My partner once had a successful wholesale cookie business. All of the recipes were from his own formulas and all of the cookies are vegan, gluten-free, soy-free, all natural and shelf stable. He bootstrapped it from nothing, literally experimenting at home for friends for the weekly restaurant potluck (he GM'd several restaurants before this). That was in 2009. In 2010, he won Best Cookie in his city. After a few years of gaining fans and clients, his Multiple Sclerosis hit hard. The choice was walking or baking (heat+standing is a crippling combo for MS as this brutal relapse proved). In the hospital and desperate, he handed the business off to a terrible and alcoholic choice and all accounts were lost. He came out of the episode with a cane, a year and a half of radiation therapy, and the name and recipes still under his control. Since then it's been a struggle. SSDI helps financially but he put his heart and soul into that little business: he needs to see it thrive in the world again, with or without him at the helm. He can't be in the kitchen but he still dreams new recipes, can talk and charm anybody, and (having no diet restrictions himself) just truly wants to live in a world where if someone wants a cookie, they have a cookie. He is open to any of the above scenarios but how do you sell a business that, technically, is no longer a business and hasn't been for some time? He would sell name and recipes outright with royalty option, he'd take on a bakery or coffee shop partnership, he'd do co-packing dough, he's open to anything that will provide for our future and see his creation live on. Business loans, etc aren't an option coz it's not an operating business right now and even if we wanted to, we couldn't raise the capital; although we are considering a small pop-up sale in a few months to generate some interest. Thoughts? Suggestions? Thank you for your time. I just love him and want to see him thrive.
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