Starting a bottled water company...printing money right? (1 Viewer)

[Sabertooth]

I live in a remote area of the country. The Upper Peninsula of Michigan. It isn't the end of the world, but you can see it from here. There are no job opportunities up here. Our best and brightest migrate away. Our area is very close to poverty levels. Just not much going on. But one thing we do have is water. You can't got more than 5 miles in any direction without crossing a stream or driving past a lake. They are everywhere. And seeing as there isn't much business around, it's got to be some of the most pristine in the country.

I've never started a business before. I am a house flipper. I have zero experience with any of this. But I think the idea is a no brainer. I mean water sells for dang near the same prices as pop. I would think it would have to be much cheaper to get from underground into the bottles and out the door than soda or beer. What considerations should I be looking into? Anyone ever start a business from the ground up in manufacturing or bottling? I would imagine locating a viable source would be foremost. What kind of startup capital would I need? What are some good general web resources that I can look at? What are some pitfalls I might not even be considering?

 

[Da Guru]

I have been to the UP a few times. Why on earth would you stay there?

 

[shadyridr]

I dont get it. They dont sell poland spring there? Tap water is free too

 

[ClownCausedChaos2]

Thought for sure this would be an Eminence thread.

 

[Abraham]

What is Pop?

 

[Stinger Ray]

based on the majority of your postings here this doesn't surprise me.

 

[Bucky86]

You should buy a glacier and mine it.

 

[mr roboto]

based on the majority of your postings here this doesn't surprise me.

This.

 

[Doctor Detroit]

I have been to the UP a few times. Why on earth would you stay there?

Because it's woods, lakes, rivers and awesome?

Tap water is free too

Very high iron count in the water up there, it's pretty awful.

 

[mr roboto]

I have been to the UP a few times. Why on earth would you stay there?

Because it's woods, lakes, rivers and awesome?

Tap water is free too

Very high iron count in the water up there, it's pretty awful.

Both of these are true. But the culture and people up there are, well, very not welcoming.

 

[shader]

My wife's grandparents own a bunch of land in the mountains of Tennessee. They have an underground stream that starts on their property. I've long thought they have a fortune in fresh, clean water (it tastes amazing) that they aren't doing anything with. But of course I have no idea what the logistics of starting a water company are.

 

[Doctor Detroit]

I have been to the UP a few times. Why on earth would you stay there?

Because it's woods, lakes, rivers and awesome?

Tap water is free too

Very high iron count in the water up there, it's pretty awful.

Both of these are true. But the culture and people up there are, well, very not welcoming.

Probably true. As much as I like the UP, I'd never live there. I can see why people do but also understand why many get the hell out of there as soon as they can. I have a house in the northern lower peninsula and the same thing happens there, but for me it's absolutely the perfect place to get away to. I plan to live out my days there when I retire.

People in the UP are a bit quirky, some as cold as the weather.

 

[Loan Sharks]

Our best and brightest migrate away.

I've never started a business before. I am a house flipper. I have zero experience with any of this. But I think the idea is a no brainer.

If you are not the best or the brightest because obviously you have not migrated away, I say go for it. What could possibly go wrong with a moron, first time business owner with no experience in the field who has put no thought into this idea?

 

[gameday]

I recently read The Great Lakes Water Wars and the central theme is the demand on the water and the restrictions and regulations for tapping into it. I suspect there are similar restrictions that limit tapping into other water sources (steams, other lakes, etc.) as well.

 

[mr roboto]

I will say though that MN MI WISC (I'm sure a few others) are sitting on absolute gold as other places are overpopulated and struggle with drought.

 

[The Kerminator]

Tap water is free too

Very high iron count in the water up there, it's pretty awful.

And this is the water he plans on bottling and selling?

 

[Sabertooth]

I have been to the UP a few times. Why on earth would you stay there?

My wife is very persuasive.

 

[Sabertooth]

Tap water is free too

Very high iron count in the water up there, it's pretty awful.

And this is the water he plans on bottling and selling?

He's doing what Trolls always do...trolling.

 

[Sabertooth]

I will say though that MN MI WISC (I'm sure a few others) are sitting on absolute gold as other places are overpopulated and struggle with drought.

