Small-Batch olive oil bottling for local brands

Local restaurants wanting house-branded oil, gift and specialty shops, farmers market vendors, and small brand owners who have a label but no bottling setup.

A fee per bottle filled and labeled, or you buy the oil and sell finished bottles at a markup. Setup fees for new labels or custom runs can add to this.

• Careful, clean, repeatable work
• Basic bookkeeping and pricing
• Sales and relationship building with local businesses
• Attention to food safety

• Check your state and county food processor or manufacturer license and health department permit requirements
• Check FDA food facility registration and labeling rules, including net contents, ingredient and allergen statements, and country of origin
• Be careful with quality claims like extra virgin; ask your supplier for lab or grade documentation and keep lot records
• General and product liability insurance, and written agreements about who owns the oil and who is responsible for labels
• Shared kitchen rules on storage, equipment use and scheduling may limit how much you can produce

Startup costs are estimates, typically around $3,000 to $15,000, depending on your bulk oil, bottles, labels and kitchen rental. Monthly revenue is also an estimate, typically around $1,500 to $7,500, depending on your customers and run sizes.

Check your state and county food processor license and health department permit, plus FDA food facility registration and labeling rules. Be careful with quality claims like extra virgin, keep supplier documentation and lot records, and check insurance.

Expect at least about 10 hours a week. Useful skills include careful, repeatable work, food safety, basic bookkeeping and pricing, and building relationships with local businesses. Shared kitchen rules may limit how much you can produce.