This article is part of a seven-chapter story following Lisa on their journey to start a Sea Salt Business. Inspired by the guide Starting a Sea Salt Business, Â the series blends practical steps with storytelling to show what starting a business really feels like.
The Final Setup Before Opening a Sea Salt Business
What Does Ready Really Look Like?
Lisa stood in the center of her empty store, holding a clipboard with seventeen pages of checklists. One week until opening. The renovation was complete—floors cleaned, walls painted, electrical upgraded, the three-compartment sink gleaming in the back room. But empty spaces don’t run businesses. Systems do.
Mike the contractor had finished yesterday, leaving her with keys and a warning: “The construction’s done. Now comes the hard part.”
She’d laughed, thinking he was joking. But looking at her lists—suppliers to confirm, equipment to install, processes to document, inventory to receive—she understood. Building the space was straightforward. Building the operation that would run inside it was something else entirely.
Her phone rang. The restaurant supply delivery truck was outside with her shelving units. The first of six deliveries scheduled for today. Ready or not, The Salt Box was taking physical shape.
Where Does Everything Go?
By noon, Lisa’s carefully planned layout was becoming reality. The delivery crews had left, and she stood surrounded by boxes and equipment, her floor plan in hand.
The retail shelving units lined the walls exactly as drawn—eye level for best sellers, lower shelves for bulk items, top shelves for display only. The center island, bought used from a closing boutique, would showcase monthly features and gift sets.
The tasting bar—really just a repurposed kitchen cart she’d found at an estate sale—sat near the register. Small glass bowls for samples, tiny wooden spoons she’d ordered in bulk, a water pitcher for palate cleansing between tastes.
In the back room, the packaging station took shape. The digital scale on the left, heat sealer in the center, label printer on the right. Ergonomic flow, like she’d learned at Coastal Harvest. Minimize movement, maximize efficiency.
The storage shelving units stood against the north wall, labeled with her inventory system: A1-A10 for finishing salts, B1-B10 for cooking salts, C1-C5 for specialty items. Each spot corresponded to her spreadsheet, which would track every grain from arrival to sale.
The point-of-sale iPad mounted on its stand, credit card reader attached. She’d spent three hours last night entering products into Square’s system. Each salt variety with its description, price, tax category, and inventory tracking enabled.
But equipment was just hardware. The software—the systems that would run it all—that’s where the real work lived.
Who Sends You Salt?
Lisa’s supplier relationships were the backbone of everything. She’d spent two days finalizing agreements, negotiating terms, setting up accounts.
Premier Imports would be her primary source—fifteen varieties of salt from nine countries. Net 30 payment terms after her third order. Minimum order: $500. Delivery: monthly, sometimes twice if needed.
Artisan Harvest specialized in flavored and smoked salts. Smaller operation, more expensive, but unique products she couldn’t find elsewhere. Payment on delivery initially, but they’d reconsider after six months.
Pacific Pure provided her basic sea salt—the foundation for any blends she’d create and her volume seller for customers wanting quality without complexity. Best prices, reliable delivery, boring but essential.
Two backup suppliers waited in reserve. She’d learned from Coastal Harvest never to depend on single sources. When their French supplier had dock strikes, they’d lost three months of sales.
Each supplier went into her vendor database: contact information, terms, delivery schedules, product lists, quality requirements. She’d created order templates for each, standardizing the process.
The receiving protocol was typed and laminated, posted in the storage area:
- Check delivery against packing slip
- Inspect for damage
- Test sample from each batch
- Enter into inventory system
- Store in designated location
- File paperwork
- Schedule payment per terms
Simple. Repeatable. Trainable when she eventually hired help.
How Does Money Move?
The financial systems had taken two full days to establish, with Paul the accountant guiding her through QuickBooks setup.
“Every transaction needs a category,” he’d emphasized. “The IRS wants to know where every penny goes.”
She’d created categories for everything: inventory purchases, packaging supplies, utilities, marketing, shipping, professional services. The credit card reader fed directly into the system. Online sales from Shopify would sync automatically. Even cash sales would be entered daily.
