To start your coffee brand in Tennessee, nail compliance and go-to-market in parallel: form an LLC with the TN Secretary of State, get an EIN, then register for sales tax on TNTAP and obtain a county business tax license via the county clerk. If you roast or package, secure a Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA) Food Manufacturing permit (or a Domestic Kitchen permit for simple, shelf-stable products), and verify FDA facility registration and a Preventive Controls plan if applicable. Choose a 1–5 kg roaster sized to demand; plan for make-up air, venting, chaff management, and fire code sign-off (some cities require afterburners/odor control). Start with roasted beans and cold-ground products; avoid shelf-stable RTD until you have process authority and, if applicable, LACF filings. Label to FDA: statement of identity, net weight in oz/g, ingredients (“coffee”), business name/address, lot/roast date; claim organic only with USDA certification. Set pricing from a landed green cost x 4–6 to cover losses, labor, packaging, and wholesale margins. Build traction fast: launch DTC with subscriptions, sample 2–3 flagship profiles, target local grocers and cafés with cuppings, and use TN agritourism and farmers markets to test demand and iterate. Track batch QC, water, and grinder calibration weekly.