This is my thought as well. There is no new water but as population booms, the static supply of water is going to make it more and more expensive.

Even right now a bottled water is expensive than gasoline.

 

[Doctor Detroit]

Tap water is free too

Very high iron count in the water up there, it's pretty awful.

And this is the water he plans on bottling and selling?

He's doing what Trolls always do...trolling.

What? I was actually trying to help you out there, dummy.

 

[PatsWillWin]

I agree that "no-brainer" is an appropriate term.

 

[Sabertooth]

Our best and brightest migrate away.

I've never started a business before. I am a house flipper. I have zero experience with any of this. But I think the idea is a no brainer.

If you are not the best or the brightest because obviously you have not migrated away, I say go for it. What could possibly go wrong with a moron, first time business owner with no experience in the field who has put no thought into this idea?

Exactly! I'm not dealing in yellow cake here. It's ####### water. How hard can it be?

 

[mr roboto]

Tap water is free too

Very high iron count in the water up there, it's pretty awful.

And this is the water he plans on bottling and selling?

He's doing what Trolls always do...trolling.

What? I was actually trying to help you out there, dummy.

No kidding.

 

[Sabertooth]

Tap water is free too

Very high iron count in the water up there, it's pretty awful.

And this is the water he plans on bottling and selling?

He's doing what Trolls always do...trolling.

What? I was actually trying to help you out there, dummy.

No you weren't.

 

[Sabertooth]

Saying the water tastes bad here is helping? That hasn't been my experience at all. And even if it does, you can filter it down to basically pure water.

 

[Doctor Detroit]

Tap water is free too

Very high iron count in the water up there, it's pretty awful.

And this is the water he plans on bottling and selling?

He's doing what Trolls always do...trolling.

What? I was actually trying to help you out there, dummy.

No you weren't.

I was describing to shady that the tap water sucks up there, trying to maybe explain why you were thinking about doing this since you didn't mention that in your first post.

Man, you really aren't very bright.

 

[RnR]

Saying the water tastes bad here is helping? That hasn't been my experience at all. And even if it does, you can filter it down to basically pure water.

He was talking about the tap water. :woosh:

 

[Sabertooth]

Only half kidding. Water is one resource the UP has in spades. Few people and tons of water. Cheap labor too. Shipping costs could be a problem as they are with anything manufactured here.

 

[Doctor Detroit]

based on the majority of your postings here this doesn't surprise me.

This.

They don't call him Sabertool for nothing!

 

[Stinger Ray]

Saying the water tastes bad here is helping? That hasn't been my experience at all. And even if it does, you can filter it down to basically pure water.

You are a piece of work.

 

[Sabertooth]

Saying the water tastes bad here is helping? That hasn't been my experience at all. And even if it does, you can filter it down to basically pure water.

He was talking about the tap water. :woosh:

I'm not talking about tap water. I'm talking about artesian water.

 

[Doctor Detroit]

Saying the water tastes bad here is helping? That hasn't been my experience at all. And even if it does, you can filter it down to basically pure water.

He was talking about the tap water. :woosh:

I'm not talking about tap water. I'm talking about artesian water.

RIF

 

[ghostguy123]

I am not a lawyer, business owner, or any kind of land mogul, but I don't think you can just take water out of a stream and sell it to the public.

 

[Stinger Ray]

Only half kidding. Water is one resource the UP has in spades. Few people and tons of water. Cheap labor too. Shipping costs could be a problem as they are with anything manufactured here.

So....just because you think you have a lot of water translates to money for you?

 

[shadyridr]

 

[Sabertooth]

I dont get it. They dont sell poland spring there? Tap water is free too

True. It blows my mind that somebody would pay for bottled water. It really does. I don't. But it isn't going anywhere. The bottled water industry isn't ever going to contract. At least not in the next 20 or 30 years.

 

[Sabertooth]

I am not a lawyer, business owner, or any kind of land mogul, but I don't think you can just take water out of a stream and sell it to the public.

No I'd have to purchase land and right to the aquifer. I understand that. Just trying to get some discussion going.

