David Friedland
So, you’re ready to start your own weed business? But where do you start? The cannabis industry is booming, and everyone wants part of it. Whether you want to start a CBD company, grow, distribute, or transport weed (legally, of course), the time is now, and here’s how.
Cannabis is legal in many states and differs between each but remains illegal under federal law. It makes the business process a bit more intricate. Learn how to start selling weed by complying with the law and setting yourself up for great rewards.
Most people want to go bigger and better after having grown cannabis at home. Whether it’s cultivating White Widow for a potent high or CBD cannabis seeds for medicinal benefits. Others see a growing industry that offers profitable benefits. Whatever your motivation, follow these guidelines to get the best out of starting a cannabis business.
How to Start A Cannabis Business
The hype is happening! The cannabis industry is grabbing market share, and it’s time you do too. Before you start a weed business, how familiar are you with the raw product? Of course, you love the way it looks, smells, tastes, and how it makes you feel. But do you understand this herb and its growing needs? More importantly, what do the consumers want?
Familiarize yourself with all the terminology and jargon that revolves specifically around cannabis. Even if you plan to open up a shop to sell tasty edibles, get to know the marijuana plant from seed to harvest. It helps you understand why starting a cannabusiness involves more admin—and funding.
Cannabis laws differ from state to state. Do detailed research about each one’s regulations for utilizing and consuming marijuana. Network with other weed business owners to get first-hand information about the process.
Choose your clientele—do you want to focus on cannabis for recreational or medicinal reasons or both? Once the brainstorming process is in full force, it’s time to get down to the nitty-gritty technicalities of starting a cannabusiness.
Decide How You Want to Sell Cannabis
Discovering your niche in the market is the first step to starting a cannabis business. What part of the marijuana industry do you want to be part of? Two broad categories establish the weed business:
- Plant-touching: Refers to the breeders, cultivators, manufacturers, dispensaries, or transports and logistics of cannabis products.
- Ancillary: These companies support plant-touching businesses but aren’t involved in the process. They are lawyers, packaging and construction businesses, suppliers of equipment, and investment partners.
The sector you select to start your own cannabis business determines the rest of the process.
Draft the Best Business Plan
A business plan for the cannabis industry is more detailed than for other enterprises. You need to provide information about how your weed business will comply with all the states’ laws in which it functions. The operations stretch from the premises you’re trading to your suppliers, buyers, and eventually consumers.
Your plan must lay out detailed information about your operating procedures. It includes that first sparked idea to the first sale of a product. At times it’s great to add in how you’ll deal with after-service procedures.
It’s important to note that your business plan needs to change every time the laws do. Some other key points to include in your propositions are:
- The costs of starting your cannabis business.
- Marketing strategies to draw in customers.
- What makes your business unique.
- Who your competitors are.
- The address of your operating premises.
- Who is your ancillary support team?
- Who your legal counsel is to assist with keeping everything above board.
Business Name and Entity Registration
Usually, while you’re brainstorming how to start selling weed, a name for your business crosses your mind. Secure your name by having it approved and registered. The acceptance of names depends on the laws of the state too.
Selecting an entity is vital as it determines your taxes and risk levels. Register an entity to comply with the requirements, whether you’re starting on a small or big scale. To start you off, read up on any of the following options for your weed business:
- Sole Proprietorship
- General Partnership
- Limited Partnership
- C Corporation
- S Corporation
- Limited Liability Company
Register Your Cannabusiness and Get All Permits and Licenses
Starting a cannabis business needs licensing, permits, and registration practices based on your location. Acquiring legal assistance with these proceedings ensures that everything is dealt with correctly.
Depending on the entity, register your business with the state and obtain all the permits and licenses. Do thorough research about each state’s legal requirements concerning cannabis.
Determine how these laws will affect your weed business. It’s important to know that the rules for retailing or dispensing marijuana differ from growing and transporting it.
Register to Pay Taxes
Don’t let the word “tax” drain your enthusiasm for starting a cannabusiness. Keep your end goal in mind to make tedious tasks easy to accomplish. All taxes due or payable depends on your business’s operating city.
Register your weed business to pay taxes and receive your employer identification number (EIN). The EIN is needed to process payroll, income tax procedures, apply for business funding or open a bank account.
Get Funding
You’ll soon discover that starting a cannabis business requires a lot of admin and large sums of money. Applying for funding is usually the final step after forecasting expenses. A marijuana business owner in California suggests that whatever you think you need, add an extra 40% to it.
The process of seeking finance is where your business plan plays a vital role. Because marijuana is still illegal under federal state laws, banks don’t grant loans to cannabis enterprises. Reaching out to private investors or lending agents is your best option.
Grow With Cannabusiness
Establish your niche, start your research, network, and comply with every state’s laws. As you can see, as legal as weed is becoming, starting a cannabusiness is governed by the state rules. Strategic planning is vital whether you want to grow, distribute, transport, or own the next best edibles store.
Do you know what goes well with all this brainstorming? Getting some cannabis seeds and growing some inspiration. Get to know your product from seed to harvest. Start from the bottom and watch your weed business grow. Starting a marijuana business is challenging yet exciting. Follow the guidelines and plant your roots firmly in the industry.
Douglas Kester
Douglas Kester, a cannabis growing expert at I49 Seed Bank. He has been working in the weed industry for more than 10 years. During that period, he built up a vast experience and depth of expertise in this field. Douglas has a detailed understanding of every aspect of marijuana, from its cultivation and species to the effects it brings. He’s also up to date on all the cannabis-related legislation nuances.
