Fermentations mobile

This page is dedicated to the project "FermentationMobile" coordinated by Algoldor.

I would like to set up mobile fermentation center where we can do experimental fermentation, it could be used as a base for education when on the road and importantly it can also serve as a legal vending point at variety of events and places. I believe that having mobile base which can also legally generate money would help a lot with promoting fermentations long term in sustainable way.

Mobile Unit

There are two main possibilities to move around easily at the moment. One is a truck option the second is trailer option. They have both advantages and disadvantages.

Truck option:

• Advantages:
  • mobile by itself, all in one
  • easier to park and manage at the locations
  • lower gas consumption - compared to car and trailer option it should consume less fuel
  • may be easier to adapt/rebuild if the "box car" version is used
• Disadvantages
  • more expensive - €6 000 - 8 000 cost for reasonable vehicle
  • car insurance and road tax has to be paid even when not used

Trailer option:

• Advantages
  • €500-1000 for basic frame therefore much cheaper than truck to buy and also importantly probably no tax or lower tax needs to be paid when not in use later on
• Disadvantages
  • can not be moved without a car
  • harder to manage at the location
  • higher fuel consumption of whole set up compared to the truck
  • the weight limit may be an issue, especially if 750 kg is the top without need for special type of license, for bigger events like SHA2017 where around 1000 l or more of drinks may be needed it is severe limitation
  • may be harder to build up on the wheel base
  • if higher weight limit is needed getting specific car to move it may be necessary

Legal Law Entity

To start a legal entity which would allow for selling of probiotic drinks and foods and possibly alcoholic beverages "Educative Non Profit Organization" seems as most easy way. Another bit more difficult but still probably doable option would be becoming officially a "farmer", selling alcoholic beverages would be again more complicated.

Both options needs to be investigated and I wonder if I could ask my "language school" for help as part of my employment project, that would help very much. It is close to certain that I will need a help from local French person if I want to be able to make and sell alcoholic beverages.

• Educational Non Profit Organization
  • the whole legal procedure since applying till being able to operate should take around one month
  • accounting system should be very simple
  • from the profit - no direct wages can be paid to "founder/operator" (details has to be researched)
  • from the profit - it is possible to pay variety of expenses like ingredients, fermentation equipment, fuel etc.

• Farmer
  • land would have to be bought or rather rented, minimum size has to be researched, for the baker for example it is around 3 hectares.

Some explanation of the options here http://www.expatica.com/fr/employment/How-to-set-up-a-small-business-or-become-self-employed-in-France_445986.html

Legal Processing and Vending set up

To be able to legally sell variety of produced drinks&foods, both properly licensed production facility and vending point may be needed. If educational non profit scheme is used, it may be quite simple to full fill the requirements, for production and sale of alcohol it may be more complicated.

Documentation&links

Info how to set up of small business in France