How to start a smoothie business in Nigeria

What do you get when you combine a healthy, flavorful meal in a cup with on-the go convenience? The answer is the smoothie. This meal substitute contains any number of ingredients including fruits, vegetables, juice, yogurt or any kind of milk (low-fat, soy, coconut).  Over the years its evolution has brought about new ingredients, blending in the latest “good-for-you” food trends, like kale, spinach and acai to name a few. Not surprisingly, because of the emphasis placed on healthy lifestyles.

Before those doors open and that cash register rings, you’ve got to take your vision for your smoothie business, and get organized. That’s how a solid business plan will guide you. This is essentially your road map. For example, you need to decide what your product is. Will you just sell smoothies or juices and bowls too? You will explain the purpose of your smoothie bar and how you plan to make it a success. You will outline the financials and look at your overhead costs and projected profits. It will also include how you will pay for this business; whether through investors, financing or cash.

Location: With some of the paperwork out of the way, now comes the fun part…choosing a location for your smoothie business. This will be one of your largest monthly expenditures whether you lease space or build from scratch. First, decide where you want to be. Some smoothie businesses work out deals with gyms, spas or wellness businesses to rent or share a space. That places your smoothie business right where your target audience is. Another option is choosing shopping malls or strip centers where people will clearly see your brand. You don’t want your competition too close so scout the area carefully. Be sure there is plenty of parking available for customers. If you are thinking of making your business a drive-through, calculate that space into the equation.

Another option to consider is scaling down from a brick-and-mortar smoothie business to a mall or airport kiosk. With food trucks still trending, making your business mobile could cut down on overhead expenses. You just need permission parking it in high traffic areas to serve your customers.

Once you’ve decided where your smoothie business will reside you will need to decide how it will look. Everything matters when it comes to design.  Of course, it needs to be functional but also appealing to customers. Lively colors and furnishings create a pleasant space.

From a practical stand point this is a food service which needs an efficient kitchen. Design steps need to be effective with plumbing, electricity, and sanitation codes.

Equipment: Now that you’ve built your space, it must be equipped. Your “to-do” list should include items like: blenders, coolers, refrigerators, prep tools, knives, cutting boards, sinks, storage shelves, storage containers, to-go cups, straws, napkins, utensils and don’t forget the cash register!

Inventory: As you get closer to the grand opening, it’s time to stock the fridge. Purchase fruits and vegetables from local sources who will deliver, if possible. Food storage for a fresh food business is tricky. You can only order a quantity that can fit in your refrigeration space, and it won’t last long. Experts advise that this will be a balancing act for the first few months as you determine inventory. Food wasted is profit wasted.

Building a Menu: A successful smoothie business only needs a few basic ingredients, and then you can build from there. For example, you need to provide base flavors in one or two sizes to keep the options simple for customers. Then, provide add-on options to customize the drink. Berries, bananas, and proteins are all trending right now. Customers like options because their consumption could be for any number of reasons. They may have dietary restrictions, they may be on a vegan or vegetarian diet, they may be trying to lose weight, or they may want protein boosts or ingredients that help the immune system, like kale or spinach.

Set prices for base smoothies and provide customizable additions with a la carte pricing. Add inventory, rent, overhead and labor to determine how high a profit margin you will need then price your smoothies accordingly.

When you hire employees they will need to be properly trained about how to prepare smoothies, how to deal with customers and how to handle payment.

Marketing/Advertising: Selling your brand is an important step in how to start a smoothie business. Promoting your grand opening with movers and shakers from the community is so important to starting off on the right foot. On-going brand recognition will be an important component to customer retention. Making sure all aspects of digital marketing is handled from Google search engine optimization to creating and maintaining a website, and one or more social media platforms like Instagram. When you create your logo, you need to make sure it can be used digitally and on merchandise. Marketing needs to show off what makes you unique which trickles down to more customers and bigger profits.

Are you thinking of starting a profitable business in a small scale in Nigeria, then you should consider how to start a smoothie business with just N30,000.There is no room for excuses in this 21st century because you can literally learn and make a living from anything you set your mind on.

More so, the economic situation in Nigeria shouldn’t discourage you from starting a business especially a food business. It is forever relevant and profitable.

There are many recipes on the internet for making smoothies. You need to watch as many videos as possible, and practice till you get your own perfect combinations.

To get started at home, you must have a blender, straw, new plastic bottles or cups – there are manufacturers that do this. Find out about where you can get wholesale prices for fruits and other recipes like yoghurt. You’ll also need bottle stickers for a brief description of what the smoothie contains.

Make short videos of the process and pictures of the smoothies. You can start by informing people to place orders or you supply them. The people around you should be your first customers; they’ll give you the feedback you need  to improve your work.  

You can visit a gym to introduce your product to them, neighbors, company and those you know would like or are concerned about healthy foods. You can as well encourage those who are not interested.

 However, you’ll need  nothing less than N30,000 to get your fruits and a few cups or bottles for samples. If you don’t have a blender, the cost could be more.

Starting a smoothie business in Nigeria requires careful planning, attention to detail, and a strong commitment to providing high-quality products and services. By conducting thorough research, complying with legal requirements, creating an appealing menu, and implementing effective marketing strategies, you can establish a successful smoothie business in Nigeria.  

Get our Practical Guide on how to start a Smoothie Business in Nigeria. This guide will provide a step-by-step approach to help you establish a successful smoothie business in Nigeria. 

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