Apparently people like my mints....

[mykidsand_i]

About 3 years ago, I made home made mints for a friends son's graduation party. My friend works for the mayors office and so, there were A LOT of people there who do large parties.

Two years ago, I'd gotten requests from people for my mints. They aren't any super crazy recipe, just the basic home made mint recipe! I started selling them by the bag (large zip lock bag for $15)...I got lots of orders last year for graduations, birthday parties and weddings.

THIS YEAR for graduations,I had so many that my husband and I sat down to make up a 'mints order form' and called myself the 'mint lady'.

I even bought mint moulds last year on clearance- graduation hats, flowers (roses and other kinds), stars, baby rattles, wedding rings...

This year, I had pictures available and tastes if anyone came to my home to order. I also took phone orders! I can't belive how this has multiplied the way it has!!! Just for the month of MAY ALONE I have had SOOOOO many orders for graduations (H.S and college), even got two weddings and a baby shower! In June I have mints to make for 3 more weddings and another baby shower!

I love this mint thing. I do them when it works for me, before the date they are needed. For graduations ALONE I made almost $400 for MINTS!!!! That's more than i've ever made for them...and that doesn't even include weddings and baby showers.

So, to let you all know- if you are able to make things like this from your home and sell them, it's a great way to make some extra cash! I make $11.50 on each bag (after the cost of ingred.)...and people think that's a good deal, so I think I'll add $5 to the bag price next year.

They really only get sold in large amounts in the spring/summer seasons- but I did get a few baby shower and wedding orders over the fall and winter too!

 

[DisneyArk]

Good for you!! You're providing a product that people want/need and making money too!

Thanks for encouraging the rest of us to try something like that! My mother makes all types of great candy for Christmas and everyone tells her to sell it. I'll pass your story along to her.

 

[java]

Good for you!! And thanks for the encouragement. In our state any food product turns into a state code nightmare. Really I wouldn't be able to make food in my home. Which stinks. I did make some $$ selling my cookies but as it was getting too big I had to stop. I wasn't making enough to afford to rent restaurant space. I am still looking though. I have heard of a local shop that is doing catering only now and i am thinking they might have some oven time available.
Thanks for the kick in the pants.

 

[almburr]

I make Cheesecakes for weddings, parties etc. DD15 makes Cinnamon rolls we can make a lot of roll during conformation season and the hoildays

 

[dzorn]

Good for you!

I would not want to deal with all the health code requirements. Good luck with your new business.

Denise in MI

 

[Darsa]

I don't suppose you'd be willing to share your recipe? I have some HUUUGE mint lovers in my family; my DDaughter and DDad especially, and one mint-lover whose getting married in the fall...

 

[woodkins]

I didn't even know you could make mints! Are they chocolate? Can you describe what they are? I have never seen shaped mints and am not sure what exactly they are. I would love to hear more about it...Congrats on your success!

 

[disykat]

Congrats - I would buy them too. I have a few molds and have made them myself, but I'm too critical of myself and somehow mine just don't look or taste as good to me as when someone else makes them.

 

[golfgal]

Are they the cream cheese mints? If so, I LOVE those. A woman in our old town does what you are doing and sells them around graduation time (and other times but mostly then). My aunt makes them too so I put in an order with her to bring some for DS's graduation .

 

[mykidsand_i]

There are many different types of mints that I make, but EVERYONE'S favorites are my cream cheese ones...

I bag them in batches for approx. 50 people. The recipe can be changed very easily.

18 oz. cream cheese, at room temp.

3 TBSP + 1/4 tsp. butter, at room temp.

9 1/3 c. confectioners sugar

8 drops of flavoring (mint, peppermint, almond, what ever you prefer)...NOT extract, FLAVORING

1 c. sugar (DO NOT ADD TO MIX, SUGAR IS FOR ROLLING IN BEFORE USING MOULD)

Food coloring (your choice...use what ever makes your colors- more drops for more color, fewer drops for lighter colors)

Mix cream cheese, butter and confectioner's sugar in a large bowl. THEN, mix in flavoring. Do a quick taste. Some people prefer more than the recipe, but please don't use less. There's been times that people have wanted twice the flavor- and it has always tasted GREAT, it just depends on what you're going for! These mints have a bit more flavor after they've dried/frozen. Then, mix in color. REMEMBER, 1-2 drops of food coloring goes A LONG WAYS!!! For my pastel mints, I usually use about 5 drops of food coloring. DROPS, not squirts.

Keep in bowl with a dish towel over bowl and take out 1 small amount at a time, roll it into a ball and ROLL IT IN SUGAR BEFORE PLACING IT IN A MOULD!!! press into mould of your choice. The ball sizes will change depending on the mould you make, they will not be large- maybe dime size or a little different...

IF YOU want to make them with out a mould, simply take about 1/4 cup out and roll it into a 'snake' but about the roundness of a penny. Use a knife to cut into pieces - like the powdery mints you get in a restaurant)

After the mints have been formed, lay them in a single layer on waxed paper for about 2-3 hours. THEN, once they've dried on the outsides, you can place them into a large baggie and freeze them. IF YOU PUT THEM IN THE FREEZER BEORE THEY DRY, they will get mis-shapen and not look as nice.

Mint moulds that I've used have been found in any crafting store (candy making areas) as well as Walmart or a party store even. Mine have all been under $1.00 each- the graduation ones I got were each 60 cents, and a few others have been 30 cents on clearance. I like the rubbery, small single ones. The plasticy ones don't hold up as well and crack. You can only do one at a time anyways!!! There is no need for the mili-mould ones.