The pricing structure was programmed into both systems: retail markup of 60% on basic salts, 50% on premium varieties. The subscription boxes priced at $45 including three 4-ounce packages, recipe cards, and shipping. The math worked if—only if—she maintained volume.
Banking was automated where possible. Recurring expenses on autopay to avoid late fees. Vendor payments scheduled according to terms. Her own salary—a modest $2,000 monthly to start—set as an automatic transfer.
“Pay yourself first,” Paul had insisted. “Even if it’s minimal. You’re an employee of your business, not a volunteer.”
Sales tax would be filed monthly online. Quarterly estimated income taxes set aside in a separate savings account—25% of net profit, Paul’s rule. Annual reports, licenses renewals, all calendared with alerts.
She’d even created a simple daily cash reconciliation form:
- Opening register: $200
- Cash sales: ____
- Cash expenses: ____
- Closing count: ____
- Variance: ____
Five minutes each night to ensure accuracy. Small leaks sink ships, her father always said.
Who Helps You Run This?
Lisa had accepted she couldn’t do everything alone forever. But for now, it would be just her, with carefully chosen support.
Tony had finished the website. Clean, professional, mobile-optimized. The subscription sign-up process took less than two minutes. The back-end dashboard let her manage everything—inventory, orders, customer data. Worth every penny of his $1,500 fee.
She’d hired a photographer for half a day next week. $400 to shoot products, the space, and her for the “About” page. Professional images she could use everywhere—website, social media, marketing materials.
A virtual assistant in the Philippines, found through Upwork, would handle basic social media posting. $200 monthly for daily Instagram posts, Facebook updates, and Pinterest pins. Lisa would create the content weekly; the VA would schedule and post.
For the eventual cooking classes, she’d partnered with Linda, a culinary instructor from the community college. Revenue split 60/40, with Linda handling the teaching while Lisa provided space and materials. First class scheduled for month three, giving time to establish.
The cleaning service would come weekly—$100 but worth it to maintain the space properly while she focused on customers and growth.
Each person had defined roles, clear expectations, written agreements. No ambiguity, no assumptions.
What’s Your Promise to Customers?
Customer service systems took an entire evening to document. Lisa knew from Coastal Harvest that most problems weren’t about products but process—how complaints were handled, how quickly issues resolved.
The return policy, printed and posted by the register, also lived on the website: “30-day satisfaction guarantee on all products. Return unused portion for full refund or exchange. No questions asked.”
Simple. Generous. Confidence-building.
The complaint process was scripted:
- Listen completely without interrupting
- Apologize for the inconvenience (not admission of fault)
- Ask what would make it right
- Offer solution within policy
- Document everything
- Follow up within 48 hours
She’d created email templates for common scenarios: delayed shipments, damaged products, subscription modifications. Professional but warm, solution-focused.
Review management mattered too. She’d claimed profiles on Google, Yelp, Facebook, TripAdvisor. Set up alerts for new reviews. Created a response template:
- Thank reviewer by name
- Address specific points raised
- Invite them back (if positive) or to contact directly (if negative)
- Sign with her name, not “Management”
The subscription management system through Shopify allowed customers to pause, skip, or cancel anytime online. No phone calls required, no guilt trips programmed. Make it easy to leave, and they’re more likely to stay—or return.
How Do You Protect Everything?
Data security wasn’t optional. Not with customer payment information and personal data involved.
The iPad and laptop required passwords plus biometric login. The WiFi network was split—one for business devices, one for customer use, completely separated. All devices had automatic updates enabled, antivirus installed.
Customer data lived in the cloud, encrypted, with automatic backups. She’d never keep credit card numbers—the payment processors handled that, PCI compliant.
Physical security mattered too. The safe in the back room, bolted to the floor, held cash deposits and backup drives. Security cameras covered the register, entrance, and storage area—$400 for the system, but it also reduced insurance premiums.
The alarm system, monitored 24/7, cost $50 monthly. The door locks were commercial grade, keys distributed carefully—one set for her, one hidden for emergencies, one with the landlord per lease requirements.
Even social media had protocols. Two-factor authentication on everything. Unique passwords stored in a password manager. Regular posts scheduled, but she’d personally handle all customer interactions to maintain consistency.
