Building a Roadside Business: Course and Community Insights

This chapter introduces an online course designed to guide individuals in establishing and managing a roadside peach stand. Developed during the pandemic, the course offers flexibility and encourages potential students to connect for personalized assistance and insights into daily operations.

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#398 What if you could flip fruit into a seven-figure business? In this episode hosted by Brien Gearin, Shannon Houchin, founder of Roadside Republic, shares how she turned a humble $200 peach stand into a booming operation with dozens of stands and a powerful community impact. We dive into everything from sourcing farm-fresh peaches, negotiating with orchards and wholesalers, and choosing high-traffic locations, to managing logistics, pricing for strong margins, and scaling with seasonal staff. Shannon reveals why peaches are uniquely profitable, how her team guarantees quality, and how Roadside Republic has become both a business and an educational resource. She also explains how their online course helps others launch successful stands from scratch. If you've ever dreamed of a simple, scalable side hustle with deep community ties, this one's for you!

What we discuss with Shannon:

+ The Origins of Roadside Republic

+ Building a Peach Stand Business

+ Starting Small: The $200 Peach Stand

+ Sourcing and Logistics of Peaches1

+ Pricing and Margins in the Peach Business

+ Understanding Pricing and Profit Margins

+ Choosing the Right Location for Your Stand

+ Navigating Permits and Permissions

+ Scaling Your Roadside Stand Business

+ Overcoming Common Challenges

+ Building Supplier Relationships