For as long as salt has been used in and on food, people have been sourcing it from the world’s oceans. Today, sea salt businesses use simple (and sometimes ancient) means to mine salt from seawater.
The sea salt industry has grown in recent years as the foodie movement has gained traction. The industry is expected to see sustained growth of 6.1 percent annually over the next five years, with global revenues forecasted to increase from $1.1 billion in 2016 to $1.5 billion by 2022.
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Start a sea salt business by following these 10 steps:
- Plan your Sea Salt Business
- Form your Sea Salt Business into a Legal Entity
- Register your Sea Salt Business for Taxes
- Open a Business Bank Account & Credit Card
- Set up Accounting for your Sea Salt Business
- Get the Necessary Permits & Licenses for your Sea Salt Business
- Get Sea Salt Business Insurance
- Define your Sea Salt Business Brand
- Create your Sea Salt Business Website
- Set up your Business Phone System
We have put together this simple guide to starting your sea salt business. These steps will ensure that your new business is well planned out, registered properly and legally compliant.
Exploring your options? Check out other small business ideas.
STEP 1: Plan your business
A clear plan is essential for success as an entrepreneur. It will help you map out the specifics of your business and discover some unknowns. A few important topics to consider are:
- What will you name your business?
- What are the startup and ongoing costs?
- Who is your target market?
- How much can you charge customers?
Luckily we have done a lot of this research for you.
What will you name your business?
Choosing the right name is important and challenging. If you don’t already have a name in mind, visit our How to Name a Business guide or get help brainstorming a name with our Sea Salt Business Name Generator
If you operate a sole proprietorship, you might want to operate under a business name other than your own name. Visit our DBA guide to learn more.
When registering a business name, we recommend researching your business name by checking:
- Your state’s business records
- Federal and state trademark records
- Social media platforms
- Web domain availability
It’s very important to secure your domain name before someone else does.
What are the costs involved in opening a sea salt business?
Starting a sea salt business is a low-cost venture. In fact, Wellfleet Sea Salt Co. won a business competition in part because the startup expenses were so low. To get started, business owners need:
- a pickup truck (for sourcing salt from locations)
- 5-gallon buckets or 50-gallon barrels (for carrying seawater)
- a method of evaporating the seawater (see below)
- a food processor (to grind the salt crystals)
- jars and labels (for packaging)
While some businesses use expensive evaporators or factories for processing seawater, a greenhouse or other sun-exposed structure will work just fine. Whatever method is used, air should be allowed to pass through as this will speed up the evaporation process.
In theory, business owners could source all of these materials for very little. Many food-service businesses will give away 5-gallon buckets, and most people have a food processor. A greenhouse can be built from scrap wood and clear plastic. If business owners don’t have a pickup truck, they can rent one as needed. Jars and labels must be purchased, but they can be bought in small quantities until the business has an established revenue.
What are the ongoing expenses for a sea salt business?
The ongoing expenses for a sea salt business are minimal. They include costs associated with:
- fuel costs
- automotive costs
- packaging and shipping costs
- marketing costs
- utility costs (depending on the type of evaporator used)
Who is the target market?
The target market for a sea salt business is people who appreciate fine food and have some discretionary income. Such people will be interested in high-quality, unique salts, and they’ll have enough income to afford sea salt.
How does a sea salt business make money?
A sea salt business makes money by selling jars of salt to wholesale and retail customers. Jars may be sold individually or in a set that contains several different flavors.
How much can you charge customers?
Most sea salt sells for between $8 and $12 retail. The Marblehead Salt Co. has fishing salt priced at $10 and Fire Salt priced at $13. A high-end truffled salt made with truffle mushrooms is $25.
How much profit can a sea salt business make?
Because seawater is free to source, a sea salt business’ potential profit is high. A 3-ounce jar that’s priced at $10 might have cost $1 (for the jar, label and associated fuel). Using these numbers, a business that sold 500 pounds in a year would net $24,000. At 40,000 pounds annually, the profits would grow to be much more.
How can you make your business more profitable?
A sea salt business can increase its profits by selling sets of multiple salts together. The owners of Amagansett Sea Salt Co. found that customers who spent $10 on a jar of salt would often spend $30 on a set of several blends. Some customers may also be interested in purchasing sea salt cellars, which are wooden or ceramic containers for storing sea salt.
Want a more guided approach? Access TRUiC’s free Small Business Startup Guide – a step-by-step course for turning your business idea into reality. Get started today!
STEP 2: Form a legal entity
One crucial aspect that cannot be overlooked when starting your sea salt business is the importance of establishing a solid business foundation. While sole proprietorships and partnerships are the most common entity types for small businesses, they’re a far less stable and advantageous option than LLCs.
This is because unincorporated business structures (i.e., sole proprietorships and partnerships) expose you as an owner to personal liability for your business’s debts and legal actions, while LLCs protect you by keeping your personal assets separate from your business’s liabilities.