 

[Sabertooth]

Only half kidding. Water is one resource the UP has in spades. Few people and tons of water. Cheap labor too. Shipping costs could be a problem as they are with anything manufactured here.

So....just because you think you have a lot of water translates to money for you?

Pretty much.

 

[mr roboto]

I am not a lawyer, business owner, or any kind of land mogul, but I don't think you can just take water out of a stream and sell it to the public.

Correct. Among many other obvious reasons this is a terrible ####### idea.

 

[ghostguy123]

I am not a lawyer, business owner, or any kind of land mogul, but I don't think you can just take water out of a stream and sell it to the public.

No I'd have to purchase land and right to the aquifer. I understand that. Just trying to get some discussion going.

You want to get discussion going about one of the worst ideas ever??

Well, this thread has potential. Might end up being a great thread actually. I can see 50 pages or more.

 

[ghostguy123]

I plan to check back weekly to see if this actually shapes up to be viable

 

[Stinger Ray]

Only half kidding. Water is one resource the UP has in spades. Few people and tons of water. Cheap labor too. Shipping costs could be a problem as they are with anything manufactured here.

So....just because you think you have a lot of water translates to money for you?

Pretty much.

You have to be fishing. If not you are dumber than most of us thought you are.

 

[PatsWillWin]

Seriously, it's a great idea. Startup capital might be an issue, but that's okay, you start small. We often can learn the most from children - genius lies in their simplicity sometimes. I say start up a water stand, $0.25 a cup. Set it up on the side of a busy road, near a body of water. The high end potential for revenue won't be there, but think about your overhead - supplies to build a stand (can just use a desk around your house or something, and make a sign), a bucket, and some plastic cups.

$$$$$

After you get one going, hire some kids, set up multiple stands, and before you know it, you'll start building a brand.

Good luck, let us know how you go.

 

[Binky The Doormat]

I am not a lawyer, business owner, or any kind of land mogul, but I don't think you can just take water out of a stream and sell it to the public.

No I'd have to purchase land and right to the aquifer. I understand that. Just trying to get some discussion going.

I think the discussion is going swimmingly.

 

[Sabertooth]

I am not a lawyer, business owner, or any kind of land mogul, but I don't think you can just take water out of a stream and sell it to the public.

No I'd have to purchase land and right to the aquifer. I understand that. Just trying to get some discussion going.

You want to get discussion going about one of the worst ideas ever??

Well, this thread has potential. Might end up being a great thread actually. I can see 50 pages or more.

I got Josh Gordoned today so I'm bored. Educate me on why this is such a terrible idea.

 

[mr roboto]

1. Bottled water is a total commodity at this point (except for very specific brand names).

2. It's an industry with the biggest players in the world being companies like Coke and Pepsi. They are kinda good at scaling production, marketing, distribution and sales.

3. You are none of those things. When you are a very small player in a huge, commoditized industry, you need to be really good at whatever it is you sell and have a very specific niche (coffee). Bottled water offers NONE of these.

4. The ground water up there sucks. If it's so plentiful AND cheap AND wonderful, guess what?!?!??! One of those big players would already be there.

 

[Doctor Detroit]

I'm out of likes Mr Roboto, I owe you one.

 

[Quez]

You probably have to pull a ton of environmental permits, get water sampling & testing. Then you might have to rezone the property to manufacturing. That could be a problem.

 

[mr roboto]

You probably have to pull a ton of environmental permits, get water sampling & testing. Then you might have to rezone the property to manufacturing. That could be a problem.

You know who CAN do this? Quiz...

 

[Binky The Doormat]

I am not a lawyer, business owner, or any kind of land mogul, but I don't think you can just take water out of a stream and sell it to the public.

No I'd have to purchase land and right to the aquifer. I understand that. Just trying to get some discussion going.

You want to get discussion going about one of the worst ideas ever??

Well, this thread has potential. Might end up being a great thread actually. I can see 50 pages or more.

I got Josh Gordoned today so I'm bored. Educate me on why this is such a terrible idea.

These guys aren't water experts. Don't listen to them. Write up a business plan and take it to the bank.

Please make sure to get their permission to video tape the whole conversation and post it to your own website.

This may be the money move.