Own-Label olive oil from custom-pressed fruit

Farmers market shoppers, specialty food stores, restaurants, gift buyers and online customers.

You earn the difference between your costs (fruit, milling, bottles, labels, shipping) and your bottle price. Gift sets and subscriptions can bring repeat orders.

• Tasting and judging oil quality
• Building relationships with growers and millers
• Branding, selling and basic bookkeeping

• Check whether the mill bottles under its own license or whether you need your own food processor registration from your state
• Check FDA labeling rules and any state rules for selling food products
• Selling at farmers markets may need a local vendor permit and sales tax registration with your state
• General liability and product liability insurance
• Harvest is seasonal, so you need cash upfront for a year's stock and space to store it away from heat and light
• Fruit quality and prices vary by year, which can affect your costs and supply
• Avoid unproven claims on labels, such as origin or health benefits

Startup costs are typically around $5,000 to $25,000, depending on how much fruit you buy, pressing and bottling fees, label design and storage. These are estimates, and you need cash upfront for a season's stock.

Monthly revenue is typically around $1,000 to $5,000, depending on your volume, prices and sales channels such as markets, shops and online. Fruit quality and prices vary by year, so treat these as estimates.

Check whether the mill bottles under its own license or whether you need your own food processor registration from your state. Also check FDA labeling rules, any local vendor permit and sales tax registration, and avoid unproven label claims.