Roger called from the insurance company. “Now that you’re set up, let’s review coverage.”
They went through everything. The equipment values had increased with purchases. The inventory would need adjustment after the first delivery. The security systems qualified for discounts.
“Any employees yet?” “Not yet.” “Contractor agreements?” “Several.” “Make sure they have their own insurance. Get certificates.”
Another task for the list. But the list was shrinking. Systems were building on systems, creating the machinery of business.
The Final Checklist
Three days before opening, Lisa stood with her master checklist, physically checking each item:
Legal/Compliance: âś“ Business license posted âś“ Health permit displayed âś“ Sales tax certificate visible âś“ Insurance certificates filed âś“ LLC documentation organized âś“ Emergency contacts posted
Operations: âś“ POS system tested with full inventory âś“ Payment processing confirmed âś“ Shipping materials stocked âś“ Packaging station equipped âś“ Storage system labeled âś“ Receiving protocols posted
Suppliers: âś“ All accounts activated âś“ Initial orders placed âś“ Delivery schedule confirmed âś“ Backup suppliers identified âś“ Payment terms documented
Marketing: âś“ Website live and tested âś“ Social media active âś“ Google My Business verified âś“ Email list started (47 subscribers from pre-launch) âś“ Opening announcement scheduled
Customer Service: âś“ Policies posted âś“ Return process documented âś“ Review monitoring active âś“ Email templates created âś“ Phone system configured
Financial: âś“ QuickBooks configured âś“ Banking automated âś“ Tax accounts created âś“ Daily reconciliation forms printed âś“ First month’s expenses covered
Safety/Security: âś“ Cameras recording âś“ Alarm activated âś“ Safe installed âś“ Data backed up âś“ Emergency procedures posted
The only thing missing was inventory. The first major shipment would arrive tomorrow. Five hundred pounds of salt from around the world, waiting to be organized, displayed, and sold.
The Night Before Salt Arrives
Lisa sat in her empty store at 9 PM, laptop open, surrounded by the systems she’d built. Tomorrow, Premier Imports would deliver $4,500 worth of inventory. Thursday, the soft opening. Friday, the first subscription boxes would be assembled.
She pulled up her standard operating procedures document—forty pages of processes she’d documented:
- Opening procedures: alarm, lights, register, music
- Tasting bar setup: which salts, rotation schedule
- Inventory receiving: step-by-step
- Online order fulfillment: pick, pack, ship
- Closing procedures: reconciliation, cleaning, security
Everything she did, written down. Not because she’d forget, but because someday someone else would need to know. Growth required delegation. Delegation required documentation.
Her phone buzzed. A notification from Shopify. Someone had just signed up for a subscription box. Customer number 48. A stranger who’d found her website and decided to trust her with their quarterly salt discovery.
Another buzz. Instagram. Someone had tagged The Salt Box in a story, excited about the opening. Word was spreading.
She walked through the space one more time. The shelves ready for products. The register ready for sales. The systems ready for action. Everything waiting for tomorrow’s transformation from empty space to working business.
Her reflection caught in the front window. Behind her, the store looked professional, organized, ready. Like a real business. Because it was a real business. It was her business.
Tomorrow the salt would arrive. Thursday the doors would open. But tonight, in this quiet moment before the storm, Lisa allowed herself one thought:
She’d built the machine. Every gear, every process, every system. Now she just had to run it.
The Salt Box wasn’t just a dream anymore. It wasn’t just legal paperwork or empty shelves or future projections. It was a complete operational system, ready to serve customers, ready to grow, ready to succeed or fail based on execution rather than preparation.
She was as ready as anyone could be.
Three-Step Checklist:
- Document every process as you create it—operating procedures become your training manual and growth foundation
- Test all systems with small transactions before launch—run credit cards, process returns, pack shipments
- Build redundancy into critical areas—backup suppliers, data backups, and emergency procedures for when things go wrong
See the guide Lisa used: Starting a Sea Salt Business
You’ve just finished Chapter 6. Don’t miss Chapter 7, where Lisa finally Launches, Learns, and Improves as the business comes to life.