Well, we do our own packaging and function as a small batch Co-packer up here, so you might want to have a look in your area for someone to do it for you, or set yourself up so that you are doing it yourself.

You'll want someone who is not only up on the rules but up on branding as well... If you decide to use a co-packer you'll want one who knows and understands bringing products to market; iow, it's a partnership and you need to be sure that the co-packer will be able to support you. (That's a whole nother kettle of fish).

There is a lot to learn and the food regulations are quite the PITA until you know which way to go... (and even then), so if the price is right, a co-packer is a good use of service, but to maximize your returns, setting up your own facility is a good idea.

Assuming you are using no meat products, you will have a relatively easy time setting up your "kitchen" or processing (if there is no cooking involved.

The SBA will certainly be helpful with all of the rules and regulations you need to follow.

I suggest that if you're going the "own processing" route, you take a look at the rules and regulations coming through the pipeline... I think it may be less expensive to set yourself up knowing what you will eventually have to deal with. I'm referring to HACCP certifications, organic certifications, Kosher certifications, etc.

If your marketing plan has organics or Kosher in the future, you might want to consider setting these up from the getgo, it's cheaper to follow a regulation BEFORE you are set in your ways than to adjust your ways to their setups...

Also, with HACCP, it's not on yet, but France needs it in 2009, Canada in 2011, and I think the US has the latest date on the table, but suffice it to say, if in the foreseeable future you will be shipping across state boundaries or out of the country, you will want to do your HACCP while it is inexpensive to do, rather than after you have a larger company already running.

For a nice professional look, you can talk to packaging companies in your area, there are bound to be several. Ask for quotes and discussions with all of them and go with the most helpful, most useful to you and most willing and able to work with you within your budget.

For labeling, I don't know if you have labels separate from your packaging, but consider that your labels, your packages (if they are separate), your business cards, your marketing pieces will all want to be branded. If you haven't given any thought to your "branding" I recommend you do that early on too.. Much cheaper to add a new product to an existing brand than it is to add a brand to a series of existing products.

You can discuss pricing with designers and how they might see your project, or you can do it yourself, but you'll find it easier to market a brand than a product. The best advice I can give you on that is to make your brand "special" and recognizeable for its specialty and brand that product as such...

Here's some very useful links on Branding:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brand
http://marketing.about.com/cs/brandmktg/a/whatisbranding.htm
http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/layer?topicId=1073903636
http://www.businessweek.com/innovate/brandequity/
http://www.entrepreneur.com/marketing/branding/

Your brand needs to be about YOU and what you bring to the table... Ergo; in order for your brand to really reflect your product, I recommend writing your Mission/Vision statement first. That way your brand reflects the most important roadmap you'll ever need; your Mission/Vision. Of course, that's a whole nother post... It took us over a month to write our V/M statement, but it is so concise that our brand reflects it and if it doesn't, we rework the brand so that it reflects it.

Tina Brooks, VP Marketing
Brooks Pepperfire Foods, Inc.
Makers of Peppermaster Hot Sauces
http://www.peppermaster.com

Eat more peppers!