Tips for a "Cookbook Start-Up"

When an individual or an organization decide to author a cookbook they are making a decision to launch a business. As with any new business there are guidelines to follow to ensure success.  Here are a few elements you need to think about when producing  a cookbook.

1.) A written business plan--who is your book going to target? What price will it be? In what formats will you offer the book? Where do you plan to sell it? What is your overriding goal in publishing this book?

These are just a few of the questions that must be answered before launching a book; otherwise there is no road map and you are likely to get lost along the way. During our Cookbook University we spend considerable time on the necessity for developing a business plan before you begin.

2.) Financing--almost all small businesses that fail do so because they were under capitalized. If your book is intended to operate for the first year on book sale revenue without anything else you will not make it.  Even though you can sell books year round there is no doubt that the fall months are the "biggies" when it comes to revenue generation. Plus, you have to utilize marketing dollars if you want the target market to know your book exists.

3.) Accounting--I have found in my business that the value of a good accountant and accounting system is of uppermost importance in knowing whether I  am making money or losing money. Do not launch a cookbook without this key position being filled. It doesn't matter if the accountant is a volunteer or a paid individual but it does matter that they know what they are doing.

4.)  Commitment--In my experience it always takes longer to get a project started and on track than expected. Without a strong commitment to the finish line you are likely to fail. No business can succeed without an extraordinary effort and commitment.

The Christmas Season

I know that there are many people who feel that it is politically incorrect to wish folks a Merry Christmas. Well, I am not one of those people. I am totally aware that the commercialism of Christmas often dominates the landscape.

However, at SW Publishing Group we are reminded time and time again that the message of hope and salvation which Christmas brings is alive every day of the year. We are fortunate to supply publishing and book distribution services to organizations with a purpose of helping others. The money raised from our non-profit clients over the 30 years of our business has made lives in communities all around the country a little bit better. At the same time the great people who develop these regional favorites with their blood, sweat and tears receive the gift of joy at helping someone less fortunate.

Please continue to support these endeavors. Whether you purchase a regional cookbook in a bookstore, gift store or online, remember that the profits go to worthy causes--MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Think About Your Purpose

I follow several blogs and scan all new Posts quickly to decide if the content is worth my time. Sometimes it is and sometimes, while it might be great information, it is not relevant to me. I received a post today from Michael Hyatt, former CEO of Thomas Nelson Publishers, that struck me as universally relevant.

The theme of his post was, "What if work wasn't just work? What if work was a vehicle to live and share a bigger purpose?" The reason this spoke to me is that so many of my readers and customers work to develop their community cookbooks in order to raise funds for local and very worthwhile charities. I wonder how successful a project could be if "everyone" involved put their likes and dislikes aside, and performed their assigned task with the giving-attitude that the book was meant for?

Michael cited many examples of people in everyday jobs who have found a way to see their sometimes menial sounding work into how it fits into a bigger picture. Perhaps your organization might benefit from a sharing session on the purpose of your book and the good that comes from each person's efforts as they sell and market it.

Please share your thoughts on how this idea speaks to you.

Community Cookbooks and the Good People Behind Them

Since I started writing this blog even I have been astounded to realize what community cookbooks have meant to our nation. As I write these stories and discuss how much money these books raise and couple that with the historic preservation of the communities, I wonder why every community in the USA doesn’t have at least one local community cookbook.

Community cookbooks began during the Civil War when ladies groups from both sides began raising money to support their local armies through the efforts of collecting local recipes and publishing them. The tradition has carried on through such varied organizations as Junior Leagues, Junior Service Leagues, Church organizations, Historical Societies, Garden Clubs, and youth organizations such as 4-H and Girl Scouts. Money has been raised for museums, children’s hospitals, community gardens, preservation of historic buildings, and the list goes on and on.

Who in your community could stand to have an asset that creates an annual source of revenue for itself and generate pride in the food and people of your town, organization or community? What is holding you back from getting started on a project that will be fun and meaningful for years to come?

I was recently asked to endorse the autobiography of my good friend and founder of Habitat for Humanity, Millard Fuller, (we produced 6 books together for that community) who died suddenly last year. Millard was also co-founder of Favorite Recipes Press along with a gentleman named Morris Dees. Their earliest business success was in publishing community cookbooks—the tradition of these two great men continues today through the various imprints of FRP, Inc. In reading the manuscript for Millard’s autobiography, I learned of organizations who had successfully published cookbooks and some of the causes they championed that I never knew existed. There are so many wonderful people and stories surrounding community cookbooks.

Do you have a favorite community cookbook? I’d love to hear your story.