In practice, this means that if your sea salt business were to face a lawsuit or incur any debts, your savings, home, and other personal assets could not be used to cover these costs. On top of this, forming your business as an LLC also helps it to appear more legitimate and trustworthy.
More than 84% of our readers opt to collaborate with a professional LLC formation service to kickstart their venture. We’ve negotiated a tailored discount for our readers, bringing the total down to just $29.
Note: If you’re interested in more information before getting started, we recommend having a look at our state-specific How to Start an LLC guide (DIY) or our in-depth Best LLC Services review (for those opting for a professional service).
STEP 3: Register for taxes
You will need to register for a variety of state and federal taxes before you can open for business.
In order to register for taxes you will need to apply for an EIN. It’s really easy and free!
You can acquire your EIN through the IRS website. If you would like to learn more about EINs, read our article, What is an EIN?
There are specific state taxes that might apply to your business. Learn more about state sales tax and franchise taxes in our state sales tax guides.
STEP 4: Open a business bank account & credit card
Using dedicated business banking and credit accounts is essential for personal asset protection.
When your personal and business accounts are mixed, your personal assets (your home, car, and other valuables) are at risk in the event your business is sued. In business law, this is referred to as piercing your corporate veil.
Open a business bank account
Besides being a requirement when applying for business loans, opening a business bank account:
- Separates your personal assets from your company’s assets, which is necessary for personal asset protection.
- Makes accounting and tax filing easier.
Recommended: Read our Best Banks for Small Business review to find the best national bank or credit union.
Get a business credit card
Getting a business credit card helps you:
- Separate personal and business expenses by putting your business’ expenses all in one place.
- Build your company’s credit history, which can be useful to raise money later on.
Recommended: Apply for an easy approval business credit card from BILL and build your business credit quickly.
STEP 5: Set up business accounting
Recording your various expenses and sources of income is critical to understanding the financial performance of your business. Keeping accurate and detailed accounts also greatly simplifies your annual tax filing.
Make LLC accounting easy with our LLC Expenses Cheat Sheet.
STEP 6: Obtain necessary permits and licenses
Failure to acquire necessary permits and licenses can result in hefty fines, or even cause your business to be shut down.
State & Local Business Licensing Requirements
Certain state permits and licenses may be needed to operate a sea salt business. Learn more about licensing requirements in your state by visiting SBA’s reference to state licenses and permits.
Most businesses are required to collect sales tax on the goods or services they provide. To learn more about how sales tax will affect your business, read our article, Sales Tax for Small Businesses.
Certificate of Occupancy
A sea salt business is usually run out of a storefront. Businesses operating out of a physical location typically require a Certificate of Occupancy (CO). A CO confirms that all building codes, zoning laws and government regulations have been met.
- If you plan to lease a sea salt business:
- It is generally the landlord’s responsibility to obtain a CO.
- Before leasing, confirm that your landlord has or can obtain a valid CO that is applicable to a sea salt business.
- After a major renovation, a new CO often needs to be issued. If your place of business will be renovated before opening, it is recommended to include language in your lease agreement stating that lease payments will not commence until a valid CO is issued.
- If you plan to purchase or build a sea salt business:
- You will be responsible for obtaining a valid CO from a local government authority.
- Review all building codes and zoning requirements for your business’ location to ensure your sea salt business will be in compliance and able to obtain a CO.
Health Regulations
If you plan to sell food at your sea salt business, you will need licensing from a local health department. All establishments serving food are required to pass a health inspection. Tips for faring well on a health inspection can be found here.
STEP 7: Get business insurance
Just as with licenses and permits, your business needs insurance in order to operate safely and lawfully. Business Insurance protects your company’s financial wellbeing in the event of a covered loss.
There are several types of insurance policies created for different types of businesses with different risks. If you’re unsure of the types of risks that your business may face, begin with General Liability Insurance. This is the most common coverage that small businesses need, so it’s a great place to start for your business.
Another notable insurance policy that many businesses need is Workers’ Compensation Insurance. If your business will have employees, it’s a good chance that your state will require you to carry Workers’ Compensation Coverage.
Find out what types of insurance your Sea Salt Business needs and how much it will cost you by reading our guide Business Insurance for Sea Salt Business.
STEP 8: Define your brand
Your brand is what your company stands for, as well as how your business is perceived by the public. A strong brand will help your business stand out from competitors.
If you already have a logo, you can also add it to a QR code with our Free QR Code Generator. Choose from 13 QR code types to create a code for your business cards and publications, or to help spread awareness for your new website.
How to promote & market a sea salt business
While direct retail sales can be profitable and efficient in the first stages of a sea salt business, there’s a ceiling on the number of direct retail sales a business can do. To grow beyond this, a business need wholesale accounts.
