To start your coffee brand in Georgia, lock down compliance, production, and distribution on day one: form an LLC with the Georgia Secretary of State, open a Georgia Tax Center account for sales tax, and obtain the correct Georgia Department of Agriculture license (Food Processing if roasting/packaging; Food Sales Establishment if running a retail facility). If you manufacture, register your facility with FDA, implement cGMPs, lot-code every batch, and keep a written recall plan; skip home kitchens and use a licensed co‑packer or commercial roastery. Decide production: co‑packer (fastest launch, lower capex) or your own gas roaster (confirm fire code, ventilation/odor control, and any local air permitting with the fire marshal/EPD). Avoid cold brew at launch; it requires HACCP, validated controls, and continuous refrigeration. Label for retail with: statement of identity, net weight in ounces and grams, ingredients (coffee; plus any flavors), business name/address, and a legible lot/date; add GS1 barcodes for wholesale. Source green coffee via Southeast warehouses to reduce freight; model 15–18% roast loss and price to hit ~65% DTC and ~40% wholesale gross margins. Set up resale certificates for tax‑exempt inputs, define MOQs, and sell via Shopify, markets, and local cafes. Track metrics weekly and iterate fast.
