer using it. No inspections needed but still subject to random inspection. All cottage Food Laws Licensing requirements are subject to random inspections. Inspections are not needed to start your business and my never have a inspection. But if someone complains about your product you will get inspected. There is cap on how much they can make also per year like $58K.
2. Then there is Indirect sales - So if you sell your items to some one else and they are reselling or have you items on commission in a store and are selling it for you then your subject to regular inspections with indirect sales.
Love watching your videos! I've learned so much from you. Thank you for being so awesome and unique ❤️
Thank you so much!!
Thank you so very much
You are so welcome
You always have such good advice , thank you 💜
I appreciate that!
Excellent video! Question I do have is how are you cutting down the time for vanilla to four months? Most I have seen is one year or more that would take awhile to get a supply of it.
The secret to making the vanilla extract is washing your vanilla beans. The more your shaking the jars the more your washing them. Before I made this video I used crude methods of testing. It worked but was not super accurate. Now that I am testing with TDS meters and getting actual real facts about what is going on with our extracts. You can get a finished extract with in 2 months just shaking your jars twice a day. The whole 12 month thing is for people who forget to shake or get tired of doing it daily or few times a week. So In those cases it will take much longer times to finish. My last batch of vanilla extract I had finished in as little as 9 to 20 days with circulating the fluid 24-7. This is what the commercial companies do and now that I have tested it I see why they use it. If you add the vacuum to your jars you will get a more concentrated flavor as it aids in pulling more flavors out of the vanilla beans that normal shaking will not do.
Thank you, very informative & I don't think it was too long!! Can you say how to go about buying vanilla beans? Knowing where to purchase & knowing quality fresh beans when purchasing on-line etc... at a good price...so you don't get burned?
if you check out the description on this video there are links to Vanilla Bean Kings website. I shop all the sites and they have been the best prices and beans for over 5 years. Customer service is great also.
A bit curious here. I know you said the cottage laws are different by states but trying to even wonder if I have an area to start a vanilla processing. I have a separate room where my pets are not a part of but at this date I do not have a sink. Not saying I could not install one but would prefer not to. I have plenty of room to sanitize everything but would have to move from a room where we all live to my separate room. Being the sanitizing takes place in a pet free area would I have a viable option in your opinion of course? Thank you so much for your thoughts and suggestions.
So to be completely honest vanilla extract is a hard sale. It has taken me years to get were I am at and still have a hard time. The best thing I could recommend is perfecting your recipe first then trying it out on friends and family before leaping into the business part of it. Most of the time they will keep you busy. As far as sanitizing room, if you have a dedicated room it should be a viable option. Depending on the licensing you want to obtain will dictate the area requirements for prep.
First off I’d like to say thanks for the videos you have a lot of good information in them, I may have missed a video where you talked about it but have you noticed a difference in using the cheapest vodka vs using a mid grade vodka “Tito’s”
Price of alcohol doesn't matter to making extracts it is all about how smooth they are. I am not a drinker but Really when it comes to alcohol if you sip it and you don't cringe and you think you could take another sip then use it. But if you cringe and cant take another sip then your extract will be the same way. I don't use anything I cant drink.
Ok thank you and that sounds like solid advice
Thank you so much for this. I appreciate it so much. One question tho I want to do vanilla sugar not extract. Doing my research what would vanilla sugar land under? I looked and only see extract or jam jellies. Would the vanilla sugar be considered a condiment? Thank you for any help.
Hello! I'm currently going to Madagascar and I will be bringing back 2kg of vanilla beans. Where can I sell them, and how much should I sell them for?
What is the best TDS meter for someone just starting out
amzn.to/4fIXYPv
What are the requirements for double fold vanilla?
FDA standard is .083 oz by weight to 8 fluid oz of 70 proof alcohol to be a single fold. We usually round up to 1oz.
A double fold is twice the amount of vanilla beans per same amount of alcohol 8oz. A double fold would be FDA standard would 1.66oz by weight of vanilla beans to 8 fluid oz of 70 proof alcohol. Like I said we all kinda round up to make thing easier so 2oz of vanilla beans to 8oz. of fluid for a double fold.
Not sure why my state disallows vanilla sales, but they'd like me to get a commercial license It must become very dangerous when it crosses a state line lol. 😥
Yeah it is strange on how they make the rules. I got lucky with the county i live in and do not see extracts as alcohol once made. But the county not less than 2 miles away from me it is not allowed to sell extracts with out commercial licenses.
@@ClementFamilyFarms super strange haha. Hope y'all are well and thanks for taking the time here for us.
Is there any way to contact you to ask a question or do I ask it here?
My email is clementfamilyfarms@yahoo.com
I'm not gonna lie. I came for the video, but stayed for the beard
What state are you in?
Ca.
Where can I buy your vanilla? Can I order. It?
I hope to have a website soon. As of right now I am not selling to the public.
Just FYI: Amazon is probably the worst place to buy bottles in bulk. Even the bulk bottle distributor charge more on Amazon but your selection is very limited.
Where are you located? I would like to pick your brain about starting a small business of selling extract
Central California.
0:45 this is where I doodoo
The durn facial hair,thought that the camera was messed up