Therefore, one of the most effective ways to promote a sea salt business is by cold calling retailers that might become wholesale customers. Specialty restaurants, gift shops, food stores and similar retailers are worth contacting.
How to keep customers coming back
A sea salt business can set itself apart from other businesses in the industry by offering salt from specific seawater. For instance, Main Sea Salt Company’s first product was salt made from Maine waters and branded for use with lobster. Alaska Pure Sea Salt Co. uses Alaskan seawater.
STEP 9: Create your business website
After defining your brand and creating your logo the next step is to create a website for your business.
While creating a website is an essential step, some may fear that it’s out of their reach because they don’t have any website-building experience. While this may have been a reasonable fear back in 2015, web technology has seen huge advancements in the past few years that makes the lives of small business owners much simpler.
Here are the main reasons why you shouldn’t delay building your website:
- All legitimate businesses have websites – full stop. The size or industry of your business does not matter when it comes to getting your business online.
- Social media accounts like Facebook pages or LinkedIn business profiles are not a replacement for a business website that you own.
- Website builder tools like the GoDaddy Website Builder have made creating a basic website extremely simple. You don’t need to hire a web developer or designer to create a website that you can be proud of.
Recommended: Get started today using our recommended website builder or check out our review of the Best Website Builders.
Other popular website builders are: WordPress, WIX, Weebly, Squarespace, and Shopify.
STEP 10: Set up your business phone system
Getting a phone set up for your business is one of the best ways to help keep your personal life and business life separate and private. That’s not the only benefit; it also helps you make your business more automated, gives your business legitimacy, and makes it easier for potential customers to find and contact you.
There are many services available to entrepreneurs who want to set up a business phone system. We’ve reviewed the top companies and rated them based on price, features, and ease of use. Check out our review of the Best Business Phone Systems 2024 to find the best phone service for your small business.
Recommended Business Phone Service: Phone.com
Phone.com is our top choice for small business phone numbers because of all the features it offers for small businesses and it’s fair pricing.
Is this Business Right For You?
Anyone who is self-driven, likes working with their hands and can connect with people may be well-suited to running a sea salt business. The day-to-day work of making sea salt is largely done independently and involves a significant amount of manual labor. To sell their salts, though, business owners need to be able to successfully share their product with customers.
Want to know if you are cut out to be an entrepreneur?
Take our Entrepreneurship Quiz to find out!
What happens during a typical day at a sea salt business?
Most days at sea salt businesses are spent either making sea salt or getting it to customers.
Making salt involves collecting ocean water from pre-selected locations and then evaporating the water molecules. Evaporation techniques range from leaving the saltwater in primitive wooden boxes to using high-tech evaporators.
When selling manufactured salts, the day might be spent finding wholesale accounts, selling at retail locations or analyzing online sales. Some of these methods also require packaging and shipping salts.
What are some skills and experiences that will help you build a successful sea salt business?
To successfully run a sea salt business, business owners must understand the nuances of ocean salt. Much more than just sodium-chloride, sea salt contains many minerals that give it its unique flavor, density and shape. At different locations and in different seasons, the minerals in the water change.
Finding the best locations, seasons and times to source seawater requires a knowledge:
- tide charts
- seasonal currents
- sea level maps
- trigonometry
A familiarity with each of these areas helps business owners predict what trace minerals will be in specific locations’ seawater at any given time.
What is the growth potential for a sea salt business?
A sea salt business may be a small one- or two-person operation that produces just a few hundred pounds of sea salt, or it can be a large company that makes thousands of pounds. For example, Amagansett Sea Salt first produced 500 pounds of salt in 2010. By 2014, the company was making 4,000 pounds annually and had plans to reach 40,000 pounds each year.
Take the Next Step
Find a business mentor
One of the greatest resources an entrepreneur can have is quality mentorship. As you start planning your business, connect with a free business resource near you to get the help you need.
Having a support network in place to turn to during tough times is a major factor of success for new business owners.
Learn from other business owners
Want to learn more about starting a business from entrepreneurs themselves? Visit Startup Savant’s startup founder series to gain entrepreneurial insights, lessons, and advice from founders themselves.
Resources to Help Women in Business
There are many resources out there specifically for women entrepreneurs. We’ve gathered necessary and useful information to help you succeed both professionally and personally:
- Funding
- Events
- Guides
- Support
If you’re a woman looking for some guidance in entrepreneurship, check out this great new series Women in Business created by the women of our partner Startup Savant.
What are some insider tips for jump starting a sea salt business?
Although much of the work involves making salt, business owners can’t forget the interpersonal side of running a sea salt business. When starting out, a business’ first few customers are usually people who already know the business owner. Thus, networking is an integral part of getting this type of business launched.
How and when to build a team
Many sea salt businesses remain one- or two-person operations. If needed, a business owner might hire employees to help process salt, find wholesale accounts or fulfill orders as a business grows.