 

[mykidsand_i]

I am very excited about this project! I don't work out side of my after the second week of May until the Beg. of Sept/or last few days of August because I work for the church preschool as a secretary. Making these mints REALLY adds some cash flow for fun activities in the summer! AND, this summer I'm making more money in ONE MONTH making mints than i do in one month as a secretary! I think that's hillarious!

I just got online orders for two more weddings today- one of them wants to buy 6 bags, which is the largest order I've had. I may have to get on the ball and get a website going! I am quite good on the computer, so I could post pictures and flavor choices as well.

 

[worm761]

How long are these good for in the freezer? And how long are they good for once they are at room temperature?

 

[MichelleinMaine]

Good for you!! And thanks for the encouragement. In our state any food product turns into a state code nightmare. Really I wouldn't be able to make food in my home. Which stinks. I did make some $$ selling my cookies but as it was getting too big I had to stop. I wasn't making enough to afford to rent restaurant space. I am still looking though. I have heard of a local shop that is doing catering only now and i am thinking they might have some oven time available.
Thanks for the kick in the pants.

Check with your local churches as well to see if they have a kitchen that meets health code standards. We just upgraded ours where I work, it's something we've discussed (eg renting the kitchen to a home-based business during the week.) Haven't done it yet, but others might.

I also have a friend who has a prep-and-freeze-your-own-meals place. She has just started to market to similar businesses for the days her shop is closed.

 

[Mary•Poppins]

That is terrific! I love to hear of small businesses that are taking off! Congrats!

 

[mykidsand_i]

How long are these good for in the freezer? And how long are they good for once they are at room temperature?

Room temp, up to 4 hours. I usually tell people to put them out just before serving them, 1/2 a bag at a time (or 1 bag at a time for more guests)... In the freezer, 3-4 months. BUT, someone asked me why they wouldn't last up to 6 months in the freezer. I don't know if they would last that long or not. I suppose if they were WELL CLOSED, free from air, it could be longer.

My mom brought over her 'food saver' with a few bags for it. I have had that batch in my freezer for 5 months, I was going to take that small batch out on the 6th month to see what they are like.

 

[PirateSnowmen]

Wow! That's great!

My cousin recently started doing this with cakes. She baked & decorated a cake for a friend and put the pictures of the cake on Facebook. All of her friends (most are moms to small children) went crazy! She's gotten to the point now where she's making 3-4 cakes a week. She's mainly a SAHM, but does work a few nights a month at a hospital, so she has quite a bit of time to make the cakes (two of her grown sisters live with her to help watch the kids, which gives her time to make cakes). I'm not sure how much of an impact it's making financially, but every little bit helps!

 

[Silent1CB]

I don't think I've ever heard or seen these. Had to google to see pictures. Is this a regional or nationality thing? Lots of pics online, but still I've never seen them.

 

[powellrj]

My mom got her start doing wedding cakes by making mints for people! She had a booming business for about 20 years until she retired.

Not to be a Debbie Downer, but if you have enough business that you are taking internet orders, you really need to make sure you have the proper permits and are using a licenced kitchen. All it takes is one misstep and it could cost you much more than you are making.

 

[Took]

My mom got her start doing wedding cakes by making mints for people! She had a booming business for about 20 years until she retired.

Not to be a Debbie Downer, but if you have enough business that you are taking internet orders, you really need to make sure you have the proper permits and are using a licenced kitchen. All it takes is one misstep and it could cost you much more than you are making.

abou
Exactly! Please, do check out local requirements, etc. I'd hate to see someone get sick and try and sue you!

Also, if you start to make more, you need to see what the tax codes are, too. Hate to get in bad with the IRS.

Your idea, however, sounds great. Good luck.

 

[mykidsand_i]

Yeah, I've checked our local laws...I sent off my form for 'small buisness' for tax purposes in Feb. It was pretty easy. I just have to keep all my receipts, do a different tax form and we claimed everything on our taxes this year- my DH had no problems.

There isn't a strict rule/law in this state or city for selling foods from peoples home, unless it's sold in a store, at farmers markets or in a restaurant...then it needs to be made in a proper kitchen. My churches kitchen is an approved area and I have already used it a few times becase there's more 'drying space' there...I can use it any time since I work there, " Use it as long as it is as clean as it was when you arrived" I've been told.

a good friend of mine owns the local 'meals in minutes' which is a food prep place and people bring the food home to put in their freezers or fridges to make at another time. She JUST bought the place, and other than paying a small fee for rent, that is another option I have for a place to use if it ever came to that. She also just told me she wanted me to make them for her buisness, and she'd pay me per bag- which in that case, I'd just use her kitchen for free to make them, she'd pay me and she'd sell them at her place...all with my name and contact info. on them. All I need to do to sell them at a buisness is fill out a form stating the location of the kitchen I'm using, what i am making and have the owner of the kitchen sign it too..I'm looking at making an 'agreement' with her. She does lots of catering for weddings, but doesn't want to take the mint making from me- The question her and I both had was, can we just write up a contract for so many bags that she will buy, then we both sign it? We don't need to get anyone else involved, right?

I'm well informed of the food safety laws, I spoke to the health and food safety inspector back in March when he visited the school I sub at in the kitchen. He even gave me his number if I had questions.

Right now, I am doing everything the correct way, but if I get this contract going with Meals in minutes, I'll have to make them